PITTSBURGH — Pittsburghers will have the chance to experience two of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods in a new way as OpenStreetsPGH returns Sunday, July 26, transforming more than three miles of roadway in the Strip District and Lawrenceville into a car-free space for movement, connection, and community.
The free, all-ages event, presented by UPMC Health Plan and hosted by Bike Pittsburgh (BikePGH), will allow residents and visitors to bike, walk, skate, and roll through city streets normally filled with vehicle traffic.
The route will travel through the heart of the Strip District along Smallman Street before continuing into Lawrenceville along Butler Street — giving participants the opportunity to explore local businesses, murals, restaurants, historic landmarks, and community spaces at their own pace.
“OpenStreetsPGH is an exciting day out in Pittsburgh and an even more powerful reminder that our streets should serve as spaces for people, not just motor vehicles.”
Catlyn Brooke, Events Manager, BikePGH
A Day Built for Families, Fitness and Community
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants can enjoy activities throughout the route, including:
- Free fitness classes and wellness activities
- Local vendors, food, and shopping opportunities
- Community organization activities
- Youth programming
- Bike education opportunities through BikePGH
- The interactive “Side Quest,” where participants can explore the route and earn prizes
The event is designed for people of all ages and abilities, with designated crossing points monitored by public safety officials and volunteers. Activity Hubs will include ADA-accessible restrooms, water refill stations, and first aid services.
Neighborhood Highlights
Two major Activity Hubs will anchor the day’s programming:
Strip District
Strip District Terminal Community Wellness Hub
Features fitness classes hosted by the YMCA along with interactive activities from community partners.
Lawrenceville
Duquesne Light Company Kids Hub
Families can participate in BikePGH’s Learn to Ride course, enjoy youth activities, and cool down at a UPMC Health Plan cooling station.
Reimagining Pittsburgh’s Streets
OpenStreetsPGH is part of a worldwide movement that temporarily transforms roads into public spaces designed for people rather than cars. Organizers say the event highlights what Pittsburgh’s streets can become when communities have more opportunities to gather outdoors.
“Together with BikePGH, we’re excited to create opportunities for Pittsburghers to gather together outdoors and enjoy vibrant community experiences that support healthier lifestyles.”
Dr. Chet Ho, Chief Medical Officer, UPMC Health Plan
The July 26 event is the final OpenStreetsPGH event of 2026.
Event Details
OpenStreetsPGH — Strip District & Lawrenceville
Sunday, July 26, 2026
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Strip District (Smallman Street) & Lawrenceville (Butler Street)
More than 3 miles of car-free roadway
Free and open to all ages. No registration required.
Visit OpenStreetsPGH.org →Photos 1–3: BikePGH / Murphy Moschetta
Black Women Are Changing the Face of Cycling — One Ride at a Time
As Pittsburgh opens its streets for OpenStreetsPGH, a national movement is working to ensure women of color see themselves on two wheels.
Cycling has long been viewed as a way to experience freedom, improve health, and connect with communities. But for many women of color, getting on a bike has also meant navigating barriers — from representation and access to safety and belonging.
Organizations like Black Girls Do Bike are working to change that narrative by creating spaces where women and girls of color can experience cycling as recreation, transportation, leadership, and community building.
The national organization’s mission is centered on cultivating an inclusive cycling community that supports women of color through mentorship, skill-building, group rides, and advocacy. Its work challenges the idea of who belongs in cycling spaces by uplifting Black women as riders, leaders, educators, and advocates.
Black Girls Do Bike emphasizes that cycling can serve as a tool for:
- Wellness — encouraging movement and healthier lifestyles
- Freedom and independence — providing another transportation option
- Connection — building community through shared experiences
- Leadership — preparing women of color to become ride leaders, instructors, and advocates
Through programs such as Knox Academy, the organization develops women into community ambassadors who can help expand cycling opportunities and influence more equitable transportation systems.
The question of representation matters. When women and girls of color see themselves reflected in cycling spaces, it can change the perception of who belongs on the road, on the trail, and in conversations about transportation planning.
As Pittsburgh opens its streets for a day of biking, walking, skating, and community connection, the movement to make cycling more inclusive continues — one rider, one neighborhood, and one community at a time.
More Than a Ride: How Pittsburgh Organizations Are Expanding Bike Access and Building Equity on Two Wheels
As OpenStreetsPGH turns city streets into car-free spaces, local advocates are working year-round to make cycling more accessible for communities historically left out of the bike movement.
For many Pittsburgh residents, a bicycle is more than a way to spend a weekend afternoon. It can provide transportation, independence, access to jobs and resources, and a pathway to healthier communities.
Across the region, nonprofits and cycling advocates are working to address barriers that have prevented many residents — particularly those in underserved communities — from fully participating in Pittsburgh’s growing bike culture.
Point Breeze
Free Ride Bicycle Collective
Donated bicycles are repaired, refurbished, and returned to the community through a low-cost model. The volunteer-run organization also teaches residents how to repair and maintain bikes.
Turtle Creek
Red Lantern Bicycles
Focuses on refurbishing and redistributing bikes to people who may face barriers to ownership. Through its Opportunity Hub, the organization connects cycling with workforce development and skills training.
Pittsburgh-wide
POGOH Bike Share
Mobility Justice Memberships, cycling confidence classes, and neighborhood partnerships aim to make bike share more accessible to residents who may face financial, safety, or experience barriers.
Pittsburgh-wide
BikePGH
Through advocacy, research, and education, BikePGH works to improve conditions for people who bike, walk, and roll throughout the region. Its mobility justice work examines transportation inequities.
A Day to Experience Pittsburgh Differently
On July 26, OpenStreetsPGH will temporarily transform more than three miles of streets in the Strip District and Lawrenceville into a car-free route for biking, walking, skating, and community connection.
But advocates say the larger goal extends beyond one event. The future of cycling in Pittsburgh depends not only on creating opportunities to ride — but ensuring that everyone has the access, resources, and confidence to participate.