We are hiring!
We are looking for additional guides to lead the following tours:
- History + Architecture Beauty of Pittsburgh Tour
- Bikes + Brews Tour
- Northside Tour
- Bridges in the Burgh Tour
Click here for full details!
- History + Architecture Beauty of Pittsburgh Tour
- Bikes + Brews Tour
- Northside Tour
- Bridges in the Burgh Tour
Click here for full details!
MEET VAL - Founder, Owner and active Captain
|
Hello! I am Val (short for Valentina), the founder, owner and tour guide of Bike the Burgh Tours. Originally from the Italian Alps, I lived in Germany for over 10 years. I studied in Munich (Germany) and Rome (Italy) to get my Master's degree in art and architectural history. After that I also spent some time in NYC where I met my future husband, a real Pittsburgher. After years of a long-distance relationship, we finally decided to declare Pittsburgh as our new home. I was so surprised of the rich history and culture the city has to offer that I decided to study and share it with people in a different and sustainable way: on bikes! Since urban biking has always been a substantial part of my daily life, I became a passionate advocate of cycling and also recycling. :-)
The mission of Bike the Burgh Tours is both to reveal the beauty of Pittsburgh, educate visitors as well as residents about its history, and to promote biking as a healthy, green and sustainable method of recreation and transportation. |
|
MEET ASHLEY - Tour Manager
|
Ashley is our tour manager and you'll most likely see her in our shop or chat with her on the phone on the weekends! Ashley moved to Pittsburgh in 2009 to pursue her career in art and glassmaking at the Pittsburgh Glass Center and in experimental Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, she was never far from the Burgh and quickly grew to love its art and culture and green spaces all wrapped up in the feel of a bigger city.
At the start of the pandemic, after accepting a job in Downtown Pittsburgh, Ashley became an official Pittsburgh city commuter. The Allegheny Cemetery is one of her favorite places to bike through on her commute! She has always been passionate about sustainability and recycling and started Reimagined Recycling, a plastic recycling non-profit, in 2021. Her diverse areas of knowledge and expertise make for a fascinating and memorable Pittsburgh tour experience! She joined our rolling team in 2022. |
MEET MACY - Marketing Manager
|
Macy is our Marketing Manager and you'll see her in our shop or talk to her on the phone on Mondays and Wednesdays. Macy grew up just outside of Pittsburgh and especially loved visiting the city for Penguins hockey games. After spending a decade away, she returned to Pittsburgh and brought her honorary-Yinzer partner, Elliott, back with her.
She loves meeting people from around the world and sharing stories about life. You never know what connections you can make out in the world. She enjoys watching people discover (or remember) how much fun it is to see the world from a bicycle. Her goal is to make you feel welcome and supported while you’re in the shop and out on tour! Macy’s motto: Life is better on a bike. She has been a part of the BTB crew since 2022. |
|
MEET SARAH - Bike Rental Coordinator, Tour Guide
|
Sarah works with our GAP and C&O rental customers, setting them up for success on their adventures. Twice a week you will get to enjoy her smiling face in our shop. After growing up in southern California, Sarah moved to Pittsburgh in 2015 and quickly became a passionate city cyclist. Whether she's taking part in zany alley cat races, group bike rides with music pumping, or just getting herself to choir rehearsal or a clothing swap, her motto is, "Be the bike you wish to see in the streets." Sharing the joy and empowerment of city biking with others lights her fire (and makes for great exercise!).
