| |
Main
Date: 16 Jun 2007 11:42:26
From: Stephen Harding
Subject: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
Anyone know if the section of PA 837 from S. Pittsburgh
to McKeesport is bike ridable within some semblance of
reason?
I'm planning on a tour from Pittsburgh to DC later this
summer and the bus or train ride from home to Pittsburgh
puts me a bit farther north of the route I actually want
to ride (Allegheny Alliance trail to C&O canal) which
starts in McKeesport.
I've read two fairly divergent reviews of riding PA 837
between the two cities: It's very ridable; It's ridable
if you have a death wish.
I Google Earth'ed the road a bit and it looked like some
sections had nice wide shoulders and other sections had
none, and the entire road was very "divided highway" looking
although maps called it a non-limited access road.
Doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternative side
roads between the two locations.
Thanks for any insights you may have.
SMH
|
|
| |
Date: 21 Jun 2007 22:17:06
From: bdbafh
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Title_Image_Copy_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1080080554487&ssid=43
Using a (provided) disposable box sure is nice in terms of not
worrying about getting the box back to the origin, but it sure does
cause me worry in terms of having the bike arrive unharmed.
-bdbafh
|
| | |
Date: 24 Jun 2007 12:09:10
From: Stephen Harding
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
bdbafh wrote:
> http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Title_Image_Copy_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1080080554487&ssid=43
>
> Using a (provided) disposable box sure is nice in terms of not
> worrying about getting the box back to the origin, but it sure does
> cause me worry in terms of having the bike arrive unharmed.
Ten years ago (Wow! That long???) I put my bike in a cardboard
bike box and threw it on NW Airlines from Hartford, CT to Seattle,
WA. for a ride back home to MA.
I *grossly* overloaded the box, as I left my stuffed, loaded
panniers (four of them) in the box as padding; inverted the
pedals and twisted the handlebars 90 degrees. (The box was
$10 from NWA but the transport was free on mentioning I was
a member of Adventure Cycling Assoc).
When seeing the box for the first time after arrival at SeaTac
airport in Seattle, I was very upset. The box was a battered
hulk!
I cautiously opened it up and almost miraculously, all was OK.
One of the NWA baggage clerks must have seen my shocked face
on seeing the box and mentioned I had over-loaded the box and
whatever broke wasn't their fault!
I'm now thinking of copping out in some ways by just driving
my truck to the DC C&O trail head (I have access to a parking
place nearby), then rent a car up to McKeesport one way to
start the ride.
Was hoping to do this the more "environmentally friendly" way
by using public transport (and add to the adventure a little
bit at the same time). A little disappointing that I may
have to fall back on my trusty, reliable, personal, "global
warmer" [V-8, 4WD pickup truck], but we'll see.
I'll talk to real people at Greyhound and Amtrak tomorrow and
see what they can do for me.
SMH
|
| | | |
Date: 24 Jun 2007 17:34:46
From: RBrickston
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
In article <G9tfi.1169$t95.938@trndny01 >, smharding16@msn.com says...
> bdbafh wrote:
> > http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Title_Image_Copy_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1080080554487&ssid=43
> >
> > Using a (provided) disposable box sure is nice in terms of not
> > worrying about getting the box back to the origin, but it sure does
> > cause me worry in terms of having the bike arrive unharmed.
>
> Ten years ago (Wow! That long???) I put my bike in a cardboard
> bike box and threw it on NW Airlines from Hartford, CT to Seattle,
> WA. for a ride back home to MA.
>
> I *grossly* overloaded the box, as I left my stuffed, loaded
> panniers (four of them) in the box as padding; inverted the
> pedals and twisted the handlebars 90 degrees. (The box was
> $10 from NWA but the transport was free on mentioning I was
> a member of Adventure Cycling Assoc).
>
> When seeing the box for the first time after arrival at SeaTac
> airport in Seattle, I was very upset. The box was a battered
> hulk!
>
> I cautiously opened it up and almost miraculously, all was OK.
> One of the NWA baggage clerks must have seen my shocked face
> on seeing the box and mentioned I had over-loaded the box and
> whatever broke wasn't their fault!
>
> I'm now thinking of copping out in some ways by just driving
> my truck to the DC C&O trail head (I have access to a parking
> place nearby), then rent a car up to McKeesport one way to
> start the ride.
>
> Was hoping to do this the more "environmentally friendly" way
> by using public transport (and add to the adventure a little
> bit at the same time). A little disappointing that I may
> have to fall back on my trusty, reliable, personal, "global
> warmer" [V-8, 4WD pickup truck], but we'll see.
>
> I'll talk to real people at Greyhound and Amtrak tomorrow and
> see what they can do for me.
