Trip #421 Jeffers Street, Sheraden, Pittsburgh took place on March 21, 2020, and was published on April 3, 2020.
The neighborhood is so desolate it’s unnerving. I drive along an empty Chartiers Avenue, my only company a nearly empty city bus. Despite the No Parking signs, I stop the car on Fire Way, right near the city steps. My “walk-around and explore” spirit thoroughly dampened by the absence of human activity. But I’m not out of the car a minute when I spot a man walking quickly towards me – perhaps a little too quickly. His demeanor amps up my already elevated apprehension, but when he offers a two-handed wave and shouts enthusiastically, “I gotta get my walk in!” I relax a bit. I look at his weathered face and matching his volume, say, “I gotta get some photographs!” and point to the Polaroid as he power-walks past me. And for a moment, my fears of coronavirus, and silence, and neighborhoods with everyone locked inside, and this man melt away. We’re just two people, out doing what we love to do, what we need to do, in a time and place when being outside and around others can be such a frightening proposition.
Field Notes: This flight is closed for the bottom half but the top part is open and is more of an “embedded” flight (set into the earth) instead of the free-standing one that is closed. I also wanted to get the neighbor’s fence into the photo – but clearly the Polaroid didn’t think that would be a good idea!
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
Like watching videos? Check out PCTV21’s 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh YouTube channel. Hosted by author and journalist Rossilynne Culgan, there’s even an episode where she interviews me about City Steps. When you’re stuck indoors and want to start planning warm-weather excursions, this series will do you right.
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.
