Bike commuting in PGH growing rapidly (Pittsburgh, Smithfield: safety, move to, licensed)

[BrianTH]

Here is a nice roundup using data from the 2009 American Community Survey (note this only includes people using bikes as their primary mode, and not people who bike for part of their trip or only on certain days):

The Bike Pittsburgh Blog Archives » Pittsburgh sees 206 percent rise in bicycle commuting since 2000 – Fourth largest increase in the country

The City of Pittsburgh had the fourth-quickest growth in bike commuting from 2000 to 2009. It ranks 15th overall. Combine biking and walking, and it is 2nd (Boston is #1). Combine biking, walking, and transit, and it is 7th.

Note this is one of the areas in which the City being relatively small in relationship to its overall metro area is helpful. Still, I think the City and its inner suburbs have lots more potential in these areas, and as this article points out, bike infrastructure in particular is relatively cheap (and of course bikes are a cheap way of commuting, environmentally friendly, conducive to public health and safety, and so on). So whatever percentage of commuters you can shift to biking generally counts as a big win for local transportation.

Not covered in the article: I also tend to think Pittsburgh would be a great place for e-bikes, since the hills can be a little intimidating:

Electric bicycle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[andyt4579]

Its amazing what a difference a couple of years make for biking (leisure and commuting) in general. If Smithfield St. Bridge has a slogan, it'd be 'Passing on your left!'

[groar]

that is great to hear! the more people who bike, the more bike friendly a city becomes, primarily because drivers get used to having bikes around.

[rhondee]

If you know bicycles-this would be a great business to open in the Burgh.

BrianTh-I agree with the need for e-bikes, since even avid bicyclists don't favor the Burgh for the mere fact of too many hills here.

[tranceFusion]

I wish cyclers on the street were required to be licensed, certified, or educated in some manner. I also wish a large focus on cyclers was made in the automobile licensing tests.

There seem to be so many bikers with that are riding unsafely, coupled with confusion from drivers as to what bikers are supposed to be doing.. it makes non-bikers hate bikers as a group. Many people seem to think bicycles are supposed to ride on the sidewalk!

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by andyt4579

Its amazing what a difference a couple of years make for biking (leisure and commuting) in general. If Smithfield St. Bridge has a slogan, it'd be 'Passing on your left!'

Now if people knew what we mean when we yell out "passing on the left". I can't tell you how many times I've done that and the person/people move to the left.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by tranceFusion

I wish cyclers on the street were required to be licensed, certified, or educated in some manner. I also wish a large focus on cyclers was made in the automobile licensing tests.

There seem to be so many bikers with that are riding unsafely, coupled with confusion from drivers as to what bikers are supposed to be doing.. it makes non-bikers hate bikers as a group. Many people seem to think bicycles are supposed to ride on the sidewalk!

I wish Allegheny County drivers were required to take a yearly written or computer based test on driving before they were allowed back on the road. Most polite drivers in the US? Maybe. Most stupid and uneducated? For sure.

I laugh at people who think bikes should be ridden on the side walk. It just goes to show how clueless people are.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by rhondee

If you know bicycles-this would be a great business to open in the Burgh.

BrianTh-I agree with the need for e-bikes, since even avid bicyclists don't favor the Burgh for the mere fact of too many hills here.

Biking is the number one reason I moved to Pittsburgh.

Real bikers like the hills and look to them as a daily personal challenge.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Here is a nice roundup using data from the 2009 American Community Survey (note this only includes people using bikes as their primary mode, and not people who bike for part of their trip or only on certain days):

The Bike Pittsburgh Blog Archives » Pittsburgh sees 206 percent rise in bicycle commuting since 2000 – Fourth largest increase in the country

The City of Pittsburgh had the fourth-quickest growth in bike commuting from 2000 to 2009. It ranks 15th overall. Combine biking and walking, and it is 2nd (Boston is #1). Combine biking, walking, and transit, and it is 7th.

Note this is one of the areas in which the City being relatively small in relationship to its overall metro area is helpful. Still, I think the City and its inner suburbs have lots more potential in these areas, and as this article points out, bike infrastructure in particular is relatively cheap (and of course bikes are a cheap way of commuting, environmentally friendly, conducive to public health and safety, and so on). So whatever percentage of commuters you can shift to biking generally counts as a big win for local transportation.

Not covered in the article: I also tend to think Pittsburgh would be a great place for e-bikes, since the hills can be a little intimidating:

Electric bicycle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've noticed more people commuting on our end of town this year.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Real bikers like the hills and look to them as a daily personal challenge.

Undoubtedly.

However, it would be great if a lot more Pittsburgh commuters in the future also fell into the fake-bikers category.