Tag: You're It!

[ornoth_cycling]

The most active cycling BBS in Pittsburgh appears to be that run by BikePGH, the local advocacy group.

One of the more interesting threads is called “Tag-o-Rama” and it’s your basic tag hiding and finding game, somewhat akin to geocaching only with bikes instead of hiking, and photos instead of GPS coordinates.

Whomever found the last tag goes out and bikes somewhere interesting and takes a photo of a landmark or some interesting feature; the bike he rode must also be in the frame. Once he posts the photo (aka tag) online, anyone who can figure out the location can ride there to take and post another picture to verify their pickup (and their bike must also be in the picture). Then it’s their turn to place the next new tag. For a fuller explanation, read the rules at the top of this thread.

I’ve watched the thread for four months, since before I moved to Pittsburgh in fact. As you might imagine, it’s not easy to figure out locations if you’re new to the area, but Google has helped me identify a couple spots. On top of that, the weather and my lack of experience cycling across the city always kept me from venturing out to actually pick up a tag on my own. Until last week…

The thing that helps me most in finding a tag is something unique in the photo, like an Amish buggy or a blue church dome or something like that. On Friday someone posted a new tag: a playground slide made from a very distinctive metal sculpture. A little Googling and I figured out that it wasn’t too far away, on a road I’ve used a few times already.

Being up for an easy recovery ride, I figured this was a good opportunity. The only question was whether someone else would find it, ride there, and post their photo before I did. It was Friday noon, and 12 hours had elapsed since the photo was posted.

So I popped out, crossed the Highland Park bridge and rolled into Aspinwall Riverfront Park. I got a photo of my bike at the sculpture, and headed out. Hopeful that I’d be able to claim the tag, on the way home I detoured to take another photo at an abandoned storefront I’d passed several times before. I’d use that as my own new tag if no one else had claimed the playground one.

Returning home, I was delighted to see that no one else had claimed the tag. I posted and proudly claimed my first tag, the 1083rd to be claimed in the game. I was finally a legit participant!

After a moment to catch my breath, I also posted my new tag, number 1084. I figured it would be an easy find for anyone familiar with Centre Ave, one of Pittsburgh’s main streets, and so it was. Within three hours, two different people had posted pictures of their bikes in front of that abandoned shop!

While it’s not about riding hard, the game does get lots of people riding around and sharing unfamiliar but interesting parts of the city. It has proved a popular game here in Pittsburgh, and would be very easy to transplant in other cities, as well.

For me, it was on the list of things I wanted to do here in Pittsburgh. And now I can check that box off.

Though that won’t stop people from posting new tags nor stop me from cherry-picking ones to go after myself!