Biking to the Monroeville Mall

Most people know no other way of getting to Monroeville except by taking the Parkway (Interstate 376). Of course, doing so on a bicycle is dangerous and illegal. So now is your chance to learn something new about Pittsburgh navigation.

Start by taking Forbes Avenue east, through Frick Park, to Braddock Avenue in Regent Square. Turn right and follow Braddock Avenue for several miles. At every intersection you should continue to go in the direction that most closely approximates "straight"; i.e., don't make a left or right turn. Warning: A good section of this road is quite rough, and potentially dangerous at high speeds, even for a mountain bike.

Eventually you will join the Green Belt. Remain on the Green Belt and Braddock Avenue until just before you cross the river. At this point, exit right, proceed under the bridge, and continue through the town of Braddock (the Odor Control Center, according to a sign). You should still be on Braddock Avenue. At some point after leaving the town of Braddock, the road changes to 4 lanes, and passes beneath a tall bridge. Remain on Braddock Avenue (follow the green sign). A little later, Braddock Avenue ends; veer to the right here. Continue a few more blocks, and turn left at the second traffic light, just before a bridge. At the next stoplight, continue straight ahead. You are now on Monroeville Road. After a mostly-gentle 2.5-mile climb and a stoplight or two, you should clearly see a sign for the Monroeville Mall. Turn left at this traffic light, go down the hill, and you're there.

Total distance: 12-13 miles.

Somewhere at the Monroeville Mall there is actually a bike rack! I wouldn't put much faith in it, though, as it's one of the awful, lightweight racks you'll find at grade schools.

Variations

If you have a mountain bike, you can reduce your time spent at the first part of Braddock Avenue by riding through Frick Park. When you are almost to the corner of Forbes and Braddock, you will cross a bridge. Get off the road at this point and ride along the edge of the ravine. Soon you will find a gravel road that goes to the bottom of the ravine. (Serious mountain bikers might want to descend the hill directly beneath the bridge, then take the path to the left.) Follow the path until it appears to end. Go through a gap in the trees to the left and you will find a soccer field; proceed to the opposite corner of the field. There you will find a trail that goes alongside the Parkway. At the end of the trail is the Foodland supermarket and Braddock Avenue; turn right and continue on Braddock Avenue as above.

Another variation for mountain bikers completely avoids the rough, congested area of Braddock Avenue. Start once again by taking Forbes Avenue east, but this time turn right on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill. Proceed on Murray through Squirrel Hill and Greenfield until it ends. Turn left onto Hazelwood Avenue and go a block to the stoplight at the 5-way intersection. Take a right onto Browns Hill Road. Enjoy this downhill stretch until the third stoplight (just past the Arby's), and turn left. Follow this road past a hospital to the tiny community of Duck Hollow. As soon as you go under the railroad tracks, turn left and find a little trail that goes up to the tracks. You have now discovered the elusive Second Avenue, an abandoned dirt road which still appears on all the maps (it's difficult to find east of the Glenwood Bridge). This dirt road will take you all the way into the town of Braddock, at which point you should go a block to the left, get onto Braddock Avenue, and continue as above.

Written by Jim Stichnoth / stichnot@cs.cmu.edu