Trip #394 Roosevelt Ave to Bascom Street, Perry North, Pittsburgh took place on December 26, 2019, and was published on January 31, 2020.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a fear of slipping and falling. Icy sidewalks, wet leaves, and loose gravel set my teeth on edge, and I try to avoid treading on anything that doesn’t provide stable footing. I almost didn’t climb over this wooden railing and gingerly pick my way over the steep and rocky hillside, but my curiosity to investigate the felled tree was stronger than my fear of tumbling down into somebody’s backyard. A large segment of the bark had separated from the trunk, and the view was one “from the inside out,” so to speak. Was it a little nerve-wracking doing a crouch-butt-drag-crawl to the tree and back? Sure. But it was worth it because the colors and textures I got to look at up close were so beautiful and fascinating. The iPhone photo I took doesn’t do it justice. Sometimes we just have to tell those fears, “Thanks, but not today. I’m looking at something that might be worth falling for.”
Field Notes: This flight is a bit longer than 23 steps but there is a new one on Roosevelt Ave closer to that number. However, Google Maps shows no stairs between 2007 and 2017 (when the image shows the stairs being constructed). Could the stairway have been there when Bob visited in the early 00s but was then torn down? Another Pittsburgh stairs mystery! I chose to photograph this flight that connects the two sections of Oakdale Street near Roosevelt.
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!!
