What don't you like about Pittsburgh? (York, Washington: appointed, find a job, neighborhoods)

[peanut33]

So I visited Pittsburgh last weekend- it seems like there's a lot of trash everywhere....After we crossed the Ohio state line it seems like PA had tons of trash just all over the interstate area---what's up with that?

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by By~Tor

Someone I know had mentioned that, next to Seattle, Pittsburgh gets more rain than any other Metropolitan area in the country.

Does anyone have any back up for that statement or proof to the contrary?


Just curious.....

Originally Posted by BrianTH

This sort of thing usually depends on your definitions. First, Hawaii and Alaska get a lot of rain, but I think people are usually thinking of the continental US. Even so, I believe that if you look at average annual rainfall, the top cities in the continental US are all down around the Gulf of Mexico. However, you get a different list if you look at rainy days as opposed to total rainfall, and that is how the Pacific Northwest and Western PA can move up the list (the Gulf Coast cities get dumped on, but only for part of the year).

Another issue is how small a metro area you want to talk about. I believe there are smaller places in New England, Upstate New York, parts of Michigan, and so on which have a lot of rainy days. But cities like Pittsburgh and Seattle move up if you restrict the list to major metros.

How can this depend on your definitions? How much rain a city gets vis a vis another city is not an opinion, it is a verifiable fact. Try this: NOAA's National Weather Service

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by Katiana

How can this depend on your definitions? How much rain a city gets vis a vis another city is not an opinion, it is a verifiable fact. Try this: NOAA's National Weather Service

"Oh there she goes again with those da*m statistics!" LOL Just Kidding you! I found this web site the other day, have you heard of it? Most of the information seems pretty up to date. StateMaster

[appalachiangirl]

As far as the trash on roadsides,Pittsburgh could learn a lesson from some of the cities in Virginia (especially the Shenandoah Valley region). There is very little along the roads --it always looks so CLEAN when I visit there. West Virginia has some of the same problems of Pittsburgh and southwest PA--cloudy days, young people leaving. But I don't really mind slow driving. I'd rather have more cautious people on the road than someone going 80mph and risk more accidents!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

"Oh there she goes again with those da*m statistics!" LOL Just Kidding you! I found this web site the other day, have you heard of it? Most of the information seems pretty up to date. StateMaster

HA HA! I can't help it; it's just my nature b/c of my work. "Evidence-based practice" and all that. Or should I say "'n'at"? Anyway, your site looks cool; I shall have to puruse it when I'm not brain dead from a day of "evidence-based practice".

[Smily Gladshanks]

Originally Posted by By~Tor

Someone I know had mentioned that, next to Seattle, Pittsburgh gets more rain than any other Metropolitan area in the country.

Does anyone have any back up for that statement or proof to the contrary?


Just curious.....

The number of overcast days is significantly different (in the wrong direction) that other areas. But I believe I read that is confused with number of days with precipitation. You get a lot of rain right now (early spring), but that definitely changes. Eventually.

[nynjmapa]

Weather on any local news station takes up about 1/3 of the broadcast.

Public transportation is not the best.

Many neighborhoods do not have sidewalks.

Many people do not know what the far left highway lanes are for... passing only.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Katiana

How can this depend on your definitions? How much rain a city gets vis a vis another city is not an opinion, it is a verifiable fact. Try this: NOAA's National Weather Service

Katiana,

I agree once you have your definitions set, your question becomes a matter of recorded facts, not a matter of opinion.

But again, here are some of the definitional issues:

First, by "how much rain", do you mean average annual rainfall, or the number of rainy days? Those are two different measures, and you will get different rankings depending on which measure you choose. Again, that is because rainfall is seasonal in many places, and some places get a lot of rain but in a relatively short period, whereas other places get less total rain but that rain is more spread out through the year.

Second, what is your definition of a "city"? The broader your definition, the more high-rain places in low population areas you will capture, and vice-versa. This issue is relevant because places like Seattle and Pittsburgh will be higher or lower on the list depending on how broadly you define "city".

Again, I'm not suggesting this ends up a matter of opinion. But if you want an answer to the question the other poster asked, you do have to make sure you have defined the question precisely.

