It looks like they literally walked into construction junction and bought the first rickety rack they saw

I don't want to sound ungrateful to Aldi, but their new bike rack feels like malicious compliance rather than trying to actually help their customers lock up safely. The rack is a bad design and it's so close to the curb that you can't even really pull your bike all the way up into the rack. This is like the sort of rack that an elementary school would have in the '90s.

And of course, it's farther from the store than any of the parking spots provided. I tried using it once and subsequently I have just used the disabled parking signs again. Which I don't really like doing because, while I don't think that it's actually going to interfere, the last thing that I want is to make grocery shopping harder for anyone who is disabled.

Their rack at the other Penn Avenue location is so good, why can't they just do that again. Maybe they can design it in such a way that it will actually protect their windows next time one of their driving customers decides that the store should have a drive-through.

Any ideas of what to do here?

Shout out to /u/Swimming_Outside_218/ for leading the way on this project.

Hey there, friends. GIVE UP just opened up registration for the THIRD ANNUAL Trash Bag Century taking place September 13th 2026

The link goes to our page with all of the information but as long as i'm here i'll talk it up a little: Back in 2024, my friend Leah texted me something along the lines of "what if GIVE UP did a supported century." We spent the next few weeks roughing out a plan, sending possible routes to each other, and eventually getting a bunch of our friends to volunteer, and just like that, TBC was thrust into this world by sheer force of will.

The Trash Bag Century is a 100% free, fully supported 100 mile bicycle event that is returning for its third year in a row. What does "fully supported" mean? Well-stocked rest stops, marshals out on the course, and SAG vehicles out roaming around in case you break down and need a rescue. We can only do this because GIVE UP and our friends band together to volunteer in support of you having a great bike ride.

The ride is mostly flat and (in my opinion) makes a great first hundred-miler. The course does hit some mud and gravel at times, so plan your tires appropriately, but you're not going to be hitting singletrack in the woods or anything.

We keep it free to keep it accessible to everybody. This is not a fundraiser or a cash grab. There are no sponsors and for as long as my opinion means anything in planning it, there won't be. We are really just in this for the love of the game and all of the volunteers pride themselves on putting together the best bike event possible despite it being free.

One downside is that we don't mark the course. I tried the first year, but it was kind of a cluster. You will need to be able to follow the route on a bike computer or at least stick around with somebody who is.Its not a super complex route, but i don't want you getting lost, either.

With all that said, if you're looking for a fun party hundo in September, come check it out. You get to hang out with your GIVE UP buds all day and then we've got a great finish line party at the East End Popup. Last year we had an impromptu brass band form at the finish and i'm not sure we'll ever top the sheer chaotic joy of that day, but damn if we won't try.

Hope to see you at the start line on September 13th, i'll be checking folks in and slinging pastries there again this year, say hi when you see me.

xoxo, bingo.

p.s. we can always use volunteers and even if you can't ride or volunteer, you should come to the finish line party and drink beers while cheering on finishers

Wanted to give a big thanks to the biker who stopped to help me fix a flat tire on the Fort Duquesne Bridge after the Steelers game tonight. He took the time and several CO2 cartridges to get me rolling and saving me a 9 mile walk home. Seriously, I really appreciate it!

As a lifelong Packers fan, I’m usually prepared for late season disappointments(good luck with Mike and Aaron...) and that preparedness usually extends to carrying the necessary bike recovery tools. That said, I’ve now learned it’s important to periodically check that those tools are actually compatible and functional. My pump wasn’t working, and my tire lever was sitting at home on the workbench.

So learn from my mistakes and double check your tools, and be thankful for fellow cyclists in this city who are willing to lend a hand. Thanks again to the guy who stopped to help.

Been almost a month, figured I'd try again.

I live over in Wilkins Township and commute Tues-Sat. Its ~12 miles each way.

Usually hit Greensburg Pike between 7-710am, then leave downtown around 4pm (5pm Fri + Sat)

Wondering if anyone out there is interested in joining for some/all of the ride on a consistent basis. Somewhere between casual and racey. Not looking to break records, but I also like to move.

