One Week until Pittsburgh's Menorah Bike Parade

Date: Monday Dec.2
Time: Meet-and-Brief at 5:45pm, pedals turning at 6pm
Start: corner of Hobart and Wightman Streets (Squirrel Hill)
Finish: Schenley Quad, Oakland
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Every year, Pittsburgh has a Menorah Parade in conjunction with Chanukah. People put rather large menorahs on their cars and drive in a convoy from in Squirrel Hill. The procession moves slowly, has a police escort through the intersections, lots of honking cars and waving folks on the streets.

At Schenley Quad, there's a large heated tent with doughnuts and fresh latkes, warm fresh food on a cold night. There's a ceremony where rabbis light a giant menorah. It's all good.

Last year, Pittsburgh's 2012 Menorah Parade included a bicycle contingent. The bikes rode behind the cars, and some of the bicyclists made DIY menorahs for their bikes, there was a small menorah on a helmet. You don't have to be Jewish to ride in the Chanukah Ride. It's a different kind of ride and it was a lot of fun.

Pittsburgh's Chanukah Menorah Bike Parade was the first in the country. This year, San Francisco is doing one also. Please join us for the Second Annual Pittsburgh Chanukah Bike Ride.

If you decide to decorate your bike -which is strictly optional- the message is: this isn't Christmas so no red-green. This is white lights, or blue-and-white lights, or multi-color lights. No Santa.