Open Streets is in it's 3rd year. There have been 3 different routes: the Strip/Lawrenceville route; the North Side/West End route and the South Side/Uptown route.
The South Side route seems to be the most popular, getting 25K attendees, while the other two routes 'only' gets 20K or so. That's a LOT OF PEOPLE either way.
The route is PACKED with people (lots of dogs and a snake or two as well), biking, walking, rollerblading, running, dancing...
We've decided that we like the South Side route best.
Here's video of Gus enjoying the view from his trailer during the last Open Streets:
And now for some photos of rides I/we took in recent months:
My chain had dropped a few times before we changed the chain
At the Keg Ride:
At the South Side Open Streets
The MS 150
The bike rack doubles for transporting home furniture we found on the South Side.
The Smtihfield Bride Switchback construction is coming along
Open Streets West End:
DOGS GET ICE CREAM?
This crazy huge boat docked in Pittsburgh. I read that rooms start at $7,000
Marko's been hosting this ride for several years. It's a slow, social ride... centered around drink, food and friends. We meet at OTB bar on the South Side (maybe have a beer and socialize...) and then ride via the trail to Holy Angels for fried fish.
We had 9 total riders, good weather brought more folks out.
I've taken my bike on the T (our local Trolley system) a few times, but today I needed to use the bus to get home.
I've used the demonstration bus bike racks the Port Authority offers, I've watched videos of people using the bus bike racks, but I was still worried...
"What if I take too long getting my bike on and off the rack?"
"Will someone steal my bike off the rack?"
"Will my fenders interfere with the wheel hook?"
"What if my bike FALLS OFF THE BUS!??!"
All that worry for nothing, it was easy for the most part.
Things are vastly different for both of us now that we live in Baldwin and have a dog. Marko kindly obliges me by offering to drive to the bottom of our horrendous hill in the evening and pick me up after work. I can't handle the hill that he was accustomed to climbing on an almost daily basis. I have neither the stamina nor the cajones to deal with the angry dangerous drivers.
Marko's adapted two trailers for Gus so he can cart him around town. He learned the hard way that taking turns at speed with a trailer that's been narrowed and carrying a dog that's shifting the center of gravity around is a really bad idea...
He's fine. I'm still amazed Marko stayed upright.
I live out in the hinterlands with Marko now. My commute has doubled in mileage and altitude. I picked a really good day for my first attempt: Friday the 13th. (cue the scary dramatic music)
Not only is this ride longer, hillier and chock full of narrow winding roads with plenty of opportunities for close passes, but there's a bonus: hauling the bike over active rail lines! Woo hoo!