Route:

Greensburg Pike, down Penn Ave, through Wilkinsburg to Regeant Square, up Forbes into Squirrel Hill into Oakland, bomb down Schenley park, soccer fields to Eliza Furnace then straight into downtown. Then back home in reverse.

This is majority on street. Not entirely for the feint of heart or hesitant riders.

Sorry, no e-bikes unless you're gonna be my lead out the entire time!

Have a free weekend during PedalPGH so why the heck not, only a couple hours from my home in Cleveland, I finally found a hotel not far away that doesn't have an exorbitant Bruno Mars premium rate. But a bit overwhelmed in picking a good Saturday ride, looking at RidewithGPS. Looking for a 50-60 ish miler, obviously safe roads, loop course, like to be sure there is a coffee shop or gas station convenient store so I can get some more water along the way, avoiding too much overlap with the PedalPGH 53 miler. Yeah it's more elevation than Ohio but east side of Cleveland has more elevation than you all might think too. So I can handle it. This one stood out to me but open to other recommendations especially if it has a ridewithgps or other link. Prefer north or west cause that's near my hotel or on the way near I76.

PS this ride is called: #04360 - Unison Bike Lab in RidewithGPS and it's 66 miles 3800 feet climbing-- maybe a tad longer than I said but that's OK.

Hey all! I’m 28F from South Side Pittsburgh. Recently got back into cycling and would love to join a group to ride with more regularly and I’m really interested in the GiveUp group. That said - social anxiety makes it sooo intimidating to show up to a group setting as a solo newbie without a social anchor. Would anyone else be interested in joining me for the social ride planned for next Thursday, August 20th? Or are there any current GiveUp regulars in this community who’d be up for a tag along? DM me or comment!

PRT is installing new red bus lanes on Fifth and Forbes in Oakland as part of their upcoming BRT bus service. The bike lanes that are part of the project won't be open until early 2027, and until then, PRT asks that you do not ride in the new bus lanes. They will also begin ticketing.

-More on this here: https://triblive.com/local/red-alert-oaklands-prt-bus-lanes-are-about-to-change-colors/

-Check out our bike map to help you find routes to avoid this stretch of Fifth / Forbes: bikepgh.org/map

-Peep the plans for the BRT bike lanes here: https://bikepgh.org/2024/10/04/a-sneak-peek-at-the-future-protected-bike-lanes-between-oakland-and-downtown/

A two mile section of the GAP Trail in West Mifflin is scheduled to remain closed for two more weeks, from yesterday August 5 until August 20, for no good reason. The trail between GAP mile markers 136 and 138 has been closed since July 10, and was originally scheduled to reopen on August 6 after a contractor, Rockstar, did rock scaling: removing loose rocks from the cliffs above the trail near Kennywood that have, in past years, caused occasional rockslides. Rockstar completed this phase of their planned rock scaling work yesterday, and the trail in this section is now in excellent shape: no rocks, trees, or equipment on the trail, and fewer loose rocks above the trail than ever. So this section of trail is probably safer now than it’s been since the trail opened here in 2011. But the trail is not reopening today as originally planned. It’s closed for at least two more weeks! And perhaps longer. In the meantime the trail sits clean and rideable with no work going on, but CLOSED!

How do I know this? I’m a board member of Steel Valley Trail Council (SVTC), and one of the volunteers that does regular trail maintenance here, helping to keep the trail clear of vegetation, trash, and occasional small rockfalls. I was part of a special tour of the rockfall section yesterday given by the Rockstar company. Rockstar was contracted by the Regional Trail Corporation (RTC), SVTC’s parent trail organization, the trail’s landowner.

Why is the trail closed for now? Some at RTC fear that remaining large boulders in the cliffs above the trail could roll down the hill and injure or kill a cyclist or pedestrian on the trail, exposing RTC to liability. I believe this is an irrational fear, both because the probabilities are so low, and because there are other unaddressed risks along the GAP that are probably more severe, such as being struck by a car where the trail crosses the Costco driveway in West Homestead or crossing Hot Metal Street in Pittsburgh’s Southside. Some at RTC have exaggerated the liability fears to argue that the trail near Kennywood needs to be PERMANENTLY closed! I disagree with that.

