“People aren't going to just be convinced to bike in an environment as it is. It has to change and adapt to encourage people to be part of it.”
To support its mission of making city streets safer and more accessible for cyclists, BikePGH emphasizes three key pillars: community, advocacy, and education.
The first pillar — community — focuses on bringing residents together to experience Pittsburgh’s diverse neighborhoods through biking or walking. UPMC Health Plan proudly supports BikePGH’s vision as the presenting sponsor of events like OpenStreetsPGH and PedalPGH.
Each family-friendly event encourages thousands of participants to enjoy the city from a fresh, car-free perspective. It also allows them to feel safe, knowing the infrastructure exists to support them.
“Community is literally building the community for a supportive environment here in Pittsburgh,” says Kéya Joseph, director of events, BikePGH. “Building support for biking and walking for safe streets for safe infrastructure.
Kéya believes making changes on a smaller, street-level basis will result in more people walking or biking around town.
“People aren't going to just be convinced to bike in an environment as it is,” she says. “It has to change and adapt to encourage people to be part of it.”
In addition to hosting events throughout the year, BikePGH also offers volunteer opportunities for individuals, businesses, and clubs.
To learn more about how to get involved, visit BikePGH’s website.
Advocacy remains the backbone of BikePGH’s efforts to transform city streets. The nonprofit works directly with public officials to get bills passed or tweak state laws, such as implementing parking-protected bike lanes.
Neighborways, which are low-traffic streets that prioritize non-vehicular traffic, are another example. Neighborways connect neighborhoods by offering an alternative to busier streets.
“They were actually installed on streets that were traditionally used as cut-throughs for these major roads,” Kéya explains.
The streets, or sometimes series of streets, keep traffic and vehicle speeds lower. This helps create a safer environment for bicyclists, walkers, and even children.
Unlike bike lanes, Neighborways do not require a dedicated space and have minimal effect on parking. However, there are signs and pavement markings.
Pittsburgh introduced its first Neighborway in the South Side Flats neighborhood in 2020. Since then, more have popped up throughout the city: Point Breeze, Bloomfield/Friendship, and more.
To learn more about Neighborways, visit the city of Pittsburgh’s website.
BikePGH believes “education is for everyone,” including cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians.
Kéya says their education department evaluates community needs and how to meet them each year. As part of its education initiatives, the nonprofit regularly partners with Pittsburgh Public Schools to teach children how to ride a bike.
“Really just getting in on the ground level,” Kéya says. “If kids haven't learned at home or they haven't had access to a bike living in the city, (or) maybe their parents are not comfortable teaching them how to bike in the city, but they get that education through the program at Pittsburgh Public Schools.”
The hope is children will learn how to ride a bike and develop a love of cycling that grows.
BikePGH also partners with the city of Pittsburgh for several “learn to ride” events. The events are free, with participants only needing to register in advance.
“One of our goals is just to remove the barriers that tend to exist, like buying a bike,” Kéya says.
Programs like Operation Illumination also help to eliminate those barriers. The program provides front and rear bicycle lights to riders through giveaways and pop-up events.
According to Kéya, BikePGH gives out about 600 sets of lights yearly.
'"If you drive around after dark and see any cyclists without lights, that's what we're trying to solve,” Kéya, says. “Because people either don't know that they need them, or they don't realize how invisible they can be when they're in that situation.”
BikePGH also provides valuable resources like maps and guides for riders. Since 2007, the organization has produced the Official Pittsburgh Bike Map. It has also created a free comic-style Biking 101 Guide to help riders navigate urban streets.
"When you look at our bike map, newer cyclists tend to tell us that it's very helpful to see the routes color-coded like that,” Kéya says.
Additional resources include a guide for families new to biking, best practices when learning how to ride, and tips for taking a bike on public transportation.
At UPMC, Life Changing Medicine means creating safer streets and communities for riders through education.
To learn more about resources for bicyclists and upcoming events, visit BikePGH’s website.
