BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

How comfortable are you with hills/traffic?

This Google Maps route is good direction wise but Greenfield is steep, then Beechwood and Browns Hill has some traffic.

We will be fine with hills and traffic. We just don't want to get lost somewhere in the city. Any suggestion?

My preferred route is as follows:

Point State Park->Blvd of Allies->R on Grant St->L at first light onto sidewalk, bear right around building to start of Eliza Furnace Trail.

At far end of trail, left out of trailhead parking and down to make a left on (can be busy) 885/Second Ave. Follow 885 under overpass, right at light to remain on 885 (now Irvine). Stay on 885 to Glenwood Bridge, then cross river and follow signs for 837 to Homestead.

In Homestead, make your way to the Waterfront shopping complex (easiest is a left on Amity)...the Steel Valley Trail to McKeesport portion of the GAP picks up by the river there.

Just to be clear reddan, the follow signs for 837 is designed like a freeway interchange. Is that where I am thinking?

@rsprake: I'd call it a twisted hybrid of a highway cloverleaf and a 5-way intersection, but yeah. That said, I've ridden it many times with no issues...the traffic light at the bottom of the hill seems to help calm things a great deal.

Bear right off bridge, left at stop sign on Glass Run Rd, left at light, follow signs for Homestead.

huilung, my cellphone is 724.494.9343 (the PM function on the board has been spotty) You're welcome to send a text, and if I'm in town at the time of your ride I'll gladly lead you out there. I'm sure others here would do the same.

There are a few different routes. From Point State Park, I'm inclined to take the Ft. Pitt Bridge, the Station Square Trail through southside, the Baldwin Borough Trail to the trail-end at Keystone Metals. Walk the bikes 300 feet along the tracks.

Here's where a flowchart would serve well. If Sandcastle gate is open, ride through SC parking lot. If not, ride via Haysglen St, Baldwin Road through Hays, ride the cloverleaf to 837 South, go through Homewood to Amity Street (left turn), take Amity to T-intersection in Waterfront, go behind Eat-N-Park and pickup Great Allegheny Passage trail.

But there are several valid routes. My compliments to all.

The Ft Pitt Bridge is a nice view for sure.

But it is narrow and dirty even without a loaded bike, it's an extra hill, and (according to Google) it's an extra 1.2 miles. Not my choice for the start of a trip.

@Mick - quite true, my inclination was driven by the desire to have the view and to keep them out of traffic. Taking the Blvd of the Allies to the Smithfield Street Bridge to the Southside works well, and the Blvd of the Allies to Grant Street and the Jail Trail/ Hot Metal Bridge also works well.

Thank you very much for the valuable trail information from rsprake, reddan, Mick, and Vannevar. I really appreciate it. You guys are so nice to a newbie in town. I will have to do some homework before I hit the road. Thank you again for your assistance. Please let me know when you have a chance to visit Washington DC. We have a number of cool trails such as Mt Vernon, the National Mall, WOD, C&O, ……. I would like to provide you with my best assistance as well. I can be reached at huilung@yahoo.com.

Maybe a little late, but another way is to simply take the 61C (bus), assuming you have two bikes or less. This is the safest possible way if you are really uncomfortable with riding on roads.

Or the 61D Murray bus to the Waterfront from downtown. Or, to skip over as little trail as possible while avoiding most car traffic and hills, ride the Eliza Furnace trail or the South Side trail to the Hot Metal Bridge, and take the outbound 57 Hazelwood bus to the Waterfront from the base of that bridge.

But it sounds like 100% riding, 0% busing, would be best for your group. Have a great time!

I'm doing the Pitt to DC thing in august. This is the route we're taking from the point.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/157548154

A buddy and I rode the trail out today and wound up having to do ride Rt837 as the small gate for Sandcastle's was closed and security was parked right there at the gate anyway.

Just FYI, I had a phonecall from the original poster (huilung), they started today (beautiful weather) and made their way from Point State Park to McKeesport with no problems and wanted to thank everybody on the board for the help. He made this map which he used from the Sandcastle Gate on, I thought I'd pass if along it's a pretty good reference:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204078688499003564211.0004bc6d8575dc52b59f3&msa=0