Volume 59 |
Issue 2: September 11, 2026

Campus Bike Week begins Sept. 13 with a kickoff ride

Friday, September 11, 2026

By CHUCK STARESINIC

Pitt’s Campus Bike Week returns with a kickoff festival, group rides, a bike raffle, rider education events and giveaways including bike lights and ice cream.

The annual celebration brings together local bike organizations, folks new to biking, experienced bicyclists and bike educators. The weeklong series of activities highlights the benefits of biking and promotes it as both a recreational activity and a sustainable, enjoyable means of commuting.

Events begin on Sept. 13, with several requiring registration. Students, staff and faculty also can activate POGOH accounts to take advantage of free 30-minute rides on POGOH bikes across the city, both during Campus Bike Week and throughout the year.

Biking on campus always involves navigating construction, and this year, some of the most visible construction under way in Oakland includes bike infrastructure.

On Fifth Avenue, protected, two-way bike lanes are being built, with completion expected in 2027 as part of the broader Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) Bus Rapid Transit project. Along with the bike lane construction, crews are simultaneously working on associated traffic pattern shifts, paving and the new, red bus lanes on Fifth and Forbes avenues.

Whether bikers are in designated bike lanes or moving with automobile traffic, safety experts recommend they always wear a helmet while biking and remember the rules of the road, including these:  

  • Do not ride on sidewalks or in dedicated bus lanes.

  • Yield to pedestrians.

  • Stop at red lights and stop signs.

  • Do not wear headphones while biking.

Last year, Pitt was designated a Gold Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists, a status that was named as a goal in the Pitt Sustainability Plan in 2018.

The annual Campus Bike Week reflects Pitt’s rapidly growing bike culture and the University’s commitment to making biking safer, more accessible and more integral to how the Pitt community navigates the city.

Schedule of events

Sept. 13

Tandem Biking with BOLD (Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development) and Pitt Serves | 8:30 a.m., Eliza Furnace Trail Head*: Experience tandem biking with Blind and Visually Impaired riders through BOLD. Sighted volunteer pilots will help create an inclusive outdoor recreation experience while building community, learning about accessibility, and enjoying a fun ride. This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

Kickoff Ride | 3:30 p.m., Meet at Bouquet POGOH: No bike? No problem! Activate your POGOH account for free 30-minute POGOH bike share rides. This ride is led by Complete Streets at Pitt.

Sept. 14

Kick Off Festival | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Pitt Bike Cave: Celebrate Campus Bike Week with a festival dedicated to all things biking at Pitt and beyond. Enter a raffle to win a brand-new bike as well as locks and helmets from Pitt Mobility, Pitt Eats, BikePGH, and the Pitt Bike Cave.

Confident City Cycling Class | 5-7 p.m. Bike Cave | The Pitt Bike Cave and BikePGH are partnering to offer a free Confident City Cycling Class to provide you with all the skills and knowledge to safely commute in Pittsburgh. This on-the-bike class covers basic and advanced cycling skills, best practices for solo and group riding and includes a culminating group ride that utilizes the best of local bicycle infrastructure.

Sept. 16

Operation Illumination | 5-7 p.m., Schenley Plaza: Operation Illumination is BikePGH's initiative to install free front and rear bicycle lights for riders with unlit bikes. Stop by with your unlit bike to receive free lights plus bike guides and maps while supplies last.

Sept. 17

POGOH Scavenger Hunt | 11 a.m.-noon, Bike Cave*: Explore Oakland on two wheels and discover some of Pittsburgh’s most popular bike share stations during the POGOH Scavenger Hunt. Participants will travel to four designated POGOH stations, complete challenges, collect clues and learn more about navigating the city by bike.

Intro to Mountain Biking | 4-6 p.m., Bike Cave*: Introduction to Mountain Biking is a beginner-friendly workshop designed for students who want to learn the fundamentals of off-road cycling in a fun, supportive environment. Whether you’re completely new to mountain biking or looking to build confidence on the trails, this program will introduce you to the essential skills needed for a safe and enjoyable ride.

Sept. 18

Ice Cream Social Ride | Start at 4 p.m. at Bike Cave*: Join Rec Center staff as we roll into the finale of Campus Bike Week with an Ice Cream Social Ride. Celebrate a week of biking, community and sustainable transportation with a casual group ride followed by complimentary ice cream. You must be registered and checked in to receive free ice cream. This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Helmets will be provided, but if you have one, please bring it.

*Sign-ups for all Student Affairs’ Outdoor and Adventure Programs-led programs are required here.

Chuck Staresinic is interim editor of the University Times. Reach him at chuck.s@pitt.edu.

 

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