BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I rode to Monroeville a couple weeks ago. There are routes through Braddock which are fine. I don't think I've got a map with the route on it, but I'll see if I can describe it. The idea is to go along the hillside in Braddock to E. Pgh, and then down into Turtle Creek. So from Braddock Ave, turn left onto Woodstock at the light before going over the tracks. Jog right on Middle and/or Walnut, then left on Bell. Bell turns into Center in E. Pgh, where you jog right one street (don't get on 30), left under the underpass and down into Turtle Creek.

Then you know where you are. I took James Street up to Monroeville, and Thompson Run Road back. Had to cross 22 in Monroeville to get to Thompson Run but it was worth it. A classic Pittsburgh road, full of old industrial equipment, now with plants and wildlife springing up out of the wreckage. There's a small piece of truly abandoned road at the top of Thompson Run but sadly it only goes a half mile or so.

Hmm...good question. I really like that ride through Braddock and Turtle Creek.

Would this route help you out at all? I think it avoids the closed down streets: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Monroeville-Pittsburgh

Thanks so much! I am going to try the hillside route. The bikely map route looks interesting, but I should have mentioned that I am biking to a Masters swim practice, so I need a direct route, especially this early in the season. Otherwise, I drown! I might try a different approach another time.

I come up Monroeville Ave from Turtle Creek. It's a great road until you get to the James St intersection and hit traffic.

Sarah

Just watch out for turkeys, Sarah. They're everywhere...

Is Woodstock in E Pittsburgh safe for a spandex-wearing woman traveling alone? Time of day: 8:30 a.m.-ish Sunday mornings. I'm not scared, generally, but I try not to be stupid.

Also, due to the large number of one-ways, this route does not appear to be reversible. I am somewhat puzzled by this problem.

I'll likely pass turkeys through Swisshelm Park. Mad crazy hateful ones, or at least that's how they look to me.

I'm pretty sure it is safe. Not the greatest neighborhood in the world, but I don't get a bad feeling riding through there. 'Course I don't wear spandex.

Oddly, I haven't ridden it in the reverse direction. But my other routes are hillier.

I have Sunday morning penciled in for a ride with my wife. Who, also, is more of a swimmer. Would be happy to go out in that direction and show you what it looks like, we're in Regent Square. Send a note, nfranzen at gmail.

-Nate

(How come my profile name no longer shows up as Nate? Too many Nates around?)

Update: I successfully rode Nate's route twice (Sunday and today). Thanks for the great advice!

Now I need to get back from M'ville to East End. I am coming from near the Mall. Help me figure out how to get home! I think I might be able to reverse Nate's route but it will include a hill from Hell. I am looking for other suggestions.

Not only do I hate hills, and honestly I can't get up really steep ones, I am riding home in the middle of the afternoon after swimming 3,000-4,000 meters.

Thanks!

Sarah

p.s. I saw not one but two turkeys this a.m. on my ride out, which not coincidentally was considerably faster than Sunday's ride. Perhaps I should hire someone to chase me with a turkey so I can finally see a bike split over 20 mph.

Sarah,

I was waiting and hoping someone would have a better suggestion for return. I don't think you should fear Linden too much, it's not much steeper than Commercial coming up to Swissvale.

My only other suggestion is to take Electric Avenue to Ardmore Boulevard on up to Penn Avenue, Wilkinsburg etc. The climb is pretty shallow, but it's very long and very trafficy and not much of a shoulder. Rather like riding up West Liberty. Not much fun. I've done it more than once and don't really recommend. The intersection at the top is interesting, too, on a bicycle.

"it's not much steeper than Commercial" isn't much of an endorsement.

Thanks so much for helping me out with this, Nate. I appreciate it.

You could head back DOWN to the Turtle Creek area via your regular route, and take the Tri-Borough/130 west to Beulah Road near St. Colmans. Turn right on Beulah, and take the long, very gradual slope up to the I-376 exit at Churchhill (130). Cross under I-376, and turn left on Penn (at the Churchhill Muni Bldg). Follow Penn all the way to Wilkinsburg. It's a great ride. I've done it starting in Pitcairn, and I HATE hills.

I drove it this weekend. The Tri-Borough Expressway is open east of Beulah Road all the way to Route 48 (that's the only section I covered, so don't know where the construction actually begins/ends.)

Hmm... interesting... I'll look into this. Thanks! Fellow hill haters unite!

Just went out to Greensburg on Sunday for the first time in a while...

