Trip #542 Laverne Street, Beltzhoover, Pittsburgh took place on December 12, 2020, and was published on January 27, 2021.
Here’s a fun fact for you, anthropologists estimate that early humans walked close to twenty miles every day. That would be like walking from West Warrington Avenue near the South Hills Junction transit stop to Monroeville and back – every single day. Eesh! But we don’t need to go that far back in time to understand pedestrianism; just look at Pittsburgh and the reason why all these city steps were built, “From the hills to the mills!” right? In the early twentieth century, most people might not have walked twenty miles a day, but they likely put in a solid ten. The fact is, despite our increasingly sedentary lifestyle, our bodies are built to be mobile. Once we get stuck, we get rusty, and it’s not long before decay sets in. Walking many miles every day might not be an option, but what about a walk around the block after lunch or a weekend hike through a place you’ve been curious about? Don’t put it off. Bundle up and head out; centuries of ancestors are rooting for you!
Field Notes: The flight is open at the bottom, which is close to the E. Warrington bus and train stop but the top has “safety tape” across the top along with some trash piles. Looks more like a homeowner’s attempt to stop foot-traffic than something official.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
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.
