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Annual Pedal Pittsburgh Bike Ride Moves to Bike Pittsburgh

Community Design Center of Pittsburgh Hands Over Event After 18 Years

(PITTSBURGH, PA) December 2, 2011—After 18 years of creating and building a cycling event designed to showcase the city’s neighborhoods, the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP) has signed an agreement to transfer Pedal Pittsburgh and its assets to Bike Pittsburgh.  CDCP President and CEO, Stephen A. Glassman, approached Bike Pittsburgh in late June to begin discussions about the possibility of transferring the successful annual event.

“Pedal Pittsburgh will always be part of the legacy of the CDCP, and we’re proud of making it into an annual event for more than 2,500 Pittsburghers,” said Mr. Glassman. “Bike Pittsburgh—with its mission of establishing Pittsburgh as a city that is increasingly safe, accessible, and friendly to bicycle transportation—is the ideal organization to build on Pedal Pittsburgh’s history to make it into a signature cycling event for the region.  Additionally, the transition of Pedal Pittsburgh to Bike Pittsburgh will allow the CDCP to focus on our core work of advocating for the value of good design, planning, and public policy in support of more livable and sustainable communities in the Pittsburgh region.”

Scott Bricker, Executive Director and co-founder of Bike Pittsburgh agrees, “We are thrilled to take on Pedal Pittsburgh and pair our advocacy efforts of making the city more bike-friendly with one of the City’s premier outdoor events. We’re excited to leverage our knowledge of biking in the city with an event valued by cyclists of all abilities—from families with young children to competitive athletes.”

The transfer of Pedal Pittsburgh from the CDCP to Bike Pittsburgh will occur with the 2012 event.  Usually held the third weekend of May, the actual date of 2012 Pedal Pittsburgh will be announced by Bike Pittsburgh next year.  As part of the agreement, the CDCP will provide the Pedal Pittsburgh brand including pedalpittsburgh.org, logistics history, past rider information, and volunteer database to Bike Pittsburgh.

“I started at the CDCP as the Pedal Pittsburgh coordinator twelve years ago and have worked on it every year since.  Over that time, we’ve grown the event from 1,700 riders to the record-breaking 2,800 participants in May 2011. I don’t think I’d be comfortable transitioning Pedal Pittsburgh to anyone but Bike Pittsburgh.  I know they’ll provide a great home to a great event,” according to Jen Fox, CDCP Chief Operating Officer.

The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh advocates for the value of good design, planning, and public policy in support of more livable and sustainable communities in the Pittsburgh region.  The CDCP envisions a region where design and planning are accessible, valued, and celebrated throughout diverse and connected communities. For more information, visit cdcp.org.

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