Outdoors in Pittsburgh

Almost 20 percent of children ages 6-11 are obese, according to a 2008 study.

The American Heart Association conducted a study that showed that 30 percent of high school students spend over three hours a day sitting in front of the television set.

A fitness testing program sponsored by Chrysler Fund Amateur Athletic Union that tracks fitness among almost 10 million people aged 6-17 came to the conclusion that children are getting slower in endurance running and weaker in general.

One business in Pittsburgh is attempting to get more people outside doing active things rather then sitting inside twiddling their thumbs in front of a PlayStation console.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. has created a family adventure program aimed at getting youth outside and inspiring interest in nature and outdoor recreation. Children can pick up an adventure journal at their local REI store or download and print out a journal from rei.com.

The website provides a detailed list of family-friendly hiking and biking trails for whichever state you click on. The links also provide driving directions and a list of things the family should bring. When the child finishes at least one outdoor activity, they can send in the tear-off postcard and they are then rewarded with a certificate of completion.

In addition to the journals and trails, REI offers family trips, free classes and events at their stores. A variety of checklists, tips and videos to help parents plan outings, such as campouts and day trips, are available also.

Groups such as Bike Pittsburgh and Kayak Pittsburgh are joining in the fight as well.

Bike Pittsburgh raises awareness about subjects such as public health and pollution and how biking can help. Riding bicycles keeps you in shape and reduces the pollution, congestion and use of oil. The company also works with local stakeholders to improve streets, bridges and trails to make bicycling safer.

In 2007, BikePGH developed a bike map that identifies the safest routes in the city. The most recent map before that had been published in 1992.

Advocacy for this program has sharply increased. In 2003, the organization had just 75   members. BikePGH is now pushing 1,200.
And all the work is paying off. The League of American Bicyclists recently recognized Pittsburgh as Bronze, meaning the commitment to bicycling is still in the beginning stages with room to grow. Notable steps are being made in the right direction.

Golden Triangle Bike Rental works with BikePGH.

The business has three locations currently up and running and will be opening a fourth soon. Storeowner Tom Demagall says that’s all the further he will be able to expand unless more trails are created.

The main location downtown has 70 bikes of all different types available for rental and about 200-300 are rented per week.

“Every year they get better,” Demagall says of the bike trails. “The more the city gets interested in outdoor stuff and improves the trails, the better business gets.”

Currently, a trail called the Great Allegheny Passage is a few miles from completion. The trail extends from Pittsburgh to Washington D. C. The final few miles from Duquesne to Pittsburgh are under construction.

On June 5, Paddle at the Point was held on the Allegheny River. An estimated 1,800 boats turned up to try to break the Guinness World Record for largest flotilla, which is made when people hold onto each other’s boats, connecting them all.

The official tally is yet to be determined, but it’s predicted that the record was broken that day. When the tally is complete, it will be sent for Guinness’ verification.

Kayak Pittsburgh has about 60 kayaks available to rent at its main location under the 6th Street Bridge. About 50 kayaks per day are rented during the week and a couple hundred on the weekend.

The company gets the word out about its business in the Venture Outdoors newsletter and radio, but they really spread the news via people.

“It’s all about word of mouth,” says Caroline Matys, an employee for Kayak Pittsburgh.

The Venture Outdoors Newsletter lets people know about programs and the level of difficulty of each. There are various categories ranging from obvious outdoor staples like hiking and fishing to activities to do with your dog and specialty things.

The specialty category varies from hikes ending with a wine and cheese tasting to hiking to points around Pittsburgh with the best view of the sunset.

Walls are Bad, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, promotes outdoor recreation exclusively for southwestern Pennsylvania. The program features more than 300 outdoor groups, destinations and activities.

Whether it’s biking, kayaking or hiking, Pittsburgh offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.