Sarah loves sharing knowledge and creatively redistributing resources. She has worked as an educator and administrator in out-of-school and residential settings, a summer camp counselor, and a chronic volunteer with organizations across the city. She originally moved to Pittsburgh as a Fellow with Repair the World, and values of service, social justice, and mutual aid continue to drive her. Sarah holds a degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Jewish Studies from Loyola Marymount University and has developed fluency in Spanish across multiple places and cultures. She joined BTB and WTB in 2023. |
MEET DAVE - Tour Guide, Dave of all Trades, Bike Señor
|
Dave moved to Pittsburgh in 1995 from Williamsburg, Virginia after growing up in another steel town: Gary, Indiana. He's been biking around Pennsylvania's Steel City ever since. He loves cycling and climbing hills early in the morning on his vintage Motobecane. He also enjoys working at Bike PGH - in fact, he's a Bicycle Educator in the League of American Cyclists. But the exercise doesn't wear him out - as a former track and field coach at Pitt, former competitive masters runner, and former bike racing dabbler, he's got the endurance and speed to tackle any road the Burgh has to offer! Curious by nature, he loves to learn and is a big reader. If you ever wanted to know about beavers in our rivers and local wild turkey populations, for example, Dave's the guy to talk to! He holds a Masters in Science teaching, and his varied science background carries a particular focus on birds.
We love having Dave on the team - he's a fun person to be around, very relatable and knowledgeable. He will be showing you around a lot this summer, so ask him every question you have: he's got this town down! Dave joined the BTB family in 2016 as a first employee. |
|
MEET HARRY - Tour Guide
|
Harry is a lifelong resident of the Pittsburgh area. Growing up in the steel mill town of McKeesport, about 15 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. He attended college at Penn State University, and then taught for 15 years at the high school level and then went into school administration. His teaching experience serves him well, when showing our curious customers around by bike. Since he retired in July 2017 (after 38 years!), tourism has become a pastime and a joy in his retirement. Harry has led walking tours in Pittsburgh for two years and now enjoys giving tours on two wheels. You'll get to point out more while catching a soft breeze!
Many biking and camping excursions, including riding from Pittsburgh to DC and many experiences on the C&O Canal, the Allegheny National Forest Area, Yellowstone National Park, Acadia National Park and trails in West Virginia, have only deepened his love for biking. Harry was awarded a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He lives with Dianne, his wife of 37 years, with whom he has two adult daughters, in nearby Forest Hills. When he is not showing off the Burgh by bike, you'll find him at the pool, simply enjoying life! Harry has been smiling for our customers since 2019. |
MEET KANE - Tour Guide
|
Born in Gettysburgh, raised in the Philly suburbs, and a current resident of Pittsburgh, Kane has tasted many of the flavors Pennsylvania has to offer with Pittsburgh as his favorite. After moving in 2011, Kane has developed a fervent connection with this city. He enjoys listening to local music, lurking through the tents of a farmers market, dropping in on friends, and exploring city streets.
Kane received a bachelor's in history from the University of Pittsburgh with a specific interest in the transformation of city infrastructure. Nothing is more fun than to root through stories from the past and share with whoever will listen. He enjoys riding through "tahn" as we say here in Pittsburgh, scouting out new historic sites. Before becoming a bike tour guide for Bike the Burgh Tours in 2021, he worked for Bike and Roll D.C. in Washington, DC. Kane has been with us since 2021. |
|
MEET WILL - Tour Guide
|
Will is a 7th-generation native of Southwestern PA, born and raised in the Golden Triangle. Before studying Environmental Engineering at Connecticut College, he received the prestigious title of “Class Clown” from Pittsburgh’s largest public high school in 2007.
Will moved back to Pittsburgh in 2016, after spending several years working with a Belgium-based plastics startup, during which time he lived in Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, and other locations throughout the Heartland. Will is a co-founder of Solbridge Energy Advisors, an independent solar consulting and brokerage firm based in Pittsburgh. He is also the President of Steel City Rowing Club, located in Verona. When he isn't on the river or riding a bicycle, Will enjoys cooking, playing music, and talking to strangers. He began leading bike tours in 2022. |
MEET SPENCER - Fleet Manager
|
Spencer is our Bike Fleet Manager. They're in charge of maintaining, cleaning, and repairing all of the bikes at Bike The Burgh, including our city tour bikes and our hybrid bikes for the GAP and C&O trail.
