As our publisher’s PR team is gearing up for the July 15 release date of City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History and Guide, we’ve been answering questions from various journalists about the book and why Pittsburgh’s public stairways are so special. Just a few days ago, I was asked to respond to this question:
The Facebook group “Death Stairs” has become quite popular, with many members posting photos of Pittsburgh’s city steps. What are your thoughts on this community and its impact on the awareness and appreciation of Pittsburgh’s city steps?
I think my honest answer came as a surprise! It’s true that while the Death Stairs Facebook group is global in scope, it features lots of photos of Pittsburgh city steps. Some of these photos accurately represent the current condition, and others are outdated or historical. Unfortunately, what often happens in giant social media groups like Death Stairs is that it becomes easy to complain or disparage without understanding the city’s history of depopulation or current efforts to repair and maintain the stairs. Even though I’m not from Pittsburgh originally, I have lived here for 13 years and have absolutely LOVED walking all over the city, documenting the city steps, and writing this upcoming book. For these reasons, I get a little annoyed when someone who doesn’t live here or knows nothing about the city makes negative comments. Yes, Pittsburgh has infrastructure problems, and there are plenty of city steps in poor condition, but there are also lots of success stories.
Because I’m a “glass half full” person, I generally avoid Death Stairs and instead participate in a Facebook group called Pittsburgh City Steps. Started by local Michael Reddy, the vibe is much more positive and realistic. People share historical photos and notes about closures or dangerous conditions and mobilize people for city steps walks, urban hikes, and other assorted community activities. Last weekend, before the heat kicked in, I went on a Northside city steps hike organized by group member Nadine Luther. It was lovely! If you have an interest in our public stairs (even if you don’t want to walk them) I highly recommend joining. Below are some photos from the walk. If you follow me on Instagram, I posted many more there!
I must also give a shout-out to Pittsburgh’s Northside DPW crew for repairing the wooden stairs in Spring Hill-City View and cleaning up the knotweed on Rising Main and Lappe Lane. These two flights are still beastly to climb, but at least they’re clear!
