Bicyclist Injured in Hit-and-Run Downtown
The intersection where the crash happened.
On July 21, at approximately 5:30 PM, the driver of a green Ford Escape hit a cyclist at Commonwealth Place and the Boulevard of the Allies. The driver then fled the scene. The cyclist experienced “abrasions and bruises” and was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
East of the crash site, the Boulevard of the Allies is one of the busiest streets in Pittsburgh, with about 30,000 cars per day through Uptown. However, as one enters Downtown, that traffic dissipates, and by the time you reach Commonwealth Place, it’s down to about 7,000 cars per day. Despite this, the Boulevard is four travel lanes through Downtown, plus one parking lane that is marked like a travel lane for some reason. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour. It is on Pittsburgh’s High Injury Network. The Boulevard is owned by PennDOT District 11, so the City of Pittsburgh doesn’t have a lot of say in its layout. That said, the Boulevard does appear in the City’s 2070 Mobility Vision Plan, which echoes the earlier EcoInnovation District Plan in calling for the Boulevard to be reduced to three travel lanes. PennDOT doesn’t appear to have any plans for the Boulevard as it does not appear on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
It is unclear if either the cyclist or the driver did anything wrong leading up to the crash. After the crash, the driver committed a crime by fleeing the scene, violating the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 § 3742 (Accidents involving death or personal injury), a misdemeanor of the first degree, which carries with it a fine of no more than $10,000 and a prison sentence of no more than five years. If you have any information on this crash please contact Pittsburgh Police here. But regardless of cyclist or driver fault, changes could be made to the intersection to make it safer.
The first step in improving safety is often reducing speed. The excess width and large corner turn radii on the Boulevard of the Allies contributes to higher speeds. Two travel lanes could be eliminated, the remaining two narrowed, and parking lanes installed on both sides, with the middle lane allowed to function as a turn lane at intersections. The feeling of narrowness could further be improved by planting a median in the center lane where not being used for turns, and installing curb extensions at the intersection. The corner curb radii, especially at the northeast corner, are excessively wide, and should be reduced to encourage slower turning speeds, which would greatly improve bike safety. Finally, while there are no plans for a bike route on the Boulevard, safety could be improved by making minor bike improvements at the intersection, like bike boxes.
The Boulevard of the Allies is owned by PennDOT District 11, who will only consider changes to one of their roads if they receive a request from a municipality in writing. To request that the city of Pittsburgh do that, contact Mayor Ed Gainey’s office on this website or at (412) 255-2626, and Council President P. Daniel Lavelle’s office at (412) 255-0820 or daniel.wood@pittsburghpa.gov.