Welcome to Pittsburgh..... I guess ??? (Scranton, Denver: transplants, crime, home)

[dugdogmaster]

Google and Yahoo Maps rule! The rest are all chumps....

[fleetiebelle]

First, to get to Wightman, you can also go straight through the light in the park instead of turning onto Hobart, then left on Murdoch, right on Darlington, left onto Wightman.

This is what I was thinking--go straight through the light. Greenfield Rd becomes Bartlett St., then left on Murdoch, right on Darlington to Wightman.

When I first moved to Pittsburgh I would go driving on Sunday afternoons, just to see where roads went, where they came out, etc. I'm still discovering new ways to get places even after 8 years here. Good luck.

[scrapp]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

First, to get to Wightman, you can also go straight through the light in the park instead of turning onto Hobart, then left on Murdoch, right on Darlington, left onto Wightman. You can also take Hobart straight to Wightman. All three of these paths work about equally well in my experience.

Second, at Wightman and Wilkins you could turn left and take Wilkins to Fifth, do the hairpin turn onto Fifth heading east, and then make the left onto Aiken, which would take you straight to UMPC-Shadyside.

I live in this general area, so I drive it alot. For access to S. Negley from Greenfield bridge I go right on Hobart, left on Beacon, left on Wightman, right on Aylesboro, and left on S. Negley.

This route avoids the lights at Northumberland/Wightman and Wilkins/Wightman. It also gets rid of the left turn from Wilkins to S. Negley (no left turn signal at that light, and traffic can often back up there). Personally, I don't like the left from Darlington to Wightman --- there is no light and Wightman is both busy and wide making it hard to see everything to do the turn.

I'm not a big fan of the hairpin turn from Wilkins to Firth, but I agree that that is a good way to access Aiken if you want that end of Shadyside.

Finally, someone should point out how to get to the Highland Ave part of Shadyside (go to S Negley, right on Fifth, left on Highland). Highland goes by Casbah, Typhoon, the east side of the Whole Foods shopping Center and on to the East Liberty Home Depot. One important thing to note is that Highland does not connect to Ellsworth -- it passes directly over it on a bridge.

[GStreetShuffle]

If it makes you feel any better, I was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and I have lived in the city limits for about 4 years ...AND I JUST BOUGHT A GPS.

The plate thing is indeed bizarre. Sq. Hill is a great neighborhood - it'll get better, I promise!

[guylocke]

Take heart--you will know your way around soon and then will forget the names of the streets, and then you too can give bad directions just like a local.

LOL! Everyone has given you very good advice. I am really dumbfounded about this license plate thing, I didn't realize there was much of a black market for license plates.

LOL.

Did anyone forget to mention to you that while Sq. Hill and Shadyside are spectacular urban neighborhoods (some of the best I've ever seen in city-limits), they are also traditionally high-income residents? That's good and bad, and while I would certainly say that area of the city is safe, it is also prayed upon by baddies trying to hit the jackpot.

GPS is great, and might I add that if you or your hubby are in the market for a new cell, you may want to look into a smart phone that has GPS. I just got the new iphone 3G and I am in love with it. After signing a contract with AT&T it was about as cheap as a good GPS system and I also have the internet among a million other programs anywhere I go!

[guylocke]

I think all the new development in Squirrel Hill is truly exquisite. It manages to capture classic Squirrel Hill living while blending smart growth and modernism perfectly. Take a look!

[Awesomo.2000]

Seriously, can this forum get any more negative? On another forum you hear nothing but good things about Squirrel Hill.

I just noticed that this forum is EXTREMELY negative, and one negative comment will recieve 10 times more comments then a positive one.


I always am more then happy to give directions to people when they ask. However, it is hard to give directions here. It isn't just, "go up three blocks, then make a right, and go 5 blocks". That makes Pittsburgh unique, and interesting though.

Just my point of view. Please don't send me rude DMs.

[aveojohn]

Originally Posted by Awesomo.2000

Seriously, can this forum get any more negative? On another forum you hear nothing but good things about Squirrel Hill.

I just noticed that this forum is EXTREMELY negative, and one negative comment will recieve 10 times more comments then a positive one.


I always am more then happy to give directions to people when they ask. However, it is hard to give directions here. It isn't just, "go up three blocks, then make a right, and go 5 blocks". That makes Pittsburgh unique, and interesting though.

Just my point of view. Please don't send me rude DMs.

This is probably why Pittsburghers use landmarks when giving directions.

[Johnny C]

You have to earn the ability to navigate Pittsburgh! It will take a while, and most mistakes will cause you to cross a bridge that was not in your plans. Keep the faith though because you can soon impress your friends with your Pittsburgh navigation skills. Even my friends from nearby communities are always like "how the &*#@ did you find this route?".

And remember - all of the stoplights are red 24 hours a day, so directions will always have you coming to a "red light" ha ha.

Also, don't forget that you can be inbound on the parkway east, and southbound on the parkway north.

Just having a little fun with it all - that's the key. You have to keep a good sense of humor about it and roll with the punches when you get lost. I promise you will be laughing about this thread six months from now.

[juliempdx]

Thanks for all the good info I will be trying these other routes because going up and down Murray ave everyday is driving me insane!!!!!! On a positive note I actually was able to get a PA drivers license and PA plates today. I'm still in shock because we have been trying to get this accomplished for approx. 4 days now!! Good luck to those of you out there beginning this process. I am so tempted to write a guide on this matter for newcomers that is actually in english