A friend and I will be biking from Pittsburgh to DC this June. I've been banging my head against the internet trying to find a cheap hotel room for the first night, but everything is either too expensive or in a bad location. A lot of Pittsburgh - particularly near the airport - has a distinct reputation for not being safe on a bike.

Anyone know a good placer to stay in the area between the University area and Schenly Park?

This is the tentative route I plan on taking out of the city. (A lot of it is on trails, I'm not, repeat not, planning to ride on 837.) Anything within reasonable bikeable distance from this route that's within the city limits would work.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Downtown-Pittsburgh-to-McKeesport-trailhead
I'm fine with hotels, hostels, anything that will give us beds for a night. Thanks!

Although we deliver stuff in that area I'm not personally familiar enough to tell you of a place to stay. Their is a Bike Pittsburgh map and you may be able to access routes from their website on www.BIKE-PGH.org (http://www.BIKE-PGH.org). You would be welcome to stay at my house when I get it all set up. I am in the process of buying a house in Washington, PA. and should be set by June, I hope. I have read the post of the Neil's so I'm familiar with you guys. I'm in the process of a divorce so I'm looking forward to more bike time.

Although we deliver stuff in that area I'm not personally familiar enough to tell you of a place to stay. Their is a Bike Pittsburgh map and you may be able to access routes from their website on www.BIKE-PGH.org (http://www.BIKE-PGH.org). You would be welcome to stay at my house when I get it all set up. I am in the process of buying a house in Washington, PA. and should be set by June, I hope. I have read the post of the Neil's so I'm familiar with you guys. I'm in the process of a divorce so I'm looking forward to more bike time.

The PDF seems to be corrupted, but it soudns like a cool project.

Washington is pretty out of our way, but thanks in any case!

Pittsburgh has a hostel on the Southside in Allentown (on a hilltop). Might be a gnarly ride up there from downtown with the traffic and all but it's close to PPG (South across the river). I think you could take the incline at Station Square up to Mt. Washington and then bike East to Allentown. Here's two URLS:
Hostel: http://www.hipittsburgh.org/pgh_hostel.html
Incline: http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/things_to_do/p/mon_incline.htm

Pittsburgh has a hostel on the Southside in Allentown (on a hilltop). Might be a gnarly ride up there from downtown with the traffic and all but it's close to PPG (South across the river). I think you could take the incline at Station Square up to Mt. Washington and then bike East to Allentown. Here's two URLS:
Hostel: http://www.hipittsburgh.org/pgh_hostel.html
Incline: http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/things_to_do/p/mon_incline.htm

That site says that the hostel no longer is in operation, but that you can make a reservation in "one of the dormitories". What does that mean?

Beats me. Let me check it out and get back to you...

I saw the route you had posted, and I would recommend against it for many reasons:

1. I can't think of a <$100 place to stay along the route.
2. There are many lights and stop signs along the route.
3. It takes you through Braddock, not a very safe neighborhood, and one not used to seeing bikes.
4. Route 686 on the map is a 4 lane highway climbing a large hill. I can't remember if there is any place
to ride.
5. E pgh mckeesport rd is an uneven brick road-downhill. Would be very slick if wet.
6 In mckeesport, lysle blvd is not a good road to ride, busy traffic, no placer to ride. 5th ave is better, but
is one way the other direction.

Instead, I would recommend before entering the sandcastle parking lot, following baldwin rd/streets run road
a few miles to Delwar rd. Its a 2 lane road with moderate traffic and a moderate shoulder. It crisscrosses the RR tracks and stream several times. Delwar will be a steep, but relatively short hill. This will take you to Lebanon Church Rd in W Mifflin. There are several hotels in the area that can be had for under $100 with a free breakfast. Hampton, HI Express, Comfort Inn, and Springhill. You should avoid riding Leb Church Rd. at all costs and ride in the shopping center parking lots and use Old Elizabeth Rd to get around.

