Biking is a healthy, accessible and affordable mode of transportation. It offers a reduced environmental footprint with no fuel expenses or parking fees, low maintenance costs, and provides a cardiovascular workout.
With thousands of miles of bicycle routes and increasing focus on improving bicycling safety and access in Pennsylvania, there are lots of ways that you can ride your bike. Check out the state’s designated
BicyclePA routes and all of the trails and tourism options Pennsylvania provides.
It’s also great to use
along with public transportation — riding your bike to the train or bus terminal and taking public transit the rest of the way.
Send your bicycle/pedestrian concerns and comments to
[email protected].
Active Transportation Plan
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has developed its first Active Transportation Plan for Pennsylvania that outlines a vision and framework for improving conditions for walking and bicycling across Pennsylvania, most notably for those Pennsylvanians who walk and bicycle out of necessity rather than for leisure and recreation.
U.S. Bike Route 50
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved Pennsylvania’s first national designated bicycle route — U.S. Bicycle Route 50 — in May 2017, making Pennsylvania the 25th state to join the developing
U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS).
The 163-mile route mostly follows off-road trails, including the popular Great Allegheny Passage, Montour Trail, and the Panhandle Trail and connects Maryland to West Virginia through a variety of natural and agricultural landscapes, historical sites, thriving small towns, and recreational hot spots. Cyclists can visit restored rail stations; Ohiopyle State Park, which has some of the best white water rafting on the East Coast; Point State Park in Pittsburgh; and the nearby Fort Pitt Museum.
To see the placement of USBR 50 in Pennsylvania — and all our other statewide routes — view our
interactive Bike Routes Map.
Getting Started Riding Your Bike
If you’re thinking about commuting by bike, here are a few quick tips for getting started:
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Get a physical. If you haven’t exercised for a while, you may want to check with your doctor before biking.
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Learn safety. When you’re biking, safety always comes first.
Learn more about biking safety and laws. -
Get your gear. Tune up your bike and get any gear you need for your commute.
Find biking gear.
Bike to Work Month
May is
National Bike Month (PDF), sponsored by the
League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast and here in Pennsylvania.
Bike to Work in PA
Cyclists don’t need to wait until May to consider using their bike for a daily commute to work. Here are some ideas to get your started:
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Select a route. Plan your route in advance and do a test run in your car to look for any potential danger spots.
View statewide bike routes. -
Talk to your employer. Your company may offer showers, changing facilities, bike storage, and other benefits.
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CommuteInfo offers bike pooling for Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence and Westmoreland counties.
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Commuter Services of Pennsylvania offers information on combining biking and public transportation in Adams, Berks, Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, and York counties.
