From First Rides to Daily Routines: How DLC and POGOH Are Moving the North Side Forward

When Morgan Kriley, a DLC employee and North Side resident, first heard about the company’s partnership with POGOH this spring, curiosity got the better of her.

There was a POGOH station near her home, so she downloaded the app and decided to give it a try. Before long, she was riding an e-bike along the North Shore Trail, across the Roberto Clemente Bridge and around Point State Park.

It was her first time on an e-bike.

“I was surprised by how easy they were to use and how fast they can go,” Morgan said. “And I felt really safe biking on the main roads because there were designated bike lanes.”

At first, POGOH was mostly a convenient way for Morgan to shorten her commute to DLC’s new headquarters at Nova Place or take a recreational ride along the riverfront.

Then, unexpectedly, it became much more important.

From Convenience to Necessity

In May, Morgan was involved in an accident that totaled her car.

In addition to working at DLC, she teaches group fitness classes and regularly travels to different parts of Pittsburgh. Without a car, getting to work, teaching classes, running errands and simply going about her daily life could have become a significant challenge.

Instead, she started riding.

“I didn’t have an alternative means of transportation, so I started using the bikes to get to classes and noticed that I was getting there in half the amount of time it would’ve taken if I had driven,” she said. “I no longer had to deal with frustrating rush-hour traffic — all I had to do was scan a bike on the POGOH app and start pedaling.”

Soon, POGOH was carrying Morgan farther than her commute. She began using the bikes for errands and even grocery shopping, taking advantage of the baskets mounted on the front of the bikes.

She ultimately went nearly four months without owning a car.

“Being without a car barely made an impact on my daily routine,” Morgan said. “I was saving money not paying for gas and could get virtually anywhere in the city on an e-bike.”

Eventually, Morgan purchased another car. But something unexpected happened: She kept riding.

She says she now drives significantly less than she did before the accident and continues to use POGOH at least once a day.

“Although losing my car was an unfortunate circumstance, the POGOH bikes created a lot of silver linings,” she said. “It made me appreciate our city’s bike-friendly infrastructure and the trails alongside the rivers. Not only was I using it as a means of transportation, but it was also a fun way to exercise and explore different parts of the city I wouldn’t normally see.”

Thousands of Connections Across the North Side

Morgan’s experience is personal, but she’s far from being the only Pittsburgher taking advantage of expanded access to POGOH.

During that time:

Those numbers are an early indication of how investments in accessible transportation can make an impact well beyond a company’s own employees.

For DLC, that’s an important part of the partnership.

As the company establishes its new headquarters at Nova Place, DLC isn’t simply working on the North Side. Its employees are becoming even more connected to a community many of them already call home.

Investing in Cleaner, More Accessible Transportation

DLC’s relationship with POGOH extends beyond the colorful branding seen on bikeshare stations.

The company’s investment has supported a new full-size charging station and bikes on the North Side, along with vibrant, easy-to-spot branding at other POGOH charging stations throughout the neighborhood.

And the POGOH network could soon become even more connected.

Pending necessary city approvals, another POGOH charging station is planned near DLC’s Woods Run campus. The new station will help create a convenient bikeshare connection that numerous companies located along the Ohio River will be able to access.

The partnership builds on DLC and POGOH’s shared commitment to expanding sustainable transportation options throughout Pittsburgh — from supporting electric bikeshare charging infrastructure to community rides, bicycle safety initiatives and rider education.

For David White, executive director of Bike Share Pittsburgh, the organization behind POGOH, the opportunity is as much about changing everyday routines as it is about adding stations.

“I am truly excited about this partnership because we’re working together to make it easy for DLC employees and North Side residents to build short bicycle trips into their everyday routines,” said White. “It’s fun to work with forward-thinking companies that help us imagine a future where fresh air and big smiles replace car traffic and parking frustrations.”

Powering the Communities We Call Home

The growing use of POGOH on the North Side represents something bigger than the number of bikes rented or miles ridden.

It’s about giving people another choice.

For some, that might mean leaving the car behind for a short trip. For others, it could mean discovering Pittsburgh’s riverfront trails for the first time, finding a more sustainable way to commute or simply getting where they need to go a little more easily.

And occasionally, as Morgan discovered, that option can become invaluable when life doesn’t go according to plan.

DLC employees don’t just serve the communities in Allegheny and Beaver counties. They live, work and raise families in them. Investments that make those communities more connected, sustainable and accessible benefit DLC’s customers, its employees and all our neighbors alike.

For Morgan, what began as a first ride across the Clemente Bridge has become part of her everyday routine. And she has no plans to stop pedaling anytime soon.

“I continue to use POGOH at least once a day,” she said, “and I will be enjoying every single ride while the weather is still nice.”