>
>
> SMH
IIRC, AMTRAK will work with the bike in the baggage car, but arrives at
11 PM from DC, meaning you have to find a hotel and leave from the
slightly less safe city to start your tour.
|
| |
Date: 21 Jun 2007 21:48:57
From: bdbafh
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
On Jun 21, 6:36 am, Stephen Harding <smhardin...@msn.com > wrote:
> bdbafh wrote:
> > Amtrak runs the 29 Capitol Limited which has a stop in Connelsville,
> > but checked baggage is not supported at that stop.
> > What bus line are you taking to the Burgh and what is their policy on
> > bikes as baggage?
>
> Looks like Vermont Transport to NYC, then Greyhound to Pittsburgh.
I can't get on a bike for a couple of days after a 4 hour bus ride
(nyc to Boston) due to knee pain.
Fortunately, the Limo Liner has more than adequate leg room.
I think that you'd find the 43 Pennsylvanian is quite a bargain at $60
(one way) and its a direct train between NYPenn and da Burgh. Too bad
there is "no checked baggage" listed on their website, but it never
hurts to ask.
The 29 Capitol Limited does offer checked baggage.
Perhaps you could have the bike shipped on the 29 from NYPenn to PGH
via Wash DC while you travel the shorter, quicker route (43). Stay at
a nearby downtown hotel and pickup the bike that night and be ready to
"Git ahta tahn" early.
I'm thinking about riding the Bike PA South route from west to east
later this summer and was hoping to use Amtrak to get west. It looks
like the easiest way is to use more vacation time and travel it both
directions.
> They allegedly take bikes (boxed) but that's just from their web
> pages. Don't know specifics until I talk to a genuine person.
>
> The Amtrak train home from DC seems like a nice ride: the Vermonter.
> I noticed it says no checked baggage, but several years ago I took
> the Vermonter from here in MA up to St Albans, VT with my bike and
> rode it back home. Only $5 for the bike.
>
> Public transport sure doesn't make it very easy traveling with a
> bike!
>
> There's always Greyhound express freight but I'm not certain of the
> logistics of when the bike gets somewhere compared with when I get
> there, and where they keep the bike until I do meet up with it.
>
> It's looking like the primary challenge of the ride isn't getting
> between start and end points of the route, but getting to and from
> the start/end points!
Agreed.
> So far, I'm just web checking things out. Will start talking to
> real people at Greyhound and Amtrak when I'm more certain of timing
> of the trip.
>
> SMH
thanks. I'd like to hear how things turn out.
-bdbafh
|
| |
Date: 20 Jun 2007 15:58:27
From: bdbafh
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
On Jun 16, 7:42 am, Stephen Harding <smhardin...@msn.com > wrote:
> Anyone know if the section of PA 837 from S. Pittsburgh
> to McKeesport is bike ridable within some semblance of
> reason?
>
> I'm planning on a tour from Pittsburgh to DC later this
> summer and the bus or train ride from home to Pittsburgh
> puts me a bit farther north of the route I actually want
> to ride (Allegheny Alliance trail to C&O canal) which
> starts in McKeesport.
>
> I've read two fairly divergent reviews of riding PA 837
> between the two cities: It's very ridable; It's ridable
> if you have a death wish.
>
> I Google Earth'ed the road a bit and it looked like some
> sections had nice wide shoulders and other sections had
> none, and the entire road was very "divided highway" looking
> although maps called it a non-limited access road.
>
> Doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternative side
> roads between the two locations.
>
> Thanks for any insights you may have.
>
> SMH
Amtrak runs the 29 Capitol Limited which has a stop in Connelsville,
but checked baggage is not supported at that stop.
What bus line are you taking to the Burgh and what is their policy on
bikes as baggage?
-bdbafh
|
| | |
Date: 21 Jun 2007 10:36:59
From: Stephen Harding
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
bdbafh wrote:
> Amtrak runs the 29 Capitol Limited which has a stop in Connelsville,
> but checked baggage is not supported at that stop.
> What bus line are you taking to the Burgh and what is their policy on
> bikes as baggage?
Looks like Vermont Transport to NYC, then Greyhound to Pittsburgh.
They allegedly take bikes (boxed) but that's just from their web
pages. Don't know specifics until I talk to a genuine person.
The Amtrak train home from DC seems like a nice ride: the Vermonter.
I noticed it says no checked baggage, but several years ago I took
the Vermonter from here in MA up to St Albans, VT with my bike and
rode it back home. Only $5 for the bike.
Public transport sure doesn't make it very easy traveling with a
bike!
There's always Greyhound express freight but I'm not certain of the
logistics of when the bike gets somewhere compared with when I get
there, and where they keep the bike until I do meet up with it.
It's looking like the primary challenge of the ride isn't getting
between start and end points of the route, but getting to and from
the start/end points!
So far, I'm just web checking things out. Will start talking to
real people at Greyhound and Amtrak when I'm more certain of timing
of the trip.
SMH
|
| |
Date: 18 Jun 2007 17:36:53
From: bdbafh
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
On Jun 16, 7:42 am, Stephen Harding <smhardin...@msn.com > wrote:
> Anyone know if the section of PA 837 from S. Pittsburgh
> to McKeesport is bike ridable within some semblance of
> reason?
