My wife and I biked The Three Rivers Heritage Trail System on a beautiful Saturday in late June. We start on the North Shore Trail under the 31st Street Bridge. When we got to PNC Park, what a zoo. The Pirates were playing Boston and the trail packed with fans walking to the game. We then took the Ft Duquesne Bridge over to Point State Park. The Duquesne Bridge is a beautiful bridge to bike over. The dedicated lane is very wide and the railing is high enough to make you feel really safe crossing the Allegheny River. The Ft. Pitt Bridge crossing the Monongahela River over to the Station Square Trail was another story. The dedicated lane was very narrow and the safety railing was not as high as the seat on my bike. We decided to walk our bikes over the Ft. Pitt Bridge and the long off ramp. We proceeded to Station Square where the North Side Trail begins and took this trail to the South Side Works. Then it was back over the Monongahela River via the Hot Metal Bridge and following the Eliza Furnace Trail back to Downtown and the Point State Park. Then it was back over the Ft Duquesne Bridge to pick up the North Side Trail back to the car. Over all a great day in the saddle exploring the trails of Pittsburgh.

The Three Rivers Heritage Trail system is a great and unique way to see the city. I have lived in Pittsburgh my entire life and continue to be amazed by this urban and environmental space. The Trail system provides a great way to get around the city, especially as an alternative to sidewalks along busy streets. The signage system in place on the trail provides interesting information about the area's history, and can be used to create a self guided tour for locals and visitors alike.

The South Side part of the trail has a lot of variety and still needs some work in a few places. I live on the South Side and can access it at several places. The section from the from the Hot Metal Bridge to near Sandcastle is paved and for me is a great place to sprint and warm up for an evening ride around the city. This section passes the practice football field for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh.

Going toward the city the trail is near the South Side Works shopping area with restaurants and a REI store just in case one needs parts or a repair. At this time the trail is crushed stone for a few hundred feet but is paved near the Birmingham Bridge and boat launch area. From there the trail curves through a wooded area. Than it goes under the S. 10th Street Bridge and continues to a sand plant. For now bikers have to cross a rail track and ride on some cobble stones to detour around that area. Then it links up with the Pittsburgh Riverwalk at Station Square part of the trail.

Almost all the time you can see the river with some great views of the city. This is still a new trail and more people are beginning to discover how nice it is.

I start my ride in the southside under the glenwood bridge. At the moment there isn't a good trail head there. I just park the car and ride near the tracks for 3/10 a mile. The south side trail goes about a half mile past sation square and is smooth asphalt. Staion Square is very busy and is more for pedestrians then bikes. There is no trail through down town but it is fairly easy to get to the north side. The nothside trail is concreate from hinze feild to past PNC park then it turns to a much bumpier dirt.

"This is a good trail for biking and roller blading. Unfortunately, the trail is not very long and I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this trail unless I lived close by. The trail only follows the river for a couple miles. It would be a great trail if they extend it atleast several more miles northeast towards the Coraopolis and Sewickley area and a few miles west towards Squirrel Hill. Until that happens, I won't be back."

"The best thing about the Jail Trail is its surface: mirror-smooth asphalt! It's also a great link between Pittsburgh's Oakland and downtown neighborhoods, bypassing the unpleasant and traffic-ridden uptown streets. My only complaints are headwinds and noise from the parkway traffic. Interestingly, though, you ride between the eastbound and westbound lanes at times, and during rush hour, you move faster than the traffic. Haw haw! "