Do you really not like trails? Because it would be a lot easier to just ride down to Rockwood and take the GAP from there. No traffic, no hills.
2013-12-02 12:54:33
7
Route into city from east
Please take a look at this map and let me know if this is a reasonable road approach and entrance to Pittsburgh from the east. I don't know the city at all so would appreciate any comments suggestions, or cautions you may be able to provide. I have your excellent Pittsburgh Bike Map and used it for the city part of the route but I'm also wondering about the approach outside the city.
Thanks for any info.
David
Link: maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=208332176566429858850.0004ec6a2411d6aad6593&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.410588,-79.83181&spn=0.011126,0.020664&t=m&z=16&vpsrc=6
2013-12-02 12:48:43
There is a the distance thing.
The GAP/PA Bike Route S is pleasant and it's the way I would go, for sure - but it's 112 miles and his route is 65 miles.
Also, I have heard rumors that there are people who dislike riding on the trails.
A while ago this question came up - IIRC correctly Steevo had some suggestions in regards to hills and traffic.
2013-12-02 13:05:30
Well, if you really don't like the GAP, all I can advise you regarding
roads is on my commute -- I start at Rte 48 & 130 (called
Broadway there) and end in Squirrel Hill. I take 130 / Broadway /
Triboro Expressway to Turtle Creek, then head up Greensburg Pike
to Penn Ave. Then down Penn to Wilkinsburg, through Wilkinsburg
to Edgewood, then take Forbes Ave home.
2013-12-02 13:19:30
I've ridden it as:
-31 through Mt Pleasant
-Back roads (Walz Mill?) through Madison and Herminie
-North Huntingdon via Clay Pike
-Lincoln Way through White Oak and down to McKeesport.
-From there, pick up the GAP into town.
(Couple of really long hills on that route, if that matters.)
2013-12-02 13:43:02
Here's a link to draft mapping that has been done for Westmoreland County......
http://www.spcregion.org/trans_pedbike_maps2.shtml#west
You probably want to be looking at sheets 12, 13, 14, 7 and 6 coming in from Somerset....
They continue in Allegheny County here:
http://www.spcregion.org/trans_pedbike_maps2.shtml#all
You'd start on the east on sheet 6 and 5, coming through the Turtle Creek Valley.
Yes, these are cumbersome to use, but this was the easiest format in which to collect local input. We are moving towards the production of "real" maps in the Spring of 2014.
But, they'll give you some ideas in the mean time.
2013-12-02 14:06:29
Thanks All. I have the idea of a large loop tour. I will come west across Pa on the state bike route S and I was trying to use a Pittsburgh approach other than the trail. It's just the idea of keeping it a loop since I would be using the GAP on the turn back southeast toward home. I can let go of the strict loop concept if there is no semi-pleasant (or not completely unpleasant) way to ride in from that direction. Thanks again for the advice and information.
2013-12-02 16:28:16