Trip #493 Shaler Street to Clarence Street, Duquesne Heights, Pittsburgh took place on September 13, 2020, and was published on September 25, 2020.
We’ve all heard the expression, “Never judge a book by its cover,” and likely agree that it’s solid advice. So why are these words are so hard to follow? As a species, humans are notorious for ranking things based on physical appearance and whatever other superficial qualities popular opinion dictates. Not only do we judge people, but we also judge homes, streets, and neighborhoods (not to mention entire cities and countries). We know these thoughts are illogical and often incorrect, but bad habits are hard to break. There is a way to end this madness, though, and it’s quite simple: intentionally search for common ground or features that capture your interest. A pretty flowerbed or architectural detail on a building, a friendly person sitting on their front porch, or neighborhood cats (my favorite) can reveal the story hidden beneath the cover. You just have to open it up and take a peek inside.
Field Notes: This set of sidewalk steps travels along one city block but on the next block, the sidewalk steps are on the other side of the street (you can see it in the photo). I wonder why that happened?
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
