I have friends biking from DC to Pgh. The maps show the GAP trail ending at McKeesport and no particularly obvious route to the Pgh trail system. Anyone have recommendations on a route?
You could go on route 837, from Mckeesport to the Waterfront,but it's somewhat dangerous.I did it once and will never travel it again.Maybe they should wait till they finish the trail,(whenever that will happen??)It's really too bad how slow and unprogressive we are.It was suppose to be completed last year and probably not completed this year.
The last time I rode the trail I took the bus from mckeesport back to pittsburgh. There is a PAT transit station right on 837 not far from the entrance to the trail. Im pretty sure its a 56c and should have bike racks. I have ridden that gap out and back a few times and its a little scary in some sections so now when I go I try to take a bus those few miles.
837 is do-able. I've ridden to/from McKeesport via 837 maybe a dozen times.
You can also follow the signs from McKeesport towards "East Pittsburgh" which takes you up over N Versailles and drops you into Braddock/Rankin. A few more miles, some hills, but much calmer traffic.
If they're not in a terrible hurry, head across the river to Clairton from McKeesport via Glassport, then pick up the Montour Trail to Coraopolis. From there, various options to get to town.
It'll add a good half-day or more to the overall journey, though.
I do what Lenny mentioned, which is 837 as far as Homestead. Depending on where I'm heading next, I usually either take the Rankin Bridge, or I hop on Carson Street to get to the South Side. The transition onto Carson Street involves a merge that can be a bit nerve-wracking.
My biggest problem with the 837 route is hostile drivers around Kennywood. I've been screamed at several times. A couple of times, cars have swerved at me. Once, I had a beer bottle thrown at me.
I done that trip a few times.
Recently, 837 had a lane blocked off for construction (or rather, "for my own personal cyclical use") for the first mile or so coming in from the Mck-Duq bridge.
Right where the construction ended there was a ghost road, Patterson, leading south-west from 837 to the ghostly end of Duquesne's 2nd St. Where 2nd St. meets 837, by the VFW, I take the sidewalk towards Kennywood. (Yeah, I know.)
For a while, past Kennywood, there is a good shoulder, then a path next to the road, then a downhill where I can take the lane.
Homestead is relatively civilized and I can either stay on 837, or cut over to the trail.
Not Recommended #1:
I've taken the Homestead Grey's bridge and the hill is a dangerous trafficy PIA.
Not Recommended #2:
With a loaded Bob trailer, in the rain, in the dark, I went along 837 until I could cross over the guardrail to the Southside trail. Then I realized I would have to remove and re-attach the trailer to get it over the guardrail and "that would be a big hassle," so I made the wrong choice (ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime®) and went down Carson to the southside, in the dark and rain.
Even with excellent tail lights, That was probably the ugliest two bike miles I have done in my long, sorrowful life. Worse than taking Bigelow out of town.
Guardedly recommended:
If you can lift your bike (if you are loaded for camping on the trail, you may not be able to), taking Carson to the Southside Trail might be worthwhile. But you might find a slowly moving, long train between you and the trail.
Best choice (IMO).
Take 837 in to the Glenwood Bridge, then 2nd Ave/Irvine in to the Jail trail. That is, 837 to 885 to JailTrail.
Y'know, I usually don't do critical mass, because there is not sue antagonizing people who couldn't make things right if they wanted. On the other hand, If someone wanted to get come cyclists together and picket amusement park business until they do the right thing, I would be so there.
Isn't there some legal way to do this with eminent domain?
Mick
i feel like this thread should be stickied almost
the trail from Duqesne to Mckeesport is supposed to open this fall.
Has anyone headed north out of McKeesport and caught 30, following that to Ardmore -- or even cutting through North Braddock to Braddock Ave? I've never done it. Just looks like a better route than 837. Of course just about everything does, to me.
I think I've commented in several Pgh<->McKeesport route threads. Here's my map link
Here's a question - what about the trail in the portions that are not blocked by Sandcastle?
It would be great to have a river-level bike path from Hoamestead to Mckeesport.
Mick
