Pitt will join Carnegie Mellon, Point Park and Chatham universities, and BikePgh from Sept. 11 to 15 in celebrating Bike to Campus Week, with a focus on preparing people for commuting or biking for pleasure in an urban setting.
Pittsburgh’s universities are working together to increase active transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pitt’s campus bike culture includes becoming a Silver Bike Friendly University and being named BikePGH’s 2021 Organization of the Year. Pitt is also in its fifth year of a partnership with POGOH, Pittsburgh’s bike share program, through which all Pitt students and employees can get free, unlimited 30-minute bike rides.
Bike to Campus activities will feature expertise from bike commuters, group ride leaders, and League Certified Instructors.
Activities at Pitt include:
Sept. 11: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Bike to Campus Week Festival at the Gallagher Plaza in front of the William Pitt Union. Enter a raffle to win a brand new bike as well as locks and helmets from Pitt Mobility and the Pitt Bike Cave. Learn about bike safety from the Pitt Police and share your thoughts on campus bike infrastructure with Pitt’s Planning Department. Learn how to activate your POGOH benefit and how to use bike share bikes. Stop by to chat with biking-related student organizations and grab a bite to eat from a guest food truck.
Sept. 12: 4-7 p.m., Confident City Cycling Class at the Pitt Bike Cave, Posvar Plaza. BikePGH’s Confident City Cycling class provides all the skills and knowledge on how to safely ride on Pittsburgh’s streets. This on-the-bike class will cover basic and advanced cycling skills, and best practices for solo and group riding, and includes a culminating group ride around Oakland that utilizes the best of local bicycle infrastructure. Instructors will also be on hand to answer questions about biking to campus or anywhere else in Pittsburgh. Helmets and free POGOH bike rentals will be available. Click here to register (registration is required to participate).
Sept. 13: 5-7 p.m., Operation Illumination free bike light giveaway at Schenley Plaza. BikePGH’s Operation Illumination program is presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates! BikePGh will be distributing free front and rear bike lights and helmets, as well as bike guides and maps for two hours or as long as supplies last.
Sept. 14: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Bike to Campus Week at the Pitt Farmers Market (Gallagher Plaza in front of the William Pitt Union). Join Pitt Mobility at the Farmers Market Learn how to activate your POGOH bike share benefit and meet student organizations related to biking.
4-7 p.m., Confident City Cycling Class at the Pitt Bike Cave (see description above). Click here to register (registration is required to participate)
Sept. 15: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Pitt Bike Cave Friday Fun Ride. Wrap up Bike to Campus Week with a leisurely social ride led by Pitt Bike Cave student mechanics to Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh. Bring your own bike or rent a POGOH bike. The group ride will depart the Pitt Bike Cave’s Posvar Passage location at 6 p.m.
For activities at the other university campuses, go to BikePGH’s website.
Pitt’s celebration of its bicycling community started in May 2017 and 2018 with participation in Bike to Work Day, a national event that promotes bikes as a commuting option for workers across the country. Bike to Work Day is still celebrated each year. The following year, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, Chatham and BikePGH established Bike to Campus Day to celebrate students, faculty and staff who commute to campus by bike.
— Susan Jones
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