Next morning go to the HI Express parking lot(Leb Chaurch and Camp Hollow Rd.). Just E of the hotel is Curry Hollow Road. It is a 2mi downhill, 500' descend, somewhat bumpy though. Follow down to Elizabeth St and make a left. The will be right before you get to 837. Go up elizabeth st and cross the mansfield bridge on the sidewalk. Once over the bride go to your left, follow the road to Mckeesport. You can ride past the marina and follow the trail to the 15th st bridge, cross and follow the river to the trailhead.
Make sure to use curry hollow rd, not camp hollow.
From W 5th after the manfield bridge you can take the ramp at the gas station and take pacific to river rd to the trail and avoid some traffic and downtown mckeesport

It should take about 30 minutes from downtown to sandcastle, 30 more to the hotel, and about 30 to the trailhead the next morning. A similar route which is better for going from Mckeesport to Pgh than Pgh to Mckeesport is:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/McKeesport-to-Pgh

I saw the route you had posted, and I would recommend against it for many reasons:

1. I can't think of a <$100 place to stay along the route.
2. There are many lights and stop signs along the route.
3. It takes you through Braddock, not a very safe neighborhood, and one not used to seeing bikes.
4. Route 686 on the map is a 4 lane highway climbing a large hill. I can't remember if there is any place
to ride.
5. E pgh mckeesport rd is an uneven brick road-downhill. Would be very slick if wet.
6 In mckeesport, lysle blvd is not a good road to ride, busy traffic, no placer to ride. 5th ave is better, but
is one way the other direction.

Instead, I would recommend before entering the sandcastle parking lot, following baldwin rd/streets run road
a few miles to Delwar rd. Its a 2 lane road with moderate traffic and a moderate shoulder. It crisscrosses the RR tracks and stream several times. Delwar will be a steep, but relatively short hill. This will take you to Lebanon Church Rd in W Mifflin. There are several hotels in the area that can be had for under $100 with a free breakfast. Hampton, HI Express, Comfort Inn, and Springhill. You should avoid riding Leb Church Rd. at all costs and ride in the shopping center parking lots and use Old Elizabeth Rd to get around.

Next morning go to the HI Express parking lot(Leb Chaurch and Camp Hollow Rd.). Just E of the hotel is Curry Hollow Road. It is a 2mi downhill, 500' descend, somewhat bumpy though. Follow down to Elizabeth St and make a left. The will be right before you get to 837. Go up elizabeth st and cross the mansfield bridge on the sidewalk. Once over the bride go to your left, follow the road to Mckeesport. You can ride past the marina and follow the trail to the 15th st bridge, cross and follow the river to the trailhead.
Make sure to use curry hollow rd, not camp hollow.
From W 5th after the manfield bridge you can take the ramp at the gas station and take pacific to river rd to the trail and avoid some traffic and downtown mckeesport

It should take about 30 minutes from downtown to sandcastle, 30 more to the hotel, and about 30 to the trailhead the next morning. A similar route which is better for going from Mckeesport to Pgh than Pgh to Mckeesport is:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/McKeesport-to-Pgh

We've since found a Bed and Breakfast in Boston (near McKeesport) for $60/night. I'm planning to take my bike just inside the city limits (bus or taxi, probably) and ride to the trailhead from there.

Thanks for the directions! I'm using most of your route, it looks like a good one. Looking at it in Google Earth, I see a lot of tree-lined streets; it looks gorgeous.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Downtown-Pittsburgh-to-McKeesport-trailhead-v-2
(http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Downtown-Pittsburgh-to-McKeesport-trailhead-v-2)
Do you know where the sidewalk access is to the Mansfield Bridge?

If I'm seeing things correctly, it looks like there's a trail or a footpath that leads from Romaine Avenue (near Washington Blvd) heading East, over to River Road. (Mile 16.1 on the new route.) Is there a trail that follows the river from there?

Hey, jkertis, is this a sneaky shortcut path?

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=40.3434,-79.87973&spn=0.003046,0.00648&t=h&z=18&msid=102560808235390065034.00044c5871d0a0cce6ab3

Hey, jkertis, is this a sneaky shortcut path?

