Review of January 2022
Typically, January lived up to its character as a cold and snowy Winter month here in Pittsburgh, PA. I was able to ride, early in the month, before the snow and road salt came around. To prevent damage and protect the moving parts of my bicycle drive train, I switched over to walking after a big snowfall on the 16th that carried over into the 17th. Although riding the bike is my preferred activity, getting out for a walk, hike, or on cross country skis keeps cabin fever at bay. To re-cap...
No riding, for me, on the 1st because it rained all day. I like to start the year off with a ride but the rain and gloom suggested that staying inside was wise. The all day rain made that decision a good one for me. On the 2nd, a ride that included a big downhill at Bednar's Wall (Cook School Road, Upper Saint Clair), began my riding in 2022. I've ascended that hill many times but always enjoy the fast descent it affords when headed in the opposite direction.
Since darkness comes early this time of year, a safe place to ride is in South Park. Some cold miles were offset by seeing the makeover of the parking area overlooking the fairgrounds track and field. A very nice job was done. I hope it holds up. We need more nice things around here.
Once the weather is warmer, this spot in Upper Saint Clair will be a nice spot for a reading break.
I rode over to meet a friend at the BP Community Center in the wet aftermath of the first light snowfall in our area. There wasn't much traffic that evening but the road salt and wet conditions made for slow going on the way home. Getting out on nights like this one is always better than sitting at home. I cleaned the bike afterwards.
A favorite ride takes me past the big water tower in Castle Shannon. The imposing structure caught some of the sun rays as daylight waned.
On a rainy Sunday, a friend and I walked several sections of what will eventually be the Central Bethel Park Trail. Using the abandoned Montour Railroad right of way, the proposed community trail will run through the heart of town as an extension of the very popular Montour Rail Trail.
Another light snowfall on he 10th ushered in some colder and snowier weather for our area.
Rides in Centre County are always enhanced by the backdrop of Mount Nittany. It was very cold but I was able to get a nice ride in on a week night when daylight is already lasting a little longer than even a couple of weeks ago.
Shortly before the snowfall began, on the 16th, I was able to ride "my" South Park Loop. Police are attempting to control traffic within the park by using the speed display device in the photo. From what I can see, to be more effective, another one or two of these are needed on the other side of the Corrigan Drive roundabout, between it and Route 88. Perhaps the police should actually be pulling over some speeders. 28 mph is not too bad but I have seen drivers doing 37 mph and not even attempting to slow down when they see the display.
A heavy snowfall came so, the bike was put away and the hiking boots brought out. This bright bit of color, contrasting with the white snow and the gray sky, was seen during an evening walk in the State College area.
A hilly night walk in and around my neighborhood highlights the difficulty of getting around once the roads are narrowed and icy. Many streets don't have sidewalks. Those that do exist are intermittently covered with snow and ice. However, with care, I was able to safely take a nice hike. Getting out of the house on nights like this one are good for my mental health.
Sunsets can be especially colorful at this time of year. This one was captured during an evening walk that spilled over into nightfall.
This time of year, when everything seems like black and white television, even a small patch of blue sky can seem especially colorful.
View from the top of a hill near Overhill Street, in Bethel Park. The sun was rising over the town and the St. John's Byzantine Cemetery, where Andy Warhol is buried.
A hilly hike through Bethel Green was a nice way to spend an early weekend morning in late January. It appears these trails receive a decent amount of usage, even in Winter. I was able to do this hike before another snowfall began. More Winter and hiking appear to be in store before Spring comes.
Took advantage of some rare sunshine with a brisk daytime walk on my lunch hour. This view of the Green Tree water tower and the WDVE Building is from one of the rolling hills in the Foster Plaza office park. A little sun always brightens the spirit during the throws of a Pittsburgh winter.
On another day with some sunshine, a walk was undertaken while it was still light out. It looked warmer than it was, however. At 16 degrees Fahrenheit, continuing to move was essential. But getting out, instead of staying inside, is always a benefit. The next few days will be very cold and some more snow is likely. 54 days until Spring!
Village Green Park
Uncleared pedestrian pathway
Over the past approximately 2 weeks, it has snowed almost every day. Nineteen-plus inches have fallen thus far in January. The two photos above give the lay of the land as it appears here in suburban Pittsburgh in late January 2022. Walking is possible but some roads without sidewalks have been narrowed by the snowbanks. In other spots, sidewalks are either icy and/or not shoveled at all. The 2nd photo shows a pedestrian path that crosses trolley line tracks before entering a park. It is on the way to a shopping area. There has been no attempt to clear it. To be fair, many sidewalks are clear but the few that are not make getting around on foot an unpredictable and difficult task.
In an earlier blog post, I discussed in greater detail what it is like to try and walk around the South Hills in Winter. There are some concerned groups of citizens who are organizing to approach local governmental bodies about improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Better access to public transportation is on the table, as well. While it seems that governments are paying attention, there is also significant opposition to such projects. I'm remaining optimistic because some good things are happening but a lot of work remains to be done.
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