My roomates and I are planning a bike trip to Ohiopyle in the coming weeks. Our plan is to take the T to Library and try to connect to the GAP trail. We live in Oakland, but we think this is the best way to do it. However, we are utterly confused about getting off at Library and finding our way without riding on Brownsville Rd., etc. I realize that we are probably missing something really obvious, but we would greatly appreciate any advice yinz can give us. Thanks!
Can you catch a 61c or 56* or such bus to McKeesport? Most of them have racks. I guess you'd have to take a couple of them.
Just riding there is OK, too, especially on a quiet morning. Google directions there work fine; it will be a hilly ride, though, and requires some road-riding prowess. But Oakland to McKeesport doesn't look much (if any) worse than Library to McKeesport.
I am also considering doing a GAP trip with a transit-assisted departure to the trailhead. I've been considering taking a 61C to McKeesport from Oakland and then perhaps a route 60 bus onward to the trailhead by the Boston Bridge.
Checking the Port Authority website now, I see that the 61C is not a bike rack-designated route, though for some reason I thought it was. But maybe on the day I want to do this, some of them will by chance have racks...?
I mean, the ride to where the trail now starts in Duquesne isn't bad. Like, 2 or 3 miles on 837. Wide shoulder up the hill from the Rankin Bridge, a bit sketch near Kennywood, and then you're there.
I just rode the entire GAP and most of the C&O last week, going from my front door in Bloomfield to my destination in Frederick MD in three days. Highly recommended, though you may or may not want to give yourself more time than I did depending on what sorts of mileage you're hoping to log per day.
yeah, we're looking at the Montour trail (with detours which include riding on the grass on Rt. 51...ugh). We would get off the T at Library and go Brownstown Rd. to get to the Montour trail near Snowden Rd. So far that may be the safest bet...
*also, there are 4 of us and only 2 (me and my fiancee) can claim biking experience.
The 61C isn't a rack designated route, but like Stu says, 70-80% of busses have racks. So if you have to wait for two or three to get you all to McKeesport, that's not too terrible. Or maybe you and your fiance can bike out and your friends can bus out.
now that I look at the Montour trail, it doesn't look too bad, so I'm weighing the pros and cons of each. Also, the added distance of Mon trail is not a problem. We are going to take it slow down to Cedar Creek the first night, so taking the Montour would be cool.
With those routes, that could be like 3-4 hours of waiting for a bus depending on when you go
I would like to get in on this ride perhaps if it was on a weekend! Haha. Not to try to invite myself or anything..I've been just wanting to ride a good distance for quite some time..
haha, maybe next time. This trip was a dream of mine and my roomates' for a while, and if it goes well, perhaps we can make it a routine and invite others...
I would go through Duquesne. The new section of trail make things a bit nicer. Plus it is more direct and less confusing.
Starting in library is more scenic / less traffic but, it can be confusing if you are not familiar with the roads.
