First impressions after driving in the Pittsburgh/Monroeville area (Akron: high schools, living)

[aveojohn]

I always liked the " targeted DUI area " signs, I guess they're warning the drunk drivers to stay away.

[aaronibus62]

The Ugly
Seriously, are there any accidents due to brake failure or something on the steep roads. When driving on 376, I swear I saw a side road that looked like a 60 degree angle. Also when driving through Murrysville, we drove down a steep hill which made us hold tight to our seats.

Hey, Fellow Bostonian! (or Boston-area-onian! LOL)
Those steep roads scare me s***less, too! I've not been to Pittsburgh yet, but I encountered many steep roads in my wife's hometown 100 miles south of PGH. We're looking to relocate to Pittsburgh if my wife can get a transfer, and I'm realizing I'll have to deal with them hills on a regular basis.

In case you're wondering, we're considering Pittsburgh because it's the best of both worlds for us: a big city comparable to (though better than) Boston (because a person can actually afford to live there) and hilly as heck like Clarksburg, the city my wife lived in in West Virginia before she moved to Mass. to marry me.

Do yerself a favor and vacate Massachusetts! I'll follow behind you in a year or so (when we have money for moving --LOL)

[amsherwo]

Hmm...I just moved to Pittsburgh myself, and the way you folks in Pittsburgh drive has certainly made quite an impression on me. Apparently, nobody understands the concept of the left lane as the passing lane here in Pittsburgh, nor do they know how to use their turn signals. And could you guys spring for some road signs? I've never lived somewhere where so few roads actually are labeled!! It makes getting around town a *****!!!!

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by amsherwo

Apparently, nobody understands the concept of the left lane as the passing lane here in Pittsburgh.....

Don't drive slowly in the left lane, and it won't be a problem for you!

Originally Posted by amsherwo

And could you guys spring for some road signs? I've never lived somewhere where so few roads actually are labeled!! It makes getting around town a *****!!!!

It's better for you this way. You'll learn your way around quicker without street signs. The more you get lost, the faster you learn.

It's also important to learn the unique way our roads run in relation to the topography. Once you learn the geographical region, it's possible to get around Pittsburgh without directions and street signs.

For instance, I don't know the south hills very well, but I never take directions when I go there. Earlier this week, I was on a hill and knew I needed to be down in the valley. It took me four loops through suburban neighborhoods just south of Mt. Lebo before I knew I had landed in the right valley, heading the right direction. (FYI, all main roads are in the valleys.)

That 15 minutes of being lost taught me more about the Mt. Lebo area so I'll be less lost next time. If I just followed directions, I would have learned nothing. It's the difference between getting around and learning shortcuts., which is necessity in Pittsburgh.

[BrianTH]

Yeah, I was going to comment something like, "Who needs street signs when you can tell the difference between uphill and downhill"? The truth is that our roads really are mostly just crazy squiggles on a 2D map, and it isn't until you get a 3D sense of a specific local area that you will really understand how to navigate it. As an aside, I highly recommend using Google Maps's terrain function: it really helps provide a sense of what you are really looking at.

All that said, the signage could be better--although believe it or not, it was much worse when I first moved here in the early 1990s.

[fleetiebelle]

The truth is that our roads really are mostly just crazy squiggles on a 2D map

When I lived on Mt. Washington I used to have to explain to vistors how, yes, Carson St. and Grandview Ave are parallel, but one is also a few hundred feet higher than the other.

[Bazzwell]

Originally Posted by Hopes

When you live here, you learn to use side roads. It's much quicker during certain times of the day.

Indeed you do. You'd be surprised how much faster you'll get around by learning everything from the belt systems to back alleys. What might be longer in miles can be much shorter timewise during peak traffic periods.

[apiscean]

After reading the responses, looks like after I move, it won't take me long to adjust to the hills... fingers crossed

One other thing I noticed when approaching Pittsburgh from the Hershey area on 76W, was that the road was on a gradual incline all throughout. I just googled and found out that Pittsburgh is at an altitude of 1223 ft and Hershey at 410 feet. No wonder

Originally Posted by aaronibus62

Hey, Fellow Bostonian! (or Boston-area-onian! LOL)
Do yerself a favor and vacate Massachusetts! I'll follow behind you in a year or so (when we have money for moving --LOL)

Getting back and driving on 495 and 95 made me appreciate it more, apart from the traffic of course...

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by apiscean

After reading the responses, looks like after I move, it won't take me long to adjust to the hills... fingers crossed

It is almost like a rite of passage for those of us who moved here from out of town.

One other thing I noticed when approaching Pittsburgh from the Hershey area on 76W, was that the road was on a gradual incline all throughout. I just googled and found out that Pittsburgh is at an altitude of 1223 ft and Hershey at 410 feet. No wonder

Yep, Pittsburgh is sitting right in the middle of a big plateau. As I like to note, what we call "hills" around here are actually the part of the plateau that haven't been worn down as much by the local streams and rivers. Among other things, that means if you are up high enough (say on Mt. Washington), you can look around and notice the peaks of all the "hills" are about the same height.

[amsherwo]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Don't drive slowly in the left lane, and it won't be a problem for you!
.

I never, ever drive slowly in the left lane...EVER!!!! All you Pittsburgh folks seem to though!!! That's what I meant! And it's even like, trucks and such!!!