“Keep the strip the way it is”

“As a property owner on Penn Ave, I have been in the strip almost daily and able to actively observe the traffic flow on Penn Ave since November of 2023. Anyone actually driving, walking or observing Penn Ave would realize the impractical and harmful decision to restrict traffic flow. The two lanes of traffic allow for business and residential deliveries, emergency vehicles, backing into park spots, construction restrictions with one lane of traffic still able to pass in the second lane. Restricting emergency vehicles, commuter traffic and delivery access due to traffic congestion is critical concern.

Difficult to understand the fixation on impacting Penn Ave, when there is a safer and simpler solution to have a bike lane along the river trail (or a less traveled road). Clearly the volume of bikes is minuscule and seasonal compared to cars, trucks, delivery, emergency and construction vehicles on a daily basis at any time of the day. Thank you for your consideration.”

“This is absolute insanity. The traffic is bad enough as it is, now this? These bike lanes are stupid. Bikers don't adhere to any road rules in regular lanes or bike lanes. Half the time, they don't even use bike lanes, they're just in with traffic. Traffic is always slow and it takes forever to get anywhere. Who thought this was a good idea? Do better.”

“I come to the strip every single week on Monday to do my shopping.

There’s no way I would continue to do so with the headaches that would come along with this change.

Please reconsider!”

“It’s a historic area that invites a lot of people to support local businesses. I enjoy going and walking around the neighborhood, it would be sad for it to be affected by this plan.”

“Stop with the bike lanes! NOT NEEDED. Already bad enough since you haven’t run the city right for 40 years.”

“Stupid idea – and will hurt business, and be dangerous for the bikers.”

“Mayors plan is horrible”

“Penn Ave is already too crowded — going to one lane will make it worse. There are far more people who drive cars than people who ride bikes.”

“Restricting traffic on Penn Avenue will result in congestion and chaos”

“Don't mess with what has worked for 100 yrs.”

“This is one of the most inane plans I’ve ever seen.”

“Misguided Gainey! There is a constant flow of traffic down the two lanes ofPenn Avenue into the Strip District. Traffic flow is already congested on weekends to the point that I avoid going down there on Saturday and Sunday. Please do not make these changes. How about you put the money towards opening the two bridges that are strangling the flow of traffic into an out of squirrel Hill and Oakland!”

PENN AVENUE IS ALREADY A NIGHTMARE TO NAVIGATE WITH TWO LANES. CUTTING IT TO ONE IS ABSURD!!

“Horrible idea”

“I would be extremely reluctant to visit the Strip if parking and driving was more difficult.”

“This is the most absurd thing I've seen!! Do you want EVERYTHING in this city to shut down!! Gainey, you are pushing people OUT of the city instead of building a better city!! Open your eyes to whats going on!! How many bicycles do we really have compared to the cars?!?! How about we make the bikers follow ALL the laws of the road if they are going to take our roads over?!?!?!

“Other options should definitely be explored. I don't feel that Pittsburgh is enough of a biking town to warrant adding a bike lane to Penn Avenue.”

“I am a lifetime City of Pittsburgh resident and find this change will ruin Strip access. I stop often unplanned when passing through.
This would increase traffic and I may as well just loop around on Rt 28 as thousands others will do. Honestly, the bikes have more options than vehicles in the Strip (and the City) and do not justify a lane on Penn. If you really want to make progress insure that all new housing has 100% parking spots for all residents within the development. This will get resident parking off the streets and allow more room for businesses to thrive. DOMI move onto some other un-bright idea.”

“Whoever is doing this study has obviously never been on Penn Ave on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Making Penn Ave one lane would cause massive gridlock to an area that is already congested with two lanes. I am terribly sad to say that this change would make me think twice about my regular (at least one a month) trips to the Strip, where I regularly spend a couple $100 per trip.”

“The entire fabric of the Strip District has changed over the years. There is little left of the history, culture, and flavor of Pittsburgh. It has become "Yuppie-ville." It is not a place for local Pittsburghers, but rather, it has become an upscale location for the upwardly mobile. If it is to retain ANY of its historic value the few ethnic businesses which are left must remain supported. Changing traffic flow on Penn Avenue will ultimately destroy them. You bet, such a change will absolutely frustrate visitors that will not return! It's already a hassle to find a reasonably priced place to park. Why can't anything good in the City of Pittsburgh just be left alone!?!”

“I work with The Midwife Center and I can only imagine how much stress this will cause pregnant families and people who are in labor trying to navigate a possible lesser known area of town for them with only one way access to the birth center.”

“We fear delivery trucks with our medical supplies and ambulances will have difficulty reaching our facility. If it is one lane then traffic must stop every time someone parallel parks. Clients in labor will have undue traffic.”

“The Strip District is historic and any changes to that area would be a shame. It has worked for many many years so why change something that is a Pittsburgh tradition.”

“This is one of a long list of horrible ideas from the current administration. It takes but simple logic to understand the negative impact this would have on residents, businesses and customers. What a shame that we have to fight against fixing things that aren't broken, while so many things in our city ARE broken. It appears that this administration is AGGRESSIVELY against business.”