My thoughts on Pittsburgh (York, Washington: landscaping, neighborhood, maintenance)

[Atlwarrior]

I drove from Myrtle Beach to Buffalo, New York Niagara Falls. I was blown away at many hills and tree Pittsburgh had. I didn't go to Downtown Pittsburgh, but I thought it was neat from the areas I did see. Pennsylvania is just flat out beautiful with so many mountains.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

I drove from Myrtle Beach to Buffalo, New York Niagara Falls. I was blown away at many hills and tree Pittsburgh had. I didn't go to Downtown Pittsburgh, but I thought it was neat from the areas I did see. Pennsylvania is just flat out beautiful with so many mountains.

A relative from Calgary said the same when she visited here a few years ago!

[BMan_152]

Glad to hear that you enjoyed passing through . Pittsburgh is very hilly & allows for some super cool statistics:

Pittsburgh has over 700 sets of city-owned stairs! These stairs contain 44,645 risers, which accounts for 24,108 vertical feet according to their wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steps_of_Pittsburgh

Climbing all of these stairs would be like:
-Taking the stairs to the top floor of the US Steel tower 28.665 times
-Taking the stairs to the top floor of the Sears Tower 17.8 times
-Taking the stairs to the top floor of the Empire State Building 19.69 times
-Taking the stairs to the top floor of the Burj Khalifa 12.569 times

Unfortunately, Pittsburgh still needs to invest in 4921 vertical feet of stairs (8436 risers) to meet the height of mt Everest. Mayor Peduto, if you're reading this, I want to climb Pittsburgh's mt Everest!! Please make more stairs!!!

Also,
Pittsburgh has one of the steepest streets in the world (if not THE steepest street!).. This street is called Canton Avenue:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_Avenue

[Rust Belt Kid]

Speaking of stairs...I have always wondered why there isn't more community investment in some of the hundreds of sets of stairs we have. It would be so cool to have something similar to the mosaic steps in San Francisco (16th Ave Tiled Steps Project - San Francisco). Even just simple things like maintaining interesting landscaping around the steps would be a cool project to undertake. So many public stairs, even in nice areas, tend to be overgrown and covered in litter/graffiti. These steps are one of the assets Pittsburgh has that makes it a unique place--it would be a really great thing to invest in and showcase.

[ferraris]

Most of our public stairs are basically abandoned. I've had to skip over crumbling steps, duck under a fallen tree, avoid weeds growing up through them, and trust my balance due to hand rails that have collapsed.

[sealie]

Originally Posted by Rust Belt Kid

Speaking of stairs...I have always wondered why there isn't more community investment in some of the hundreds of sets of stairs we have. It would be so cool to have something similar to the mosaic steps in San Francisco (16th Ave Tiled Steps Project - San Francisco). Even just simple things like maintaining interesting landscaping around the steps would be a cool project to undertake. So many public stairs, even in nice areas, tend to be overgrown and covered in litter/graffiti. These steps are one of the assets Pittsburgh has that makes it a unique place--it would be a really great thing to invest in and showcase.

Oakley Street Mosaic Steps Public Art Project | South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association

But it's good to remember, when you ask "Why doesn't the community do something about this?", you are part of the community. Some time back, someone asked why the City didn't do anything about step maintenance, I posted a link to a volunteer project to assess step condition.
This is over now, but roll up your sleeves, there's plenty of work to go around.

[slamont61]

I used to use several sets of city steps. Mostly they were in useable condition but once in a while, like any road, the go into a state of disrepair or become over grown by fast growing weeds and plants.


They are a wonderful item to have in a neighborhood such as South Side Slopes and even Mt Washington. I regularly used the Steps rising from 10th Street up to Hartford Street. I would continue through and across the 10th street bridge and through the Armstrong tunnels to get to work.


Now it's a distant memory to me... I hope those steps don't become that.

[krogerDisco]

What you missed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBAn9BwqYyw

[szug-bot]

oh wait...this lovebombing - acceptable with this forum's protocol? Or are those people gone and we CAN discuss something positive that we do appreciate????