Trip #639 Templeton Avenue, Brookline