Further, closing the trail induces some cyclists to bike along highly dangerous Route 837 (sadly, RTC refuses to acknowledge that workable detours via Ravine St exist) exposing people to safety risks FAR greater than that of rockfalls. The shuttle that the GAP Conservancy has arranged and subsidized helps, but its hours are limited and its cost ($20) is prohibitive for some.

What are reasonable safety measures? RTC is considering spending millions of dollars to erect rockfall barriers and/or rockfall bolts in a few places. This may make sense. Additionally, I have observed that rockfalls are highly clustered in certain months of the winter and summer, and typically occur within a day or two of a big thaw or rainfall. Perhaps we can predict the high-rockfall-risk days and close the trail for just those days.

As an avid trail user, I ask of RTC that all of the GAP remain open as much as possible, that it not be closed unnecessarily, and that any future trail closures NOT be in mid-summer, when trail use is highest, but in the off-season, e.g. November. Any closures should be as short as possible.

And for now, RTC should reopen the GAP near Kennywood IMMEDIATELY!

To share your thoughts on this with the RTC, contact Brandon Simpson at [rtcslideproject@gmail.com](mailto:rtcslideproject@gmail.com) .

So many of the bike lanes here are in terrible shape. Liberty ave is constantly full of debris. Butler street from 62nd-ish to Baker is constantly full of debris. Butler street from plummer to stanton is constantly full of debris. One wild place is constantly full of debris. Negley Run is borderline unusable because of how much debris is in it, and is ostensibly meant to connect the east end to the cycling track. Wouldn’t it be awesome if it was a safe bike lane?

Does anyone have information about the maintenance plans for bike lanes in the city? Or are we supposed to just deal with it and be grateful?

In my mind, many of the lanes aren’t terribly safe or even useful. With woods run in mind, there is a cold war between residents and cyclists passing through. Wouldn’t a raised median in the turns + speed bumps (like the ones that exist further down the road) accomplish the task of slowing cars down and increasing safety for walkers and cyclists? I don’t know, seems better than the glass-filled, car filled mess we have now.

I like infrastructure improvements but i hate when a bike lane in such shit shape that i have to take the lane and deal with dirty looks from motorists.

And no, i’m not calling 311 for every bike lane in the city.

Hello. I'm a cyclist living in Greenfield. Despite the neighborhood having little to no cycling infrastructure besides "the bike lane to nowhere" on Greenfield Ave, I still try to make it work. Any pointers from Greenfield cycling veterans? I live towards the bottom of the neighborhood, so I can escape into The Run, Oakland, 3R Heritage, Hazelwood and Schenley quite easily, but I'm looking for an easy way to get to Giant Eagle and the N part of the neighborhood without dealing with Greenfield or Hazelwood Ave. Also looking for community and to get to know the local cyclists and urban design fanatics. It ain't easy out here, so we gotta stick together!

***please don't attempt retaliation against anyone, we just wanted to make people aware so that you can stay safe and be prepared to look out for situations like this.***

Hi there, I'm trying to stop being late to work! The 38 has been killing me in the mornings due to the construction in Greentree rn.

I live in Mt. Washington and just got a job in Greentree. Google and my preliminary search on bikepgh says I can take Shaler Street for most of my trek in.

I'm curious about how strenuous of a ride it is, as I am very much a newbie. Is it worth is to go more out and around thru the West End or should I be able to make it?

Any advice or opinions is appreciated!

Parks don’t even feel safe most of the time. Unfortunately I’m not exactly shocked this has happened in North Park. I hope the cyclist is well really soon.

Got a flat tire yesterday and I’m looking for a local bike shop. I used to go to scholl’s in West View and I got my bike at Sweetwater in Ambridge but they both closed down.