Spencer has been riding and fixing bikes in Pittsburgh for the past ten years. They started their bicycle mechanic career at the local bike share where Spencer used to work for 3 years. Spencer is passionate about bike camping, road safety, and nice colors. Spencer joined our bike team in 2023. |
|
REVIEWS
|
|
Hoooray! We are the #4 of 36 Outdoor Activities in Pittsburgh on TripAdvisor!
Many thanks to everyone who took the time to share the experiences. You are all part of helping to grow our ideas! See what folks have to say: "Val did an amazing job of showing us the city and answering all of our questions. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Bike the Burgh Tours, and I can't wait to go back to Pittsburgh to ride with them again." "Wonderful way to explore the city and learn a lot about its history and culture. Dave was an excellent tour guide, with great knowledge of the city's secrets and showing us around. We visited places that we would definitely wouldn't go, with another type of tour. Thank you!!!" "This was a really well done tour. Val, the leader and proprietor of the business, was friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. Even though I have lived in Pgh. for 30 + years, I still learned a few new things." Did you take a tour with us recently? Leave us a review on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, or Facebook! |
PRESS ARTICLES
Check out what other people wrote about Bike the Burgh Tours:
The Week, Pittsburgh's Unexpected Charms, February 2023: "In warmer months, visitors who pedal around with a Bike the Burgh tour enjoy “soaking in Pittsburgh’s green hillsides along its many riverfront trails.”
The Incline, "Locals to know: Meet Valentina Scholar, the woman challenging to walk (or bike!) the 'Burgh, February 2022: "Years ago, on Sundays, we used to go on random drives around random neighborhoods (and as we know, there are plenty in Pittsburgh!) just to check out the local architecture."
Travelmag, "12 Fun Things to do in and around Pittsburgh", March 2021: "There’s no better way of getting to know a city than by simply exploring it – and even better if you can be accompanied by a local expert as you go."
ABTA Magazine, "City Guide: Pittsburgh", Karl Cushing, March 2020: "Plumping for an architectural tour with Bike the Burgh I’m soon whizzing along bike lanes and crisscrossing rivers with my knowledgeable guide Paul as he narrates some of Pittsburgh’s grandest buildings and 446 bridges."
Financieele Dagblad, *De Stalen Stad", Barbara Noordermeer, December 2019.
Neue Westfälische / Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, *Geschichte aus Stahl", Tom Sundermann, October 2019.
Bild Online, *Diese Münchner Mädels zeigen Touristen die Welt*, Tom Sundermann, August 2019.
Bild, "Münchner Mädels erklären im Ausland Touris die Welt*, Tom Sundermann, August 2019.
Vegan Food & Living, "A vegan's guide to... Pittsburgh," April 2019: "The ride [is] a unique event full of exciting (re)discoveries of The Burgh."
High50, "Six of the best: Tours in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania", April 2019:*The 'Beauty of the Burgh Tour' [is] perfect for those who are new to the city and would like to see the city’s highlights."
Viaggi Vacanze, "Pittsburgh, una città nel futuro", Carlo Ferrari, March 2019.
Columbus Monthly, "Best Driving Vacations: Adventures in Pittsburgh," Jillian Span Hofbauer, March 12 2019; "Bike the Burgh’s 'Beauty of the Burgh' tour provides a well-rounded look at points of interest[.]"
Trekking.it, "All’inizio dell’America: Philadelphia e dintorni!", Carlo Ferrari, February 2019.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Food, fun and Segways: Pittsburgh tours for every taste", Regan Schell, July 27th 2018; "Perfect for the cycling enthusiast, or anyone, since riders of all skill levels and ages are encouraged to participate."
The Incline, "Who’s Next: Tourism; Meet 16 people who are showing off the Pittsburgh region," MJ Slaby, May 8th 2018; "Passionate about daily walking and urban biking, Scholar told The Incline that the bike tours closed a gap in Pittsburgh tourism and promote healthy, green and sustainable recreation and transportation."
