Trip #285 Hodge Street to Mackey Street, South Oakland took place on May 2, 2019, and was published on May 10, 2019.
Many things we perceive as stable and secure are in fact, inherently unstable and insecure. But these two qualities are such a fundamental part of our everyday lives that we’ve grown accustomed to them in all but their most extreme forms. Wobbling weakness in ourselves, others, and all the objects around us is as commonplace and natural as the rise and fall of our breath, the ebb and flow of the rivers, and the swirling movements of the atmosphere around us. Like these wonders of the living world, our lives (and the cities and structures around us) rise and fall and rise again. We can rest stable and secure in these unstable insecurities!
Field Notes: Google Maps from 2007 shows a set of sidewalk stairs that ran around the corner of Mackey Street, but at some point, between then and now, it appears the road was widened / re-paved, and the stairs and railings removed. All that’s left are some old wooden beams that defined the sides or the walkway and the stairs.
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!!
