Sassi's Pittsburgh Bike Ride

This starts at my house but can be adjusted to start at Schenley Park if people have car bike racks. Bike along Wightnman to the Schenley Golf Course. Bike though the golf course past CMU and Phipp's Conservatory to the Cathedral of Learning. go inside the Cathedral of Learning and go to the top floor. Enjoy the view. If you have time, also check out the Nationality Rooms. Enjoy pretending to be Harry Potter. From there catch South Neville Street down into Junction Hollow (the lost neighborhood). Off Boundary Street it becomes a bike path - go under the parkway to get to Greenfield Avenue. Get onto 2nd avenue and take first right to get onto the Eliza Furnace Trail (or Jail Trail). Cross the Hot Metal Bridge (first bridge on the trail) and get off on the bike path on the other side. Can stop and look around the south side if wanted, but otherwise continue up towards downtown, staying on the trail until you get to Station Square. Stop to watch the dancing fountains. For advanced riders who want an extra special experience (note: I have only done this once with my cousin because I refuse to subject anyone who isn't family and isn't obligated to love me to this experience), you can take Arlington Avenue off of East Carson street and take a right onto PJ McArdle Roadway, which is a long, long, long steady climb to Mt. Washington. The views are worth it! Your relationships may not be. For everyone else, get on the Smithfield Bridge and take Smithfield to Forbes, make a left and ride to Market Square. Eat lunch at Primanti Brothers (note: there is also a Primanti Brothers in the southside (for those who get hungry earlier) and in the Strip District (for anyone who get hungry really late). However, lunch at Primanti Brothers is a necessary part of this tour). From Market Square, bike to Point State Park and the waterfountain at the Point. Enjoy the view. For those looking for a shorter ride, this is probably the best turn-around spot to head back. You need to get onto the Eliza Furnace Trail at First Avenue and Grant Street (once you get to this junction, you should be back on this bike map). For those of you continuing along, take the ramps from Point State Park to get you onto the Fort Duquesne Bridge and get off on the other side of the bridge. Initially go West, towards Heinz Field. Stop and observe Heinz Field - marvel at being at the home of the most decorated NFL team in football history. Turn around and ride the bike trail east along the Allegheny River (also stop to admire PNC Park, though I have nothing to brag about with the Pirates). Continue on the trail until the David McCullough Bridge. Find a way to get onto the bridge and bike across into the Strip District. Enjoy the mom and pop shops - buy some Italian or Greek delicacies (or if you haven't eaten lunch yet, find the Primanti Brothers!!). Get on the Strip Disctrict side of the Allegency river trail and ride back towards downtown (southwest). In whatever way feels safest to you, get across downtown to the Monongahela River to get back on to the Eliza Furnace Trail at First Avenue and Grant Street (If you prefer less street riding, you can also stay on the trail along the Allegheny River, which takes you back to point state park and then find your way to the trailhead for Eliza Furnace). Take the Eliza Furnace trail back to its origin. Get back onto Second Avenue to Greenfield Avenue. Here again are two options. The mapped route is the most direct - it goes up Greenfield Avenue to the Greenfield Bridge after which you make a right on what was formerly Pocusset St but is now a bike/pedestrian only street. Follow map back to my house. Note, Greenfield Avenue is shorter, but quite steep. Most will need to push bikes up the Greenfield Avenue portion of the ride. The alternative route, which is more scenic, longer, and slightly (but only slightly) less steep (Squirrel Hill is at the top of a huge hill, there is no way to not go up from the rivers) option. For this option, at the SecondAve/Greenfield Ave junction head back to Boundary Street and the bike path it becomes. On the bike path, shortly after you go under the Boulevard of the Allies bridge you will notice a dirt path was veers right off the main bike path (it is right before the path combines back with Boundary street). This dirt path takes you to the railroad tracks. Carry your bike over the tracks (trains do travel here so be careful!!!), which takes you to Panther Hollow Lake (which, while beautifully named, is unfortunately, quite filthy and gross. But there are ducks!). Get on the trail and follow the very very small (and possibly dry) creekbed until it merges (up a short and very steep hill) with another trail. Take a right (uphill) onto this trail and follow it until it empties out onto the intersection of Bartlett/Hobart/Boulevard of the Allies. Bike up Hobart (preferably on the sidewalk, again it's quite steep), take Hobart to Wightman, take a right on Wightman and a left on Melvin to get back to my house. And congratulations, you have completed the Kerpedjiev Bike Tour!! It is no small feat - it tests relationships and physically challenges, but I promise there is no better way to experience Pittsburgh!