Ardmore is just fine going east (downhill), just stay right the whole time and exit onto Electric Ave just past Vincent's Pizza Park. There's no need to take the Tri-Boro, you can stay on Braddock Ave, which becomes Penn Ave, which becomes Airbrake Ave, all the way through Wilmerding. It's less confusing than it sounds, since there's only like two streets in all of those towns.

On the way back we went up Beulah, which is a pretty good option, it just gets a little steep at the top.

Ardmore going west is totally not recommended. It's much worse than West Liberty Ave because speeds are higher and there's no ambiguity about it being two lanes in each direction...

Ack. Tried like 5 times now, and can't post a link to a map. What gives?

Anyway, take Brinton Rd. Out, and take Greensburgh Pike back. Soryr, without the map, that's the best I can do! PM me if you want the map

IN braddock, take Bessemer St. UNDER 30 to Linden ST. That will take you downthe big hill to where the TBE ends. Then take Braddock Rd/ave into turtle creek.

ON the way back, take Airbrake ave to SHaw, where you have a choice. If low traffic, take tri borough expressway to the first light (100 yards) to Penn ave extension to greensburg pike If busy, you can cross over TBE up shaw and left on Union to wind up the local streets (super steep, staning on pedals, possibly walking) to where it joins greesburgh pike a little further up.

Don't be afraid of hills, they are good for you. (I'm a former hill despiser)

I'm good on the way out -- Nate's route works great and is actually a little shorter than my previous route. I've done it several times now. There's one sketchy part by a somewhat shady convenience store, and that's about it.

On the way back I am all ears. So far I think I like the Beulah idea the best. Not into the super steep standing maybe walking hills route -- esp for not right after swim practice. I am trying to address my hatred of hills ... baby steps. I'm from Fl originally, where cyclists balk at overpasses.

Sarah

The super steep part is just one section to avoid traffic on Tri boro expressway. I like the lowest traffic routes. greesburg pike is superhighway wide with only local traffic on it...very safe for biking!

Hmmm.. okay. Greensburg pike looks like the same elevation profile as Beulah. I'll take traffic over hills any day.

Thanks!

FWIW, I no longer despise hills, I just dislike them. LOL.

Hmm, Greensburg Pike. It is a good road for cycling, not a lot of traffic. And if one is going to ride around here, one should acquire an appreciation of hills.

I'm not sure, though, that getting up to Greensburg Pike... It's on my collection of hill profiles, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ntfrnzn/2496138480/ (via TBE+Penn Ave Ext, not Shaw+Union). Not the steepest thing around by a long shot, no. Only a 6 or 7% grade.

But go try it, less talk more ride.

I think I have the perfect solution, actually, that avoids the steepest part of Greensburg Pike and also avoids the nightmare 376 interchange with Beulah. I'll take Beulah (130) up from Penn Ave, then cross over at Thornberry Dr (through a little subdivision) to pick up the Pike in time for the 376 overpass.

I am pretty excited about this. I'll ride it Sunday after practice and report back. Thanks for the help!

UPDATE: Thank you internet friends! This worked out great.

On the way out I rode Nate's suggested route on Woodstock through Braddock Hills. A+

On the way back I took 130 up to Thornberry to cut through to Greensburg Pike, as I described above. Best of both worlds -- not too steep on 130, and easy crossing 376 on GB Pike. Perfect.

So my summer of riding to swim practice is off to a great start. Thanks again for the help!

p.s. Also, had a new insight today.

Mountain Dew + Hammer Endurolytes > Gatorade.

Why didn't I think of this before!

Hey Sarah Q, fellow (but more successful) randonneur... I ride to Monroeville and back daily. My routes are on Bikely, but that appears to be down, but to describe them: On the way out I shower at the gym at Miracle Mile shopping center. So I ride through Wilkinsburg to Penn Avenue, up to Beulah, under the Parkway, then on Churchill Lane to Nottingham and then across William Penn Hwy to Old William Penn, and then follow that to Duff Road and then William Penn to the shopping center. There are 3 real hills on this route.

On the way back I ride down Mosside Blvd (I work there) to Wall Road and follow that along to Wilmerding, cross the bridge there, then left and continue on through Turtle Creek. I ride up Electric Avenue and then take the steep right to ride up to Chalfant. The streets there are suburban and pretty quiet. I follow that to meet Ardmore again near the Aldi's and then ride on the sidewalk up to near the entrance to the Parkway. At that point the highway is three lanes wide so I take one for myself and cross under the Parkway and ride back down to Wilkinsburg.

The return route has one serious hill (steep even by WPW standards, though short). But I don't think you can avoid hills completely. It is pretty quiet.

for what it's worth, that section of the Tri Boro Expressway is now open.

Only posting because a year old thread was bumped with information that may not be necessary anymore.