Bicyclists want needs considered
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The head of Pittsburgh's bicyclist advocacy group has sent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl a letter to ask that bicyclists' needs be considered in any plan to lease parking garages and meters to a private party.
Scott Bricker, executive director of Lawrenceville-based Bike Pittsburgh, reminded Mr. Ravenstahl of a commitment he made about two years ago to make the city more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly.
Mr. Bricker said he wants to make sure that a lease of Parking Authority assets allows the city to keep that commitment.
"Physically protected bike lanes, which are gaining in popularity nationwide, may require the shifting or removal of on-street parking," Mr. Bricker said in the letter, dated Wednesday.
Mr. Bricker said city and county officials have begun exploring the possibility of installing bicycle racks in or near parking garages for commuters who want to use two forms of transportation -- car and bike, for example.
Mr. Bricker said he wanted to raise his concerns before the city started writing a lease plan for prospective bidders. Joanna Doven, the mayor's spokeswoman, said Mr. Ravenstahl has a long-standing partnership with Bike Pittsburgh members and "will continue to work with them to make sure their concerns are addressed."
Mr. Ravenstahl has proposed leasing 11 parking garages and possibly meters to generate money for the city pension fund.
First Published March 26, 2010 12:00 am