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=40.3434,-79.87973&spn=0.003046,0.00648&t=h&z=18&msid=102560808235390065034.00044c5871d0a0cce6ab3

Neil,

LOL-That short cut is the parking lot for an adult video store. Going to romaine ave which is port vue is not
a good idea. Its a steep climb up and tough to get back down to the trail. Would recommend ramp#2 and pacific to river ave from W5th.

The rest of the route isn't too painful to bike, but not very scenic either. Curry hollow will be a 15% grade downhill near the top and ends up a 2% downhill near the bottom, but don't go over 20-25 mph since the road is in poor condition. The tunnel near the bottom of curry hollow is cool tho, check out the creek that runs through it along side the road.

Here's another route to try if you want a really good scenic overlook of mckeesport and the mon river:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pgh-to-Mckeesport-direct-with-overlook

Very few people know of this overlook, but along the old coke pipline your can walk and see the
entire river valley, mckeesport, glassport.

This route has two moderate hills with moderate traffic. Its a little more direct than the other and
the descent down pgh-mckeesport can be 40mph, but a smooth road. I ride it fairly often since I work along the route.

Either way is still better than 837 traffic wise.

Anyway, are you flying in? The montour trail will take you from the airport area to the trail also, but you'd miss downtown pgh. Check portauthority.org for bus info, some buses have bike racks, it would be 2 bucks from the airport to downtown on the 28x. 56C goes almost along the same path as above from pgh to mckeesport-most of them have bike racks also.

I put you over the $600 mark. Good luck.

No, we're renting a car and driving in from Philadelphia. I'll take a look at your suggestions tomorrow, it's late. (I'm up late playing with my brand new iPod.)

Neil,

LOL-That short cut is the parking lot for an adult video store.

Sounds just like NJ, then.

Here's another route to try if you want a really good scenic overlook of mckeesport and the mon river:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pgh-to-Mckeesport-direct-with-overlook

I see you're hitting the Hot Metal Bridge just to see it.

Very few people know of this overlook, but along the old coke pipline your can walk and see the entire river valley, mckeesport, glassport.

Where is this?

Either way is still better than 837 traffic wise.

Isn't there a trail that runs along the shoreline here? I have no desire to ride 837, I've heard it's a very busy road with no shoulders.

Anyway, are you flying in? The montour trail will take you from the airport area to the trail also, but you'd miss downtown pgh. Check portauthority.org for bus info, some buses have bike racks, it would be 2 bucks from the airport to downtown on the 28x. 56C goes almost along the same path as above from pgh to mckeesport-most of them have bike racks also.

I put you over the $600 mark. Good luck.

See my last post, we're driving in. Do you mean $600 for airfare, etc?

I see you're hitting the Hot Metal Bridge just to see it.

Its worth crossing. Great view of the city. They just finished the bike/pedestrian section of it.

Where is this?

Its off riverview ave in dravosburg. There is a driveway down to a playground. It you go that route its worth a look. Also on that route, check out using mooney rd instead of mifflin rd up the hill. No traffic,
15% climb. Drops you into a neighborhood.

Isn't there a trail that runs along the shoreline here? I have no desire to ride 837, I've heard it's a very busy road with no shoulders.

They're building it, it was supposed to be done for the pittsburgh 250 celebration this year, but I
don't think they'll finish it. There is really only a mile of it done right now(at the waterfront).

See my last post, we're driving in. Do you mean $600 for airfare, etc?

No, $600 donation total. If you're driving in, then don't worry about the airport stuff then.

No, $600 donation total. If you're driving in, then don't worry about the airport stuff then.

Actually, it's over $800 by now; I mailed in some checks, and they haven't updated the page. (It's been almost three weeks.)

No, we're renting a car and driving in from Philadelphia.

"We" are driving?!? You mean "Neil B is driving and I'm going to annoy him for five hours." :D

"We" are driving?!? You mean "Neil B is driving and I'm going to annoy him for five hours." :D

You're very talented at being annoyed, friend. :p