Investment in the built environment is fundamental to fostering a sense of belonging and equity within our communities. This encompasses improvements to public spaces, transportation networks, and community facilities, alongside the crucial task of addressing safety and accessibility challenges. We prioritize community engagement and collaboration throughout this process, ensuring that the resulting built environment accurately reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of our communities.
A city can feel vast and unreachable without reliable transportation. Essential appointments, job opportunities, and access to healthy food become distant dreams, hampered by infrequent buses and long distances. For many, daily life is a struggle against distance, a barrier to a better future. A solution for some lies in the power of two wheels: a bicycle, offering freedom and independence where once there was only frustration.
We’re proud to partner with organizations working to make cycling a realistic and enjoyable transportation option for everyone. We partnered with GoBike Buffalo this year, supporting their Pedal Power program which gets donated bikes ready for community use.
“It takes supplies — new tires, brakes — and labor to get these bikes ready,” explains Kevin Heffernan, GoBike Buffalo’s communications director.
“One in four households in Buffalo don’t have access to a car. To lift our community economically, we need to make it easier and safer to walk or bike.”
GoBike Buffalo distributes approximately 350 refurbished bikes annually and hosts workshops, teaching over 1,400 people in 2023 how to maintain their bikes independently. Heffernan sums it up perfectly, “Everyone should have access to a bike, no matter where they live or their riding confidence level. The joy of cycling and the health benefits are incredible.”
Currently boasting 600 bikes and 60 stations spanning 18 neighborhoods, POGOH (Bike Share Pittsburgh), of which we are a founding title sponsor, plans to expand significantly in 2025. They will add approximately 50 more stations and 550 bikes. This expansion will further increase accessibility for residents across the city.
Last year alone, POGOH recorded an impressive 360,000 individual bike rentals, with over 80% of trips undertaken by local residents.
“We are really excited about these numbers,” says David White, POGOH’s executive director. “We’ve seen thousands of new customers, many taking short trips around the area, and an overall dramatic increase in ridership. It’s not just tourists; the vast majority are from our local region.”
Central to POGOH’s mission is equity. Their Mobility Justice Program offers 12 months of unlimited 60-minute bike rentals for just $10 a year to low-income individuals. Membership soared from 197 in 2023 to 550 in 2024, reflecting a growing need and the program’s success. Two-thirds of the fleet consists of electric-assist bikes, making cycling accessible to those who may find traditional bikes or Pittsburgh’s many hills challenging.
“I met someone recently who said using POGOH to get to a job interview was a turning point,” White shares. “It’s often difficult or expensive to use other transportation methods, but the bike created a path to something wonderful. People are finding new ways to get around and it’s making a big difference.”
Further enhancing inclusivity, POGOH’s Adaptive program offers a free fleet of adaptive bikes, including bicylces and tricycles, for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Through these partnerships, we’re not just providing bikes; we’re fostering healthier, more connected, and more equitable communities
