“I enjoy coming here so much! There is so much history and culture in the strip, I’d hate to see it go away/change!!”

“We like it just as is! Its a fun place & has a lot of interesting vendors You can shop all day then relax @ a restaurant The business of the area makes it what it is If you do this the vendors will most likely raise prices to make up for lost business as it’s being renovated”

“Pittsburgh is my home away from home. I try to make it down at least 6 weekends a year. No matter how many times I visit, the Strip remains one of my things to do on a Saturday or Sunday morning. It completes the trip for me. Please make the strip a Historic District. Then you can get grant money specifically for historic placss, and federal commercial historic tax credits for developers. It's a won for the businesses, the city, and tourism. Thank you”

“Do not hurt the Strip. It is the number one tourist attraction in the city. Do not be short sighted. Thank you.”

“Please leave Penn Ave. alone. You can make all of the changes you want to Smallman but leave Penn as it is. Smallman already has a bike lane. I can't even imagine the traffic especially on the weekends if you change this.

How will deliveries be made? A lot of times trucks have to double park to make a quick delivery. How will they do that if it goes to one lane?

I speak to tourists all day, everyday and The Strip seems to be the number one place for them to visit. Don't mess with it!

There is a lot of downside and not a whole lot of upside to this plan. I haven't spoken to one person in favor of these changes. You should listen to the people.”

“There is a bike lane on Smallman, which is only one block over from Penn. Let people use that bike lane. This overall plan is going to hurt the Strip, the businesses and keep people away from visiting this unique neighborhood.”

“I feel this would be a huge mistake. I have personally called 911 several times over the years for elderly pedestrians who have tripped on the sidewalk on a busy Saturday. Traffic is at a crawl on Saturdays and emergency responders have been delayed.

The other issue is so often traffic is backed up because people can’t parallel park well. Imagine trying to parallel park with a bike lane. This is dangerous to those on bikes.

I would love the mayor to spend a few hours on a busy Saturday and see how this would have a negative impact. As someone who rides a bike, I would say Smallman would be the better choice.”

“I am a Lawrenceville business owner, resident, and frequent customer of many of the shops along the Strip District section of Penn Ave. Bike lines in this city do nothing but create animus toward bicyclists. This is a working-class time with an elderly population. Bike lines are not only not needed, they are despised.”

“There are better ways to improve safety.

Furthermore, the statics are not given.

And does this include the period before traffic signals were set to reduce speeds to about 20 mph?”

“As far back as I can remember, the Strip has operated the way it is now. 1 lane will make me reconsider ever going down there to do my shopping. If a bike lane is necessary, I suggest making the bike lane on Smallman Street where the road is already wider than Penn Ave. That would allow for more automotive movement as well as giving room to every other vehicle to service where they need to. Penn Ave wouldn't be restricted, emergency vehicles could proceed when needed, & a steady flow of traffic could proceed, as has occurred since the beginning of time. I would hate to see bad planning on your part kill such a unique Pittsburgh tradition for everyone who lives, works & visits here. This is part of our uniqueness, history & tradition, & We Love it the way it is!”

“The Strip is the heart of Pittsburgh, and to be honest it’s hard enough getting around as-is with how many people visit day in and day out. There should be *more* infrastructure, not less”

“Leave the Strip alone. People go there because of the way it is, or was. If you want different, go to a mall.”

“The bike riders can follow traffic laws on Penn or ride on Smallman.”

“This place is a very unique and vibrant community. I can't imagine this place changing in these ways.”

“We were in a restaurant in the strip where an ambulance had to come take a man out. They blocked one lane for over 30 mins while they assessed him on the scene and then loaded him into a stretcher. If traffic is reduced to one lane we are ok with standstill traffic for that long? If a fire also happens to start at the same time the lane is blocked how can first responders to their jobs? In addition, the increase in idling from cars having to stop will reduce the air quality in the area vs continuous traffic flow. The new bike lane on smallman is one block over and already exist and could be expanded further down towards 32nd st. I’m all for updating but this plan is not well thought out and alternative seem to be better options.”

“Vote him out”

“This would be detrimental to the Strip District.”

“Attempts by DOMI in the past have made the roads worse: the intersections of Beechwood, Dallas and Beacon in Squirrel Hill. The Strip district has ALWAYS been a congested, chaotic mess, which requires diligence by ALL parties: pedestrians, motorists and deliverers. The concept of constantly engineering safety is ridiculous!”

“The added congestion to an already small area is not worth a couple bicycles. I work in other areas of the city where the bike lanes are put in maybe 1 bicyclist out of 10 actually use it. What a waste of taxpayers money”

“We live in swisshelm park section of the Cory and have enjoyed going to the strip a few times a month – at least! The bike lane proposal is absurd and will devastate the local businesses that are the heart of the strip. People say they want more “shop local”. By keeping the strip without bike lanes you will do that. And go ask a bus driver how many people they see using the lanes where they exist. Not many. Bike trails are great. Rails to trails is great. But not this.”

“It is already too congested with vehicles loading unloading in one lane, it will make it worse”

“I can count on one hand the number of bicyclists I've seen using bike lanes in the city of Pittsburgh in the last three years. No need for bike lanes.”

“This plan is absolutely ridiculous. Has anyone given thought to where delivery trucks will go? Penn avenue will be a nightmare. Imagine one lane, and people trying to parallel park all along the street, holding up traffic. One lane means you can't get around someone trying to parallel park. Everyone parallel parks on Penn avenue. This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Another useless and ill planned brainchild of the Gainey administration.”

“Formerly from Lyndora/Butler, PA: resident of Los Angeles, CA.
I've seen our city and Burbank, CA. propose similar lane consolidation to one lane for traffic (each direction and bike lanes. Each proposal has been vehemently rejected by the affected business owners and residents.
Therefore, my support for this PETITION for my (HOMETOWN as I worked for PNB, now PNC, in the late 60s. before my 1970 move to California.”

“This is one of the first places we take our friends from out of state when they visit the area and one of the main reasons we come into Pittsburgh throughout the year.”