Trip #494 Edith Street to Clarence Street, Duquesne Heights, Pittsburgh took place on September 13, 2020, and was published on September 28, 2020.
A path is an interpretation of the best way (or most popular way) to travel over a landscape. When you walk on any sort of path, you follow a course established by others before you; and without much thought, because an established route is generally more comfortable. Sidewalks and city steps are formally constructed paths that offer a safer alternative to walking in the road. But if a path’s goal is to provide the best way to travel, what does it mean when it suddenly disappears? On Well Street, the sidewalk steps end after one block but pick up on the other side of the street for the next block. Why not build them all on the same side? Wouldn’t that be the best way to travel the road? It’s a question we’ll likely never know the answer to!
Field Notes: This flight follows visit #493 from Edith Street and appears to be somewhat recently refurbished. While the rails are a bit crooked the concrete is fresh and even – nice to walk on!
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.
