PARTICIPANTS IN PEDAL PITTSBURGH IN 2022. | PHOTOS BY MURPHY MOSHETTA | BIKE PITTSBURGH

Hundreds of bikers will take over streets and bike lanes of Pittsburgh at the end of the month for Pennsylvania’s largest annual bike ride. PedalPGH is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Sunday, Aug 27. 

Hosted by BikePGH, PedalPGH offers 4 routes ranging from 7 to 62 miles. More than just a ride, PedalPGH serves as a fundraiser for BikePGH, supporting transformative initiatives that enhance Pittsburgh’s streets and communities for not only cyclists, but pedestrians as well.

Twenty years ago, Pittsburgh was known as one of the least bike-friendly cities in the United States, ranking among the worst cities for cycling by Bicycling Magazine. Only three bike lanes existed in Pittsburgh in 2002, and cyclists feared for their safety due to the lack of education and enforcement around biking rules and safety.

Now, Pittsburgh has more than 100 miles of bike infrastructure and hundreds of bike racks due to the efforts of BikePGH. Scott Bricker, David Hoffman and Lou Fineberg established BikePGH in 2002 with the initiative to transform Pittsburgh into a bike-friendly city, and did just that.

The first bike ride of the day will kick off at 7 a.m., beginning and ending at Allegheny Commons Park West in the North Side. The rides end at 3 p.m. with the finish line festival. The routes will take bikers all around the city, from Downtown to Squirrel Hill and South Side to Mount Washington and into Bellevue. 

Roads are not typically blocked off from cars for Pedal Pittsburgh. The routes are all bicycle-friendly, ensuring ample space for bikers to travel alongside drivers. However, it is crucial for drivers to have a heightened awareness due to the large number of cyclists expected throughout the day.