Trip #234 Gabel Street to Kimbol Street, Southside Slopes, Pittsburgh took place on December 27, 2018, and was published on January 11, 2019.
I’m keeping my eyes on the lineman. He’s running a cable along Kimbol Street, from a somewhat hidden house on the dead end down to the intersection at Gable. Alone, he climbs a ladder. It seems so flimsy and lightweight, and he’s up so high off the ground it makes me nervous. I keep watching as he pulls the cable, taut but with sufficient slack. His neon yellow vest stands out in stark contrast against the faded pastel colors of the homes and the greyish brown of the landscape. I continue to observe him until he looks in my direction at which point I get into my car and drive off. Communicating that I only wanted to make sure he was safe on this desolate street seems like too much information to share. And that realization leaves me feeling confused and out-of-sorts.
Field Notes: Not sure why this flight is here or where it is supposed to go. Maybe there were more houses at the end of the street and along the hillside back in the late 1950s?
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
