Ohio River Trail

The [Pittsburgh] Downtown bicycle project is another critical link in a complete network, says department Director Karina Ricks. These new bike facilities give the people of our city the opportunity to safely access major employment and cultural areas with the affordable, sustainable and enjoyable mode of travel by bicycle.

Covid-19 has produced little good news this year, but the crises did pave the way for one positive social shift: a bike boom. Recent data from Strava, the fitne...ss tracking app used by 68 million global users, shows that several U.S. cities saw significant year-over-year growth in both bike trips and cyclists in much of 2020. The pandemic’s stay-home, stay-safe orders reduced traffic congestion and increased remote-working allowed people to discover their bikes and get fresh air. The pandemic has rearranged so many parts of the economy it’s hard to keep up. But we can add one more: bikes. There is a national and international shortage. Unfortunately, bike theft is 18% higher year to date in New York. Theft of bikes worth $1,000 or more is up 53%, which of course fuels more demand. In January, the coronavirus shut down bicycle factories in East Asia, the center of the bike industry’s supply chain. Eric Bjorling, director of brand at Trek Bicycles, a U.S. bike manufacturer said When those countries shut down and those factories shut down, there were just no bikes being made industrywide, he said. Those are the bikes that are supposed to arrive in April, May, June, July. And while a supply shortage was brewing, demand was about to explode. It started when everybody was stuck at home with their kids and decided to get them bikes. March, April, May the bikes that are all going are kids’ bikes, Bjorling said. Then the adults got bored. Then you had your entry-level hybrids and mountain bikes, he continued. Now those are bikes that are used for family bike rides on trails and paths. And you had your commuters who didn’t want to be stuck in buses or subway cars. As public transit was viewed in a different light, so was the bicycle. And we saw an explosion of commuters, Bjorling said. Chris Rogers, the supply chain analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said the bike industry’s troubles are emblematic of a lot of industries right now, trying to tame wild fluctuations in supply and demand. But as far as bikes go, he said they’re coming, they’re just coming late. Eli Akira Kaufman, the executive director of the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, said the data also likely leaves out many of the essential workers he’s observed hopping on safer bikes instead of the bus, which could mean that the numbers are even higher than what the Strava data shows. Now his thoughts are towards the future. Cities like Houston and L.A., with their thousands of miles of car-oriented streets, have their work cut out building protected bike lanes and other infrastructure to encourage cycling even after the pandemic ends. See more

This time next year, Lancaster County residents should be able to walk out on the towering, curving 114-year-old Safe Harbor railroad trestle, look down at the mouth of the Conestoga River 110 feet below and take in a sweeping view of the Susquehanna. Work has begun on the landmark to transform it into a pedestrian bridge, uniting two sections of the Enola Low Grade Trail, the county’s longest recreation trail at 28 miles. https://lancasteronline.com//article_91e2a41c-03e4-11eb-a0

Great weather expected for this Sunday's, October 4, 2020 race at Bradys Run Park - 64* Race begins at 9:00 am at the Lodge. Register at RunSignUp.com

Perfect running weather for this Sunday, October 4, 2020 race at Bradys Run Park, 9:00am, 64* and sunny! Sign up online at RunSignUp.

Washington Blvd Trail is nearly complete! Ride from Negley Run Blvd right down to the Highland Park Bike Track. Thanks to Pittsburgh Mobility and Infrastructure, Bike Pittsburgh, and Healthy Ride PGH for your partnership in creating this.