>
> I'm planning on a tour from Pittsburgh to DC later this
> summer and the bus or train ride from home to Pittsburgh
> puts me a bit farther north of the route I actually want
> to ride (Allegheny Alliance trail to C&O canal) which
> starts in McKeesport.
>
> I've read two fairly divergent reviews of riding PA 837
> between the two cities: It's very ridable; It's ridable
> if you have a death wish.
>
> I Google Earth'ed the road a bit and it looked like some
> sections had nice wide shoulders and other sections had
> none, and the entire road was very "divided highway" looking
> although maps called it a non-limited access road.
>
> Doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternative side
> roads between the two locations.
>
> Thanks for any insights you may have.
>
> SMH
That route has overlap with this route, which tends to have more
detailed maps:
ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/state_mapS.pdf (overview)
ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/Bike_S_04.PDF
ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/Bike_S_05.PDF
and this might be worth a look:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Allegheny_Passage
-bdbafh
|
| |
Date: 17 Jun 2007 01:11:38
From: Leland Mayne
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
Stephen Harding wrote:
> Anyone know if the section of PA 837 from S. Pittsburgh
> to McKeesport is bike ridable within some semblance of
> reason?
>
> I'm planning on a tour from Pittsburgh to DC later this
> summer and the bus or train ride from home to Pittsburgh
> puts me a bit farther north of the route I actually want
> to ride (Allegheny Alliance trail to C&O canal) which
> starts in McKeesport.
>
> I've read two fairly divergent reviews of riding PA 837
> between the two cities: It's very ridable; It's ridable
> if you have a death wish.
>
> I Google Earth'ed the road a bit and it looked like some
> sections had nice wide shoulders and other sections had
> none, and the entire road was very "divided highway" looking
> although maps called it a non-limited access road.
>
> Doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternative side
> roads between the two locations.
>
> Thanks for any insights you may have.
>
>
> SMH
Penn DOT is better at some things than they are at road maintenance.
http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ividlog/video_locate.asp
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdPlanRes.nsf/infoBPRCartoMapsinPDFandDJVU?OpenForm
--
Leland Mayne
http://neighborhoodbikeworks.org
|
| | |
Date: 17 Jun 2007 12:22:07
From: R Brickston
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 01:11:38 GMT, Leland Mayne
<Leland@neighborhoodbikeworks.org > wrote:
>Stephen Harding wrote:
>> Anyone know if the section of PA 837 from S. Pittsburgh
>> to McKeesport is bike ridable within some semblance of
>> reason?
>>
>> I'm planning on a tour from Pittsburgh to DC later this
>> summer and the bus or train ride from home to Pittsburgh
>> puts me a bit farther north of the route I actually want
>> to ride (Allegheny Alliance trail to C&O canal) which
>> starts in McKeesport.
>>
>> I've read two fairly divergent reviews of riding PA 837
>> between the two cities: It's very ridable; It's ridable
>> if you have a death wish.
>>
>> I Google Earth'ed the road a bit and it looked like some
>> sections had nice wide shoulders and other sections had
>> none, and the entire road was very "divided highway" looking
>> although maps called it a non-limited access road.
>>
>> Doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternative side
>> roads between the two locations.
>>
>> Thanks for any insights you may have.
>>
>>
>> SMH
>
>Penn DOT is better at some things than they are at road maintenance.
>
>http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ividlog/video_locate.asp
>
>http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdPlanRes.nsf/infoBPRCartoMapsinPDFandDJVU?OpenForm
The vidlog is uber cool for bike route planning, a precursor of Google
Steet View. Thanks.
|
| |
Date: 16 Jun 2007 12:59:12
From: R Brickston
Subject: Re: South Pittsburgh to McKeesport Route (PA 837)
|
On Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:42:26 GMT, Stephen Harding
<smharding16@msn.com > wrote:
>Anyone know if the section of PA 837 from S. Pittsburgh
>to McKeesport is bike ridable within some semblance of
>reason?
>
>I'm planning on a tour from Pittsburgh to DC later this
>summer and the bus or train ride from home to Pittsburgh
>puts me a bit farther north of the route I actually want
>to ride (Allegheny Alliance trail to C&O canal) which
>starts in McKeesport.
>
>I've read two fairly divergent reviews of riding PA 837
>between the two cities: It's very ridable; It's ridable
>if you have a death wish.
>
>I Google Earth'ed the road a bit and it looked like some
>sections had nice wide shoulders and other sections had
>none, and the entire road was very "divided highway" looking
>although maps called it a non-limited access road.
>
>Doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternative side
>roads between the two locations.
>
>Thanks for any insights you may have.
>
>
>SMH
Isn't the trail now available all the way through? From the map it
looks like it runs parallel to 837:
http://www.atatrail.org/maps/map1.cfm
|
|
