I live in Dormont and work in Mt. Lebo. I want to use my car less and bike more, period but I'd like to start using my bike instead of walking to work in order to get around faster. I'd also like to be able to get downtown by bike without getting on the T or a bus. I see people riding around/commuting in this area but I'm very intimidated by it. If you live/work/or drive through this area, you know how crazy it can be on the roads. Any tips or suggestions? Thanks!
ericapgh
2013-06-28 15:55:04
mikhail
2013-06-28 16:46:57
Dormont to Lebo is fairly easy on a bike, but getting downtown is hard.
When I go to Mt Lebanon, I usually take my bike on the T.
Coming back I climb over Mt Washington, but I am a traffic-hardened cyclist and I can deal tihe the intersection of West Liberty and Saw Mill Run to get to Bausman or Warrington. To my knowledge, there is no easy nor safe way to get through there.
mick
2013-06-28 17:02:47
Physically, West Liberty isnt too bad especially since it was repaved, although as ajbooth will tell you - some of them drivers are a-holes Certainly the intersection with 51 to warrington is stressful sometimes, but it's doable. But there really isnt a low-volume route that gets you to town from out there. I'm over the hill in Baldwin so I have other road issues. Just keep at it!
marko82
2013-06-28 17:36:54
Thanks! I appreciate the input. Maybe I'll see yinz guys out on the road.
ericapgh
2013-06-28 18:09:13
I think a South Hills coffee / donuts event at Dunkin' is in order. Let's pick a day and we can meet and then all ride in together!
ajbooth
2013-06-28 23:55:12
Welcome! I've also been commuting from Mt. Lebo -> Downtown for about three years and so far I haven't run into any problems. (That weren't caused by me.) Of course, I also leave at about 7:30 in the morning so I get to miss a lot of the real crazies.
WRT to navigating the huge 19/51 snarl in front of the tunnels, if the traffic is too much to handle you can always go on the sidewalk and cross with the lights.
The only other thing I'd add is to make sure to frequently check your brake pads. All that downhill riding from Mt. Lebanon and Mt. Washington can wear them out pretty dang fast.
mrdestructicity
2013-06-29 05:52:23
Well, I don't think I'm ever doing this again. It's early Sunday evening, I tried riding .9 miles to work from Potomac to St. Bernard. I had two men roll down their windows and scream at me. One said that I have no right to be on the road and to get on the sidewalk and then another, after I was stopped at a light on a hill, screamed, "Sweetheart, you're too slow to be on the road." I'll stick to trails and will walk to get around.
ericapgh
2013-06-30 16:34:32
Man that sucks. That's infuriating. Sorry about your experience.
Apparently I'm going to need to start riding over that way more.
edmonds59
2013-06-30 16:58:33
You need a riding buddy, preferably someone with a helmet camera.
stuinmccandless
2013-06-30 16:59:34
That sucks - but have no doubt that they're both wrong, and both a-holes. The thought of morons like that accomplishing their mission of intimidating someone into not riding is infuriating. Obviously it's not my place to tell you to keep at it if you're not comfortable, but I at least hope you'll reconsider it.
salty
2013-06-30 17:37:03
StuInMcCandless wrote:You need a riding buddy, preferably someone with a helmet camera.
@ericapgh, I would be happy to ride with you and prove those guys wrong.
ajbooth
2013-06-30 19:47:54
