What Are the Misconceptions About Pittsburgh? (Warren: neighborhoods, live in, moving)

[_Buster]

Also keep in mind, many times its people looking at their phones sitting at lights and causing the delays, and I see this commonly everywhere including NYC area, Philly, DC, Pittsburgh. I don't hesitate to honk the horn if people don't go right away on green. Another annoying driving thing I see everywhere, is that people will accelerate really slowly for about the first 10 seconds from a light, then they will go as fast as they possibly can after that. I don't know what's wrong with those people, its like they forgot how to press the gas pedal and then they slowly remember

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by _Buster

Also keep in mind, many times its people looking at their phones sitting at lights and causing the delays, and I see this commonly everywhere including NYC area, Philly, DC, Pittsburgh. I don't hesitate to honk the horn if people don't go right away on green. Another annoying driving thing I see everywhere, is that people will accelerate really slowly for about the first 10 seconds from a light, then they will go as fast as they possibly can after that. I don't know what's wrong with those people, its like they forgot how to press the gas pedal and then they slowly remember

I don't know. Around here so many people run red lights that if you did move immediately on a green, you'd get t-boned by the 4 or 5 cars still clearing the intersection.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I don't know. Around here so many people run red lights that if you did move immediately on a green, you'd get t-boned by the 4 or 5 cars still clearing the intersection.

I was thinking the same thing. So many people running red lights these days, I tend to double check in large intersections.


As to the OP, I think a lot of people seem to think this town is still Hell with the Lid off as to smog.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I don't know. Around here so many people run red lights that if you did move immediately on a green, you'd get t-boned by the 4 or 5 cars still clearing the intersection.

[justjagginyinz]

My family is from Pittsburgh and most of us were born and raised here, or were here for significant parts of our lives. I have lived in several major cities including 20 years in South Florida. Due to the transient nature of Florida in general, I deem it the rudest place on earth, particularly South Florida. I know some people think its a paradise, that's okay--I would never go back their to live. Atlanta-loved it but after a decade grew tired of the increasing influx of people and the traffic was horrendous. People were friendly, but not many natives, so also quite transient.

Pittsburgh is a whole different world and can seem insular making it more difficult for newcomers not familiar with the region to feel at home. Coming back to live here 10 years ago was the best thing I ever did. Yes, people are not in the biggest hurry as compared to other cities, and yes it took time to re-acclimate and find new friends. I love the people here, even the one's that take advantage of the Pittsburgh left or those that put a chair out to save a spot to park.

I don't think there are misconceptions. The "truth" is different for each of us -- to each their own.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

I forgot to leave you the links.

South Misconceptions: http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...out-south.html

Coasts Misconceptions: http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...ns-coasts.html

Midwest Misconceptions: http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...s-midwest.html

Cleveland Misconceptions: http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...ear-about.html

I even did posts about Chicago and California misconceptions.

Chicago Misconceptions: http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ave-about.html

California Misconceptions: http://www.city-data.com/forum/calif...alifornia.html

You left out "The Wild West", AKA The Mountain West; MT, WY, CO, NM,ID, IT, NV, AZ.

[8YearsinPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

Some Pittsburgh drivers are polite (or perhaps cautious/timid) to a fault, where it causes traffic tie up and confusion esp at intersections.

So polite that they are more focused on letting others go when they should focus on keeping themselves moving.

[8YearsinPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by _Buster

Also keep in mind, many times its people looking at their phones sitting at lights and causing the delays

That's a common response, but what I often see here is people simply off in dreamland, even if they have a giant red port authority bus behind them. I was waiting at the bus shelter on Forbes and South Braddock last week, first person at the light sat, and sat and sat, with no phone, and I literally walked up to her passenger window and yelled at her to get the hell going. Also last week, I was out running through Edgewood and a was a half block away from an intersection. I see a car pull up, with no other car or human being around, must have looked back, forth, up and down multiple times, then pulls out in to the intersection, and looks even more, and by that time, I'm up to the intersection. I yelled at him to get the hell moving too.

My mind wants to explode when I hear or see anyone complaining about anyone driving "too fast" in our region.

[8YearsinPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

Elaborate.

1. I've never seen grown adults make a region out to be so difficult to navigate. I've never found it any more difficult to find my way or navigate than any other place in the world I've been. No, it isn't laid out like a typical, but after driving it for a short period of time, shouldn't become easier and more familiar? Don't tell me it "takes 5 years to learn your way around" here, if it takes you that long, you need some navigational lessons.

2. I've never seen such poorly focused drivers. And don't blame phones or touch screens in cars, etc. People have little desire to keep traffic moving. I can't believe the hold ups I encounter while on a bus or driving, simply driving to a neighborhood connecting to my neighborhood of Point Breeze. I grew up in a small Erie county town of around 6500 people, and Im sure they are more focused on keeping traffic moving there.

3. Left lane is for passing. There's some kind of odd fascination with being on the left no matter what you are doing in Pittsburgh. I see it on public sidewalks and trails too. Totally backwards.

4. You could make ten lanes of traffic in every direction, and someone would still screw it up, because you can't keep your foot off your brakes.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by 8YearsinPittsburgh

1. I've never seen grown adults make a region out to be so difficult to navigate. I've never found it any more difficult to find my way or navigate than any other place in the world I've been. No, it isn't laid out like a typical, but after driving it for a short period of time, shouldn't become easier and more familiar? Don't tell me it "takes 5 years to learn your way around" here, if it takes you that long, you need some navigational lessons.

It's extremely screwy here, poorly designed, and with appalling signage.

The only place that I've been to that was more difficult to navigate was Brussels.