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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on January 21, 2015 at 10:18am

I bet it's to facilitate people using the Montour Trail from the airport to reach the Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Canal trails that run from Pittsburgh to Washington. For anyone flying in with a bike it's perfect for getting from the airport, although it joins the GAP pretty far east of Pittsburgh. The train overnight from Chicago will let you off at the start of the GAP downtown so you can ride through the old industrial areas before McKeesport.

http://www.atatrail.org/tmi/maps.cfm

I want to do this trip again sometime this year. Does anyone else have 5-6 days to spend on the trail along with overnight trips on the train and any extra time in Pittsburgh or Washington?

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 21, 2015 at 10:52am

I like the fact that they're done this in Pittsburgh.

At the Portland OR (PDX) airport, there are bike racks and a repair station in a sheltered area at the airport entrance, adjacent to the MAX (light rail station).  Pretty cool.

Do you know of any other airports that are accessible with a bike and have a repair station?

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on January 21, 2015 at 11:21am

It's not exactly accessible to Pittsburgh itself. The Montour Trail loops some forty miles around the city then joins the GAP 17 miles or so from downtown. Actually riding from the airport to downtown is a long trip that way and from what I see on Maps there's no really pleasing alternative.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on January 21, 2015 at 11:31am

The Oakland airport is accessible by the Bay Trail and has covered bike racks outside. Not that I would feel comfortable leaving my bike there for an extended period of time.

Also, don't forget the "h" in Pittsburgh. The locals are touchy about that. 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 22, 2015 at 6:17am

Amtrak fares vary depending on how far in advance you book. I believe that bikes need to be boxed on the Capitol Limited, as on most of Amtrak's routes.

If roll-on bike service is available on a train, you will see the option "Add Bike to Trip" below the schedule information for that route segment.

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