Pittsburgh bikeshare to expand beyond city
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A POGOH station in Bloomfield. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
POGOH, Pittsburgh's bike share, is expanding and is planning to move beyond the city's borders for the first time.
Why it matters: Bikeshare use has grown in many cities across the country, as people look for more non-car options amid rising gas prices.
Driving the news: Allegheny County was awarded $1.5 million in federal transit money this week that will help POGOH expand into adjacent suburbs.
What they're saying: POGOH director David White tells Axios the expansion is responding to increased demand that the agency has seen since it started offering electric-assist bikes in 2022.
- About 569,000 rides were logged last year, the most since the bikeshare launched in 2015, according to POGOH data.
- White expects about 700,000 rides this year.
- "The reality of moving around in our region requires us to cross these borders," he said.
Zoom in: Millvale and Wilkinsburg have expressed interest in getting POGOH stations, according to White.
- Edgewood, Swissvale and Braddock are also targets, says White.
- The agency also wants to expand to The Waterfront because users regularly ride there along the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail, only to realize that stations aren't there, he said.
Yes, but: Expanding there might be complicated, since the entertainment district covers three municipal governments: West Homestead, Homestead, and Munhall, White said.
- New station proposals will be preceded by community engagement.
By the numbers: White says POGOH wants to add 17 suburban stations.
- That's on top of 40 additional stations coming to city neighborhoods — including first-time expansions into Squirrel Hill and South Side Slopes — that are expected to be completed by early 2027, White said.
Context: POGOH has 60 stations across the city.
- Between 65% and 70% of its fleet is electric-assist, which will be maintained through the expansions.
What's next: Expansion out of the city is still in the early stages and there isn't a target date yet.
The bottom line: "These projects are not just about transportation," Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said in a statement. "They reflect our commitment to building a vibrant community where families and businesses want to thrive."