[By~Tor]

WOW! - - I can't believe this thread has gone so long. . . . in perusing it, I found the VAST majority of it to be consumed with talk of "rainy weather" and "alcohol purchasing" protocol. . . . . if THAT'S the two WORST THINGS about living in Pittsburgh, then Methinks that no one really oughtta be bitchin' about it..... Guess they've never seen baltimore or Detroit, eh? LOL!!!

I did see a post from a Philly guy about a perceived lack of "Cosmopolitanality", and I have to ask . . .. in comparison to PHILLY?!?!?!?! :-O

I looked at Philly through a microscope before we settled on Pittsburgh, and I can tell ya'. . . . there IS no comparison... Philly is a microcosm of everything that is BAD about New York, without many of the things that are GOOD about New York... It's dirty, grey, and the large minority population lives in many of the same areas that are considered "touristy", and the neighborhoods look alot less inviting to the casual observer than Pittsburgh... Crime is through the roof, and jobs aren't that well available... the one thing I WILL say to Philly's benefit, is that their train system rules, in comparison to Pittsburgh's meager "T". . . . .

As far as the flight of youth to other places, I think this is universal, and no matter where you live, the kids are going to go spread their wings elsewhere, as soon as they get a chance to get out & explore... just that in Pittsburgh, perhaps it SEEMS more noticeable because it's a smaller city.... but I also hear many of them come BACK to Pittsburgh after they realize that other cities are colder and less homey-feeling. . . . and at least, that's a positive thing...

For me, I currently live in New York, after having lived in Chicago, Saint Louis, Dallas and rural southern Illinois (where it's currently flooding). In the few trips I've made to Pittsburgh in anticipation of my upcoming move there in May, I've found there to be plenty of available cultural opportunities, a thriving pub/bar scene, great shopping and unique neighborhoods, all of which seem much cleaner and better kept than anything I've seen in any of the other aforementioned cities.... People are friendly, and I actualkly found a job and have it waiting for me, even BEFORE I officially "move" there!!!

If it's a little rainy and I have to drive a couple miles to buy alcohol, well then I suppose that's a pretty fair price to pay, for the overall Quality of Life gains I see coming, in my near future... at least I don't have to deal with the brown paper bag drinkers that permeate the New York streets (or the Philly streets) and leave their garbage everywhere for the world to see... and I can ALWAYS stock up on alcohol and fill up my basement bar, so I don't HAVE to go out but once a month or so. . . . .

Overall, the worst of the worst about Pittsburgh IS its convoluted and insensible road grid system . . . or rather, the lack OF a sensible grid system.... everyone tells me I should get a GPS system, just to navigate the local streets, and I find that funny, considering that I've never been "lost" in Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago or even New York, but I get driving in Pittsburgh and have to rely on the magnesium deposits in my nose to tell me which way "North" is, because the roads sure don't give you a hint!!!!!

But, balancing out even THAT complaint, is that Pittsburgh is GREAT about signage marking the way to Areas of Interest and even entire neighborhoods, so if ya' just follow the damned signs, you really can't get THAT lost, even without a grid pattern to go by....

I am a fairly "cosmopolitan" guy who has seen the world and "been there; done that" more times than I care to count... and I say, that I believe Pittsburgh is a rare gem of Americana, holding onto its Appalachian roots while it forges forward into the 21st Century with plenty of job growth and the chance to become, once again, one of America's great destination cities....

Now, what say you?..........

[Katiana]

I agree about the alcohol issue. I've lived in a number of states and they all have different alcohol rules; so what?

After you have been there a while, you may feel the same about the weather as other transplants do. My DH has never lived there, but he once said "Does the sun ever shine here? Does it rain every day here?" This was on a trip out for the 4th of July. It doesn't bother me as much b/c I grew up there.

Youth Flight: Yes, kids like to spread their wings, everywhere. I currently live in a city that people move TO, not from. Because the young are most likely to move about, there are a lot of young people here. A lot more Pittsburghers stay gone, or at least did in years past, because of the job situation.

The grid system, such as it is, is awful, though the landforms are what make it difficult. People may talk about the North Side, South Side, East End, etc, but no one really gives directions with reference to N, S, E, and W. Those things don't change, unlike "turn right where the Winky's used to be". (My brother got that once as an actual direction to get somewhere.) I have found the signage to be a little lacking as well. Maybe it's better in the touristy neighborhoods.

As far as what say I, I say you need to live there a little while. I do not mean that in a snide way, just that you don't really experience a place until you've lived there.