“I am a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, my father would take me as a small child to the "yards" in the strip that was more than 50 years ago. It was fun, crowded and a great Pittsburgh tradition. Parking has always been a problem and taking away traffic lanes will make the Strip a terrible place to visit. Please do not destroy this great Pittsburgh site and tradition.”

“The Pittsburgh Business Strip District is iconic to Pittsburgh. Visitors head to the strip district for its unique treasures, food, markets and restaurants. Out of towners and locals flock to the strip to buy Steelers, Pitt, Pirates and Penguins gear! The Strip offers a one of kind culture feeling. You MUST have two driving lanes on Penn Avenue. You must allow ER vehicles quick access to Penn Avenue. Please reconsider reducing Penn Avenue to a single Lane.”

Does the current mayor know what an awesome visitor draw The Strip District is? I don't think any consideration was given to the loss of revenue this will cause the city.

“These plans offer no benefit to our city & are only going to continue negatively impacting its infrastructure, economy, & safety. Zero data proves the need or benefit for more things like bike lanes or a single lane. The accessibility of the Strip District for all is crucial to each business's success & our community. The Strip is a historic & regional treasure that will be destroyed by the ongoing, reckless, & myopic decision-making of leadership if these narrowminded plans go through.”

“The strip district is congested enough as it is, but it’s still manageable to get around. I can’t imagine what it would be like if Penn Avenue was reduced down to one lane. What a nightmare. I certainly will not be visiting nearly as much or maybe not at all if this change goes through. What a stupid idea. I’m guessing this is to accommodate all of the bike riders we see in Pittsburgh? I’ve lived here for ten years now and hardly ever see anyone using the bike lanes in and around downtown. A better use of the money and effort would be to expand the public transportation system.”

“I work in the strip and visit shops and restaurants on the weekends. The traffic downtown is already terrible and parking is already a major problem that deters me from visit those businesses. Please do not make the problems worse by adding bike lanes and bottlenecks in the strip. Far more people drive cars than ride bikes. Stop trying to prioritize them, and stop trying to childproof the city. Everything a politician does is "for our safety." Grown adults can take care of themselves without mommy and daddy holding their hand to cross the street.”

“Find alternative designs that won’t disrupt people coming into the strip. The strip is already the right size!”

One lane is insane, especially for first responders to get to their call. Accidents will still happen because of people not paying attention that’s inevitable. It would be great to have a way to go around any problems that are presented on that road. If you narrow the road that can’t happen. Traffic is already impossible when a large truck is unloading, and there are two lanes, I cannot imagine with one lane what would be an issue.”

“Don't gild the Lily”

“Although we do not have property in the strip, we fully operate and clean properties on Smallman and have been doing so for two years. I agree and support this petition!”

“The traffic in and around the Strip is already bad. Changing to one lane is going to make it worse.”

“I love visiting the Strip multiple times a year and when I am there, I spend money on dining, groceries, parking, and other goods.

I will likely not bother to visit the Strip regularly if this change in traffic patterns occurs. I imagine there are MANY people in the nearby suburbs who will move their leisurely spending habits elsewhere.

Considering Pittsburgh’s topography and weather, changing existing traffic norms in order to accommodate bikes is silly. Use that money to improve and expand public transportation.”

“The City is sharing % of injury crashes and other data, and a question we should all ask is, what is the baseline for comparison? X% more over what number and what is the comparison traffic volume? Also, what is the actual volume of bikes in the area? Is there a plan to extend availability of parking in the area on either end to ease some traffic volume that comes through the bottle neck area?”

“Will stop going to strip because if of traffic.”

“The new traffic planning is unnecessary. It's going to make the Strip District experience a very frustrating one for visitors. The businesses already have enough on their plate with effects of the economy. The plan of reducing lanes down to one to lower the accident rate. The accident rate will lower because there will be less visitors. Leave the historical feel alone. They are going to destroy the total Strip experience.”

“Preserve the Strip as is!”

“Have lived in the 'Burgh my whole life. I worked in the strip for years. This is probably one of the worst ideas the city has had, since Bob Nutting bought the Buccos.
PRESERVE THE STRIP”

“There’s a bike path near the river. It’s perfect for bikers. Also has anyone planning this foolish change to penn ave seen how busy the strip can be?!?! Smallman street backs up like it’s the Sq.Hill tunnel. Penn ave needs all the room it can get. So many drivers and deliveries. The cars and tourists and deliveries out weigh the need for a bike to get by and further screw up traffic. If this city has any sense left, this plan will not go forward.”

“It's a stupid idea, this is a horrible city for bike lanes. It's cold 6 month out of the year so the lane goes to waste”

“I feel that any changes made to Penn Ave in The Strip will have the same effect as making Penn Circle in East Liberty – it DESTROYED East Liberty. The Strip is a very fragile area in Pittsburgh, a unique area that still coveys a bygone era with old world charm and needs to be protected at all costs. The Smallman St. side is nothing like it was even 10 years ago-its "Strip" character is gone. I pray that this does not happen, ever, on Penn Ave. Modern is not always better. Bike lanes to me are not important enough to destroy a historical neighborhood, the businesses and very fabric of those who have given their lives working in the Strip.
Shoppers in the Strip truly revere it as it is and has been.
Please, leave the Strip alone.”

“This crazy plan will destroy our very cherished Strip district. You people are destroying the city and livelihoods. There are plenty of other streets for bike riders who apparently cannot ride their bikes properly. You have set up this mess. Daily, I watch bike riders weave in and out of traffic, go through red lights and perform many dangerous maneuvers. Why don’t you support your tax paying Citizens. Shame on you.”

“It is absolutely foolish to design a street without consideration to emergency vehicles or the needs of the businesses on the strip purely to make it "safer". Has the same amount of time and funding examined the source of these accidents and injuries?”

“Let the bikers go bike on small men Street where there’s a lot more room. The strip is one of our treasures and I always take visitors there. If they reduce the lanes to one lane no one‘s ever going to go there. Maybe the city should take care of roads and infrastructure instead of screwing up the strip district”

“DOMI will kill small business if you let them.”

“Preserve the Strip. I only go there on a weekend and early mornings just because it is already horrible there with traffic and parking, Gainey's proposed plan will make it 10000 WORSE!!!!! Do not let Gainey's woke and progressive agenda to destroy Pittsburgh's legacy in a sake of so called safety. I walk there a lot and never felt in danger, cars do stop to let pedestrians cross, and idiot drivers… they will remain idiots regardless of whatever measures you put. you cant fix stupid, but you can make them accountable by putting law and traffic enforcement officers there on busy times. Create jobs and support businesses, instead of eliminate them.”