Best Things Pennsylvania, "The 10 Best Guided Tours in Pennsylvania!" Hilary Gunn; "Whether you want to bike to the ballpark and take in a game, or discover the beauty of Pittsburgh’s bridges, Bike the Burgh is a phenomenal experience."
Hero & Leander, "Top 8 Alternative Things To Do In Pittsburgh", April 22nd, 2018; "For first time visitors to Pittsburgh we could not recommend the ‘Bike The Burgh Tours’ highly enough."
Kidsburgh, "7 ways Pittsburgh kids can tour around town like a tourist," Michael Machosky, October 30th, 2017; "Bike the Burgh takes advantage of all those new bike paths and routes with tours that engage rides through most of the major inner-city neighborhoods: Downtown, the Strip District, North Side, South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, Friendship, and East Liberty."
BikePGH, "Women and Biking; Pittsburgh business owners who love bikes", March 8th, 2017; "I started biking pretty much out of necessity when I was living in a big urban context where cars are just an unnecessary expense.”
NEXTPittsburgh, Gina Mazza, February 14th, 2017: "Our motto is, ‘There’s no bad weather, only bad gear."
Pittsburgh Magazine, Alexa Mavrogianis, August 2016: "Scholar is motivated by Pittsburgh's impact on American history, but she also admires the city's recent direction."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bob Batz, May 25th, 2016: "We speak Swiss-German together!"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Larry Walsh, September 19th, 2015: "I was most impressed with how much Val knows about the city. I learned so much about architecture and history of Pittsburgh."
Road report by countribike, Jeffrey Tanenhaus, September 11th, 2015: "Here I am super happy,” Val says beaming at me through her glasses. “I am more proud of Pittsburgh than some people who are born here. This is my new home.”
BOLD Magazine, Amanda Cooney, Issue 13, July 2015: "Bike the Burgh Tours help you to stop and take in the beauty of our city and provide you some insight into the reasoning behind how and why things are the way they are."
NEXTPittsburgh, Leah Lizarondo, June 6th, 2015: "The group setting gives everyone a feeling of safety and camaraderie, says Scholar. “There are a lot of people who come inexperienced at biking and are a little bit scared. But at the end of the tour, they have new confidence and sign up for more."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jon Schmitz, May 26th, 2015: “I was surprised how awesome this city is, regarding its history but also its present ongoing transformation."
The Week, Pittsburgh's Unexpected Charms, February 2023: "In warmer months, visitors who pedal around with a Bike the Burgh tour enjoy “soaking in Pittsburgh’s green hillsides along its many riverfront trails.”
The Incline, "Locals to know: Meet Valentina Scholar, the woman challenging to walk (or bike!) the 'Burgh, February 2022: "Years ago, on Sundays, we used to go on random drives around random neighborhoods (and as we know, there are plenty in Pittsburgh!) just to check out the local architecture."
Travelmag, "12 Fun Things to do in and around Pittsburgh", March 2021: "There’s no better way of getting to know a city than by simply exploring it – and even better if you can be accompanied by a local expert as you go."
ABTA Magazine, "City Guide: Pittsburgh", Karl Cushing, March 2020: "Plumping for an architectural tour with Bike the Burgh I’m soon whizzing along bike lanes and crisscrossing rivers with my knowledgeable guide Paul as he narrates some of Pittsburgh’s grandest buildings and 446 bridges."
Financieele Dagblad, *De Stalen Stad", Barbara Noordermeer, December 2019.
Neue Westfälische / Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, *Geschichte aus Stahl", Tom Sundermann, October 2019.
Bild Online, *Diese Münchner Mädels zeigen Touristen die Welt*, Tom Sundermann, August 2019.
Bild, "Münchner Mädels erklären im Ausland Touris die Welt*, Tom Sundermann, August 2019.
Vegan Food & Living, "A vegan's guide to... Pittsburgh," April 2019: "The ride [is] a unique event full of exciting (re)discoveries of The Burgh."
High50, "Six of the best: Tours in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania", April 2019:*The 'Beauty of the Burgh Tour' [is] perfect for those who are new to the city and would like to see the city’s highlights."
