Bigelow Boulevard was ranked among the nation’s best new bike lanes

Bigelow Boulevard, which was transformed through a Pitt infrastructure project, was the No. 3 best new bike lane in America, according to a People for Bikes ranking.

The bike advocacy nonprofit described the upgrades as an “example of how institutions can invest in surrounding communities — to the benefit of both.”

Pitt coordinated with the city to align the project with Pittsburgh’s Complete Streets plan, reducing the cost and minimizing closures on the vital roadway. The project also improved access to the Oakland business district and Oakland community.

The Bigelow Block Transformation Project, which also upgraded infrastructure and the William Pitt Union grounds, began in November 2019. The street reopened in December 2020 with expanded sidewalks and crosswalk lanes, an enhanced mid-block pedestrian crosswalk, traffic calming and bus stop improvements along with the bike lane upgrades.