Best Bike Ride of Pittsburgh, City of Bridges

Best Bike Ride of Pittsburgh, City of Bridges

City Tour

7 miles

10 miles with detour to Hazelwood Green

Over the Bar Cafe

Point State Park

Smithfield Street Bridge

Station Square

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

About the Curator

Route Overview

Amy Camp, owner of Cycle Forward, lives in Pittsburgh and helps trail communities access the outdoor economy. She wrote Deciding on Trails: 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns with the hope of positioning communities everywhere to better connect to their trails.

Instagram: Cycle_Forward

Pittsburgh is known for its Three Rivers (the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio). Long before the rivers were lined with the multi-use Three Rivers Heritage Trail, the plentiful water access contributed to Pittsburgh’s industrial growth. Industrial relics (as well as some active industry) can be viewed from this tour. This ride includes both sides of the Monongahela River as well as Point State Park (where the rivers converge), a short jaunt along the Allegheny River, and Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.

Itinerary and Biking Distance

This itinerary was designed as a city tour with stops for coffee, eating and beer. Start your journey at Golden Triangle Bicycles for a 7 mile ride or 10 miles if you add the 3 mile detour to Hazelwood Green.

Click "Free Map" button below map for printable double-sided version.

Free Bike Map

Bike Map: Pittsburgh Bridges

+ Map & Bikes (click to expand)

BIKE SHARE

• Healthy Ride - $2+ per trip or $12 per month, up to 30 minutes for free, for bike with basket and lights

RENTAL SHOPS

• Bike The Burgh- $8+/hr or $29+/day for a bike, a helmet, lock, bike map and free appetizer coupons from their Downtown restaurant partners
• Golden Triangle Bikes - $20+/2 hours or $40+/day for hybrid, electric, road, tandem, mountain, gravel, kids, trailer bike or kids trailer

SPINLISTER

• "Airbnb for bikes"-rent a wide variety of bikes from locals

BIKE SHOPS

• Kindred Cycles - Pittsburgh's transportation bike shop that sells ebikes, Brompton, Velo Orange parts, Ortlieb and other great brands.

Google Map

To open this is Google Maps on your phone:

1. Click the star ★ on the map above

2. Launch Google Maps on your phone

3. Menu to "Your Places"

4. Click "Best Bike Ride of Pittsburgh"

Ride with GPS

To open this in Ride with GPS on you phone:

1. Download the RideWithGPS app

2. Launch app

3. Menu to "search routes" for Pittsburgh

4. When you find "Best Bike Ride of Pittsburgh, City of Bridges", click 3 dots and select, "Ride This"

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+ Hotels (click to expand)

• ACE HOTEL

  Reservations, (412) 361-3300, 120 S Whitfield St

  Amenities: 1 block from bike share station (S Whitfield St & Baum Blvd)

• FAIRMONT PITTSBURGH

  Reservations, (412) 773-8800, 510 Market St

  Amenities: BMW city bikes for Fairmont Club members

• HOTEL MONACO

  Reservations, (412) 471-1170, 620 William Penn Place

  Amenities: complimentary Public bikes

• SOUTH SIDE TRAVELER'S REST

  Reservations | (412) 623-9343 | 27 S 6th St, Pittsburgh, PA

  Amenities: an oasis for bikers, hikers, and other travelers looking for comfortable, safe lodging. Located at the start/finish of the Great Allegheny Passage with indoor bike parking, fix-it station, tools for guests and a community of fellow bike travelers. Bunks are $40-$46, private rooms $80-$200

Itinerary

This best bike ride has something for everyone from cool bridges, urban planning, tasty drinks and food and beautiful vistas along the rivers.

+ Highlights (click to expand)

1. GOLDEN TRIANGLE BIKE RENTAL | 600 First Avenue, Pittsburgh | goldentrianglebike.com/ | 412-600-0675

Located n downtown Pittsburgh on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage. At Golden Triangle, you can rent for a couple of hours or a couple of days. The shop has a variety of bikes, including e-bikes and tandems, as well as child trailers and tag-a-longs. Golden Triangle also offers guided tours and can share a self-guided itinerary with customers.

2. GASOLINE STREET COFFEE | 643 First Avenue, Pittsburgh | gasolinestreetcoffee.com/ | 412-248-3835

If you happen to be renting a bike from Golden Triangle Bike, this is your place for a coffee. It's just around the corner. They also have mobile coffee via cargo bike, an endeavor worth supporting.

3. HAZELWOOD GREEN | 4501 Lytle St, Pittsburgh | hazelwoodgreen.com/

Before crossing the Hot Metal Bridge into the South Side neighborhood, you have the option of detouring to Hazelwood. Visible from the bridge is the sprawling Hazelwood Green, a brownfield site that is being converted to a mixed use development. On site, take the Blair Street Trail toward the heart of the neighborhood. Along the way, you’ll see gigantic former coal loaders, mooring cells, and other steel industry leave behinds. Plans call for incorporating these into future riverfront improvements.

4. LA GOURMANDINE | 5013 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh | lagourmandinebakery.com/ | 412-291-8146

Pittsburgh is sometimes called "the Paris of Appalachia" so it seems appropriate to have a beloved French bakery. Everything is good, but you simply can't go wrong with the Croissant aux Amandes or the Gourmandise.

5. HOT METAL BRIDGE

Originally two rail bridges from 1887 and 1900, later both were converted for car use. In 2007 the downstream side was converted to bike and walking only, offering an amazing car-free experience and a great city view.

6. BIG DOG COFFEE | 2717 Sarah St, Pittsburgh | bigdogcoffeeshop.com | (412)586-7306

This longtime South Side coffee shop about four blocks from the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a favorite stop for local cyclists. If you’ve been pulling your pups along, be sure to grab a treat near the front (your dogs will show you where they are).

7. OVER THE BAR BICYCLE CAFE | 2518 E Carson St, Pittsburgh | otbbicyclecafe.com/southside | 412-381-3698

Bike-themed bar/restaurant has great American food, good beer, and a bike corral out front. It’s located on East Carson Street, a National Historic District that is thought to be the longest Victorian commercial district in the U.S.

8. THE HIGHLINE | 339 McKean Street, Pittsburgh | highlinepittsburgh.com/

Inspired by New York City’s High Line, this stop features an elevated greenspace between and atop early 1900s warehouse buildings. The buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Until recently, the lush, secluded strip was open for vehicular traffic and site parking. It’s nice to see an “elevated” repurposing of the space.

9. P&LE RAILROAD STATION AND MONONGAHELA INCLINE

The stunning Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station, now part of the Station Square development, is worth a peek inside. While in the area, take the Monongahela Incline up to Mt. Washington to see the city from one of its hilltop neighborhoods. Insider tip: you can opt to bike .8 miles northwest of the Monongahela Incline to ride the Duquesne Incline instead. Many believe the Duquesne Incline affords superior views.

10. SMITHFIELD STREET BRIDGE

It’s a beautiful historic bridge that people can cross to get to downtown. Note: If you opt for the Duquesne Incline, they will take the Fort Pitt Bridge (shared sidewalk, a bit narrow, but people use it all the time) and drop right into Point State Park.

11. POINT STATE PARK

Downtown Pittsburgh is shaped like a triangle, and Point State Park is located at “the Point.” This is where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers form the Ohio River. The fountain at the Point makes for a great photo op and is next to the northern terminus of the Great Allegheny Passage.

12. GAUCHO PARILLA ARGENTINA | 146 6th Street, Pittsburgh | eatgaucho.com | 412-709-6622

By now, you’ve had coffee, beer, and maybe even a French pastry. Why not add wood-fired Argentine food to round out your day? Located in the Cultural District, Gaucho has become a Pittsburgh favorite. Be prepared for a wait.

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