Viaggi Vacanze, "Pittsburgh, una città nel futuro", Carlo Ferrari, March 2019.
Columbus Monthly, "Best Driving Vacations: Adventures in Pittsburgh," Jillian Span Hofbauer, March 12 2019; "Bike the Burgh’s 'Beauty of the Burgh' tour provides a well-rounded look at points of interest[.]"
Trekking.it, "All’inizio dell’America: Philadelphia e dintorni!", Carlo Ferrari, February 2019.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Food, fun and Segways: Pittsburgh tours for every taste", Regan Schell, July 27th 2018; "Perfect for the cycling enthusiast, or anyone, since riders of all skill levels and ages are encouraged to participate."
The Incline, "Who’s Next: Tourism; Meet 16 people who are showing off the Pittsburgh region," MJ Slaby, May 8th 2018; "Passionate about daily walking and urban biking, Scholar told The Incline that the bike tours closed a gap in Pittsburgh tourism and promote healthy, green and sustainable recreation and transportation."
Best Things Pennsylvania, "The 10 Best Guided Tours in Pennsylvania!" Hilary Gunn; "Whether you want to bike to the ballpark and take in a game, or discover the beauty of Pittsburgh’s bridges, Bike the Burgh is a phenomenal experience."
Hero & Leander, "Top 8 Alternative Things To Do In Pittsburgh", April 22nd, 2018; "For first time visitors to Pittsburgh we could not recommend the ‘Bike The Burgh Tours’ highly enough."
Kidsburgh, "7 ways Pittsburgh kids can tour around town like a tourist," Michael Machosky, October 30th, 2017; "Bike the Burgh takes advantage of all those new bike paths and routes with tours that engage rides through most of the major inner-city neighborhoods: Downtown, the Strip District, North Side, South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, Friendship, and East Liberty."
BikePGH, "Women and Biking; Pittsburgh business owners who love bikes", March 8th, 2017; "I started biking pretty much out of necessity when I was living in a big urban context where cars are just an unnecessary expense.”
NEXTPittsburgh, Gina Mazza, February 14th, 2017: "Our motto is, ‘There’s no bad weather, only bad gear."
Pittsburgh Magazine, Alexa Mavrogianis, August 2016: "Scholar is motivated by Pittsburgh's impact on American history, but she also admires the city's recent direction."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bob Batz, May 25th, 2016: "We speak Swiss-German together!"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Larry Walsh, September 19th, 2015: "I was most impressed with how much Val knows about the city. I learned so much about architecture and history of Pittsburgh."
Road report by countribike, Jeffrey Tanenhaus, September 11th, 2015: "Here I am super happy,” Val says beaming at me through her glasses. “I am more proud of Pittsburgh than some people who are born here. This is my new home.”
BOLD Magazine, Amanda Cooney, Issue 13, July 2015: "Bike the Burgh Tours help you to stop and take in the beauty of our city and provide you some insight into the reasoning behind how and why things are the way they are."
NEXTPittsburgh, Leah Lizarondo, June 6th, 2015: "The group setting gives everyone a feeling of safety and camaraderie, says Scholar. “There are a lot of people who come inexperienced at biking and are a little bit scared. But at the end of the tour, they have new confidence and sign up for more."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jon Schmitz, May 26th, 2015: “I was surprised how awesome this city is, regarding its history but also its present ongoing transformation."
OUR FRIENDS
Bike PGH
Check out our friends at BikePGH, Pittsburgh's great bike advocacy. They really do an awesome job. Thanks to their hard work Pittsburgh streets became so much safer and more bikeable over the past years.
Any information related to biking can be found on their website. One good example is the fantastic, interactive Bike Map they developed.
Please become their member to support an increasingly bike-friendly Pittsburgh!
Any information related to biking can be found on their website. One good example is the fantastic, interactive Bike Map they developed.
Please become their member to support an increasingly bike-friendly Pittsburgh!