I've moved my schedule around and am swimming on Friday nights at Trees Hall now but I'm about the best way to get there. I work downtown and commute via bicycle so the best option seems to be Centre ave right to the backside of Trees. Has anyone rode Centre this was and is it an alright travel?
boostuv
2013-05-08 21:25:41
I've biked from Downtown to Friendship area via Centre Ave/Hill District and it's been ok! I've taken Sixth Ave in Downtown to Centre Ave and all the way through into Oakland, shady side , etc.
There has been some great revitalization work in that corridor, traffic is not bad (except if rush hour around a game event), which is the same just about anywhere. And actually, I have even chimed at MovePgh meetings that Centre Ave could be a great "Bike Boulevard" since its slope climb is steady & not too steep, it takes you to the heart of Oakland/Shadyside/Bloomfield while avoiding crazy-Forbes Ave traffic, and it could even help in the revitalization efforts and street design of the Hill District Business Corridor.
So yeah.... I think you could try it!
bikeygirl
2013-05-08 21:55:54
I've ridden Center only a two times, both at rush hour. Both times I was really surprised by how little traffic there was. Starting downtown going where you're going no question that would be my route.
byogman
2013-05-08 23:20:54
I more often ride it into town than out, but this street has never been a problem for me.
stuinmccandless
2013-05-09 06:24:25
Good to know. I don't think I've ever even driven Centre so I wasn't totally sure what to expect in regards to traffic and grade.
boostuv
2013-05-09 06:34:16
Rode it both directions from dowtown to Pitt and back a couple of times just for fun when I was out of sync wiht club rides. No problem with traffic. Just be more carefull with buses on a part where car parked. But it's usual.
mikhail
2013-05-09 06:53:40
Up Centre from Downtown is probably the easiest of all the ways into the Hill, bikewise. Getting up Robinson from Centre to Trees will be its own special fun, though--you might want to go a bit further on Centre and take the sharp right onto Allequippa for a steeper, but much shorter, climb to the top of the hill at the Oakland VA, then down to Sutherland (the dorm above Petersen EC) and back up a little to Trees.
(There's also a parking garage entrance about a third of the way up Robinson Ext. Via ramp or elevator, the top of the garage exits to Pitt's OC lot, just above Trees.)
epanastrophe
2013-05-09 07:18:50
There are five basic routes from the east to downtown (the Eliza Furnace Trail, Forbes, Centre, Bigelow, the Strip District). I really think Centre should possibly be developed as a bike corridor. It's quite hilly, of course, but it's the only way there that isn't heavily over-used during rush hour (other than the EFT, which is hard to reach from parts of Oakland).
jonawebb
2013-05-09 07:37:22
I go from Mercy Hosptial to Trees Hall regularly. I've tried going on Center, but it's faster/easier to go up the 5th ave busway and Robinson St. Nor sure if starting from town would change that.
The three blocks UP (^^^^^^)Robinson are more intense cardiovascularly than any of my workouts. If I didn't have a granny gear, it'd be worse.
mick
2013-05-09 11:01:56
buffalo buffalo wrote:Getting up Robinson from Centre to Trees will be its own special fun
I did it for fun a couple of times. It's not terrible at all. It's wide and it will help boostuv to stay warm for his swimming session. :)
mikhail
2013-05-09 11:18:40
My only concern is that Fridays are speed workouts and my commuter has terrible gearing (46/38x11-23)
boostuv
2013-05-09 16:48:09
