Originally published in the Post-Gazette’s Blog, City Walkabout

Written by Diana Nelson Jones

Here’s to bicycles, beer and a better Pittsburgh. And here’s an event to celebrate all three at the same time.

On Aug. 11, from 10 to noon, GTECH Strategies’ Social Capital Council will take you on a tour of GTECH’s land reclamation sites — empty lots in East Liberty, Homewood, Larimer, Wilkinsburg and Millvale.

“Two Wheels, Lots of Green” is a spur of BikePGH’s Bike Fest and the first local event of its kind.

The tour — which is also sponsored by Sustainable Pittsburgh and BikePGH — begins and ends at GTECH’s headquarters at 6587 Hamilton Ave. in Larimer. There will be multiple routes for different bike skill levels, with drink stops along the way.

After the bike tour, GTECH is hosting Tapped, a pop-up beer garden event featuring local beer, food and entertainment. Representatives from the lot-reclamation communities and their partner organizations will be there.

Registration for the bike tour is $10; the Tapped event is free, with food and beverages available for purchase.  Register online here. All contributions will go to pay event costs and support GTECH’s work in vacant land reclamation.

Anyone is welcome to the Tapped event, which is co- produced by Epic Development and Bar Marco.

Get ready for BikeFest, a fifteen-day celebration of bicycling, August 5th-19th. The activities kick off with Pedal Pittsburgh on August 5th’ which includes a car-free section and a finish line festival. On August 10th the Bike Fest Party returns to the Pittsburgh Opera in the Strip District.