Exploring Safe Local Streets for Riding and Walking - Part III
Brief Re-cap of Part II
This is the third chaper in a series of blog posts that explore the creation of a safe passageway for pedestrians, bicyclists and other forms of non-motorized use, through the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Parts I and II a rationale for the proposal and a description of its course in the Municipality of Bethel Park were discussed. In Part III, we ride through a portion of Castle Shannon Borough and into Mount Lebanon. The link below is a map of the entire route.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35143046
Description of the Route - Willow Avenue in Castle Shannon to Mount Lebanon
Upon leaving the St. Johns Byzantine Catholic Church Cemetery grounds, the very busy Connor Road must be crossed to continue on Willow Avenue. In the photo below, the nature of the crossing and the traffic pattern can be visualized. As was stated at the end of Part II, if a crossing is to be created here, some significant safety features will be needed.
Willow Avenue is a winding residential street that can become narrowed by the vehicles of residents that are sometimes parked on it. Usually, traffic is moving slowly due to some stop signs and the curving nature of its course. However, during the morning and evening rushes, take care because there are additional motorists with which to contend.
Three trolley stops and some other notable landmarks can be accessed from this street. The Smith Road stop is lightly used, mainly by residents who live close by. The Saint Annes stop, at the intersection of Willow and Rockwood, sees more commuters. Since these are not high platform stops, one cannot get on or off the train with a bicycle at them. For a bicyclist to successfully board or disembark, the next station complex with the Willow and Overbrook Junction high platforms, will accommodate.
After passing the Saint Annes stop, the Church and School complex, also named for Jesus' Grandmother, is visible on the right. During lent, the church parking lot might be packed on a Friday evening because the aromas from the Saint Annes Fish Fry attracts lots of folks from the surrounding communities. You might pick up some takeout on your way home.
A little further along, the Saint Annes Cemetery is seen on a grassy hillside to the left. Here, we will be looking for trolley tracks that will cut cross Willow in front of us. Before reaching the tracks, our route bears left, in roughly the 11 o'clock position, to continue onto Willow.
Here, it is residential and rather narrow because it is squeezed in between the trolley tracks below on one side and a few perpendicular streets that run uphill on the other. Traffic is usually manageable except during the commuting rush times, which is when many walkers and bicyclists might also be using it.
Bockstoce turns to the left shortly before Willow's tail continues straight and descends to the aforementioned trolley station where the Willow and the Overbrook Junction stops are located. At the bottom of the tail, the tracks must be crossed to get to the station. They are rough with potholes and can be uneven. So, be careful, especially if on a bicycle. The signs where the tail begins say one way, so there are not ever any motor vehicles trying to get down to or up from the tracks. I may have seen a rare Port Authority vehicle using this short stretch of road but the usual and infrequent users are trolley commuters heading to or from the station complex.
Unless you are headed to the trolley, we will continue left and head uphill on Bockstoce Avenue. Part way up the hill and on the right are the Spanish style "Place Seville" apartments. The attractive light tan stucco walls and a red tile roof might take your mind off the short but steep climb for a bit.
Once crested, Bockstoce rolls downward past other apartment buildings and small homes all the way until it meets Mount Lebanon Boulevard. Part way down, on the right, is a pedestrian path that leads to the busy Castle Shannon Trolley stop. The station also has a lot, capable of parking more than 500 automobiles. Before the Pandemic, the lot was often at capacity. Perhaps if our route becomes viable, all that asphalt for parking won't be needed.
If he is working, say hello to the trolley booth attendant, Bob. He is a talkative fellow who enjoys a good laugh. He once held on to my cell phone, that was inadvertently left on the trolley, until I returned to retrieve it. We've been friendly ever since.
Crossing Mount Lebanon Boulevard (MLB), from Bockstoce, is an exercise in patience and care. Traffic is steady and the road makes a curve at that spot, cutting down on the line of sight to the left. On the other side of MLB is the Arlington stop to the right and the First Commonwealth Bank to the left. We are looking for a currently overgrown path that runs parallel to the trolley tracks and to Castle Shannon Boulevard (CSB), which lies about 2/10ths of a mile to the right. You can reach the path from the Arlington stop but I prefer going behind the bank, up the embankment, and onto the path. The crossing of MLB and access to the path will need to be improved if our route gains any traction.
Traction will not only be needed for getting up the embankment but also for our route because riding on CSB is an most unpleasant endeavor. It has a sidewalk, so walking would not be dangerous. However, the traffic is steady most any time and it moves along quickly, making cycling a less than pleasurable experience. In fact, depending upon the moods of motorists, it can be downright terrifying!
The path, is a whole 'nother smoke, as R. J. Reynolds used to say. If it could be cleared and upgraded a bit, it would make for a wonderful pedestrian-bicycle alternative.
The path, which I believe is owned by the Port Authority is a hidden gem, despite its current largely unimproved condition. It doesn't appear that anyone has used it in quite a while for any business or trolley servicing purposes but there are frequent persons encountered who are walking on it. Some people do run its length but I am usually the only adult person dragging a bicycle back there. The path runs up to and continues on as Pennsylvania Avenue, in Mount Lebanon. Actually, we entered the "Lebo" borough limits near the Arlington stop after having crossed MLB.
Several downed trees lie across the path, but with some care, one can successfully travel the entire length without much problem. Clearing it would take a little work but could be done in short order by a team of volunteers with chainsaws. Some good firewood could be collected in the process.
A fellow who lives in one of the first Pennsylvania Avenue houses encountered along the way told me they don't clear it because people with noisy 4-wheelers would start using it and the peace would subsequently be disturbed. Were this path to be developed for walkers and bicyclists, consideration for gates at either end would be a prudent course of action.
Once on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Poplar Trolley station is the next landmark seen and Part III will conclude here. We are still in Mount Lebanon at this point. Part IV will lead us into Dormont Borough.
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