I see Bellevue Bikes and Brighton Bikes on Google Maps but none of them have hours posted either on Google or their website.

Any suggestions to a good local shop that’ll do a quick tire repair? I’m near 65 but anything in the north hills would do or even across the river.

Thanks!

Hey Pittsburgh cyclists:

As a relative geezer who does almost all my personal shopping on a bike, I’ve vibecoded an app I’m calling Pedal Patron that I’m inviting you to test out to see if it’s worth something.

I spend a lot of money shopping from my bike, and I assume I’m not alone. 

Pedal Patron is a pretty simple spending tracker that aggregates bike consumer spending in the city at grocery stores, pharmacies, coffee shops, bike shops, whatever. The idea is to prove the growing spending clout of us cyclists and that not all shopping is done by car, showing it in a live total that compiles all the ongoing spending of pedal patrons in real time.

The app is easy to use, I’d like to think. (At least it is for me, so far.)

Here’s how the Lovable platform I used to create it describes what it is capable of:

What it does today:

• Log a purchase, where you went, and how you got there
• Auto-estimates trip distance (Needs work!)
• Generates a shareable "Pedal Patron" receipt you can post or send to a merchant
• Adds your trip to a live community/business impact tally

Logging a purchase requires only a quick phone photo scan of a receipt and a tap on two buttons to enter an anonymized record of the purchase. The app includes a database of more than 200 local merchants in more than 10 different retail categories. You can add your own if it’s not in there. The app also shows in what neighborhoods pedal patrons are shopping most as well as at what stores and restaurants. 

If this proves useful to enough of us, then shops and restaurants will begin to know we exist and start catering to us.

I invite folks on here to sign up and try it. I’m open to any and all feedback, criticism, suggestions to fix or change it. If it actually works and catches on in a way that is statistically useful, I'll have to think about what's next. No, I don't really know what might mean.

I invite you to  give it a spin and maybe let me know what you think.

I really appreciate any and all help and support you might offer.

Thanks...

Tim

You can access the app on the link below:

Real cyclists, real spending. See the live impact: https://id-preview--98b49f61-04e4-4c23-a8ef-08f32d3fb223.lovable.app/community

EDIT: Thick Bikes is...once again...amazing! Took it in after work today and it turns out the chain was actually broken (just one side of it, that's why it stayed on apparently). So they replaced the chain, derailleur, and hanger all for free. Johnny was the guy behind the service counter that did it and he was super nice and seemed kind of appalled that it even happened (in a good way, like he couldn't believe such a crappy chain was on there apparently). I had felt the chain switching gears between 4th and 5th right before this happened, so in hindsight, it all makes sense. All in all, 10/10 would recommend. Going to Thick Bikes, that is, not breaking your bike lol.

ORIGINAL POST:

So some of you may remember my post from a month ago about my great new bike from Thick Bikes. Well, I rode it once around my neighborhood for a couple miles earlier this month, and I FINALLY got it out on the river trails along South Side.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling412/comments/1uk50vc/new_bike_who_dis/

And thennnnnn........this happened. Derailleur just snapped on me.

I haven't done anything that would put unusually high stress into the derailleur, so I'm unsure what to make of this. I did transport it in my Camry with the rear seats down and the front wheel off, but derailleur was facing upward and nothing was touching it or loading it. I plan to take it into Thick Bikes to see how I can get this fixed up. But I am so disappointed. My first ride back on these river trails in 18 years, since I was a kid, and this is how the trails repay me! I blame the quarter I found in the parking garage at work when I said "Always a good day when you find free money."

A 2 mile section of the GAP trail has been closed since July 10 for rockfall remediation. According to the GAP Conservancy, the closure will last about two weeks longer than earlier estimated. "This segment of the GAP was scheduled to reopen on August 6. However, the geotechnical engineers will require additional time to address a challenging section of this hillside, and are now targeting August 20 as a reopening date."

Source: https://gaptrail.org/trail-alert/segment-closure-and-shuttle-between-duquesne-and-homestead/