March 11, or 311 Day, is a national day advocating for residents to report road safety issues to the non-emergency 311 line — and we have a Pittsburgher to thank for its creation! Dashcam For Your Bike founder Armin Samii is bringing awareness to obstacles for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, and stroller pushers.
🚲 At 5 p.m. today, Samii is inviting locals to join him to report hazards along a 2-mile bike loop, starting at St. Stanislaus’ Church in the Strip District. ➡️ Learn about his bike safety app and bike mount!
Sometimes the biggest improvements can come from small requests, and we have the power to make our city more safe and accessible for all. Never reported before? Here’s the 411 on 311.
What Should Be Reported?
Anything that’s a nuisance and a safety issue, but not an emergency, can be reported to the city’s 311 line: traffic issues, potholes, dangerous sidewalks, overgrown trees, abandoned properties, damaged electrical wires, illegal parking, dead animals, etc.
How Do You Contact 311?
- Dial “311” to talk to a live operator from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you’re outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621. You can also text!
- Fill out a request form on the city website.
- Report via the MyBurgh app 24/7 by selecting “service request,” adding your location, and uploading a picture. The app is available for IOS and Android devices.
How Do You Get the City To Respond?
Pittsburgh got over 103,000 requests in 2023! This data helps the city determine unsafe areas, especially as Pittsburgh works toward its Vision Zero goal: no traffic-related deaths or serious injuries. Samii’s best tips for getting the city to respond to your request are to be patient, be nice, and be specific. The more details you include — like photo or video evidence — the better!
And good news: The city says it’s working on software improvements and even a new app. So stay tuned!
