The South Side business district became the first neighborhood in Pittsburgh to make a parking swap and install an on-street bike corral. The new bike corral is in front of OTB Bicycle Cafe, 2518 E.Carson St. Where there was once a place to park only 2 cars, there will now space for 24 bicycles, increasing the capacity of customer parking in this very dense business district.  

Cities across the country have been installing bike corrals to address an increase in people using bikes and their need for a place to park them.  Typically, bikes lock to signs or bike racks located on sidewalks.  However, in some places, the narrow sidewalks often get cluttered, making it difficult for pedestrians to get by. The idea of the bike corral is to make a "parking swap," and use the space that previously accommodated one vehicle in order to accommodate multiple vehicles, increasing the parking capacity of a business district while also promoting clean, healthy transportation. Typically one parking space can accommodate about 10 bicycles.  

Attend the ribbon cutting with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl

Show support for the new bike corral and attend the ribbon cutting and Mayoral proclamation!

From the Mayor's Press desk: Installation of the OTB Bicycle Café corral is expected to be the first of several corrals that will be strategically placed within the City as a way to expand parking capacity in Pittsburgh's business districts and accommodate City cyclists.

• Tues., May 15, 2012
• 12 noon
• OTB Bicycle Café, 2518 East Carson St, South Side

Additionally, the Mayor will proclaim the day "Frank Lenz Day" in the City of Pittsburgh. The proclamation will honor the Pittsburgh native that set off from here 120 years ago on is bicycle to travel around the world, only to disappear in Turkey before completing his trip. 

Lenz was memorialized in the 2010 book, The Lost Cyclist, by author David Herlihy. Mr Herlihy is expected to attend the dedication.

Click here to find out more about bike corrals 

The Department of City Planning is currently creating the first ever Comprehensive Plan for our 250+ year old City called PlanPGH. This comp plan includes a transportation plan called MOVEPGH, which launched earlier in the year.

Show up and shape your community!

If you think that the City should incorporate world-class biking and walking facilities in this 25-year plan, it is extremely important that you show up to these public meetings and be counted. This document will form the basis of what projects the City will pursue in the near future.

MOVEPGH Community Workshop #2 is focused on transportation issues related to Downtown, Lower Hill, Uptown, South Side Flats, and Second Ave corridor, and Hazelwood flats. The workshop is open to the public - even if you do not live in these areas. 

Join the MOVEPGH team for an open and interactive discussion about walkability, transit, bicycling, and more.

Drop in anytime during the times shown below and stay as long as you like!

Kick-off Event: Describing the week's activities & preliminary findings  

• Monday, May 14  6-8pm

Open House: Meet the MOVEPGH team & provide critical input - Three open drop-in sessions. Prioritize this over the Kickoff and Wrap-up events if you can't make all three. 

• Tuesday, May 15  10am - 7pm
• Wednesday, May 16  10am - 7pm
• Thursday, May 17  10am - 3pm

Wrap-Up Event: A MOVEPGH team progress report for the week

• Thursday, May 17  6-8:00pm

• Add your voice in our advocacy for safe streets and better bike facilities 
• Get discounts on great cycling events like tickets for BikeFest! 
• Demonstrate your support for our mission and vision
• Join the fun and exciting bicycling community in Pittsburgh
• Receive a receipt for a tax-deduction  
• Receive discounts from dozens of local bike shops and businesses that support a bicycle-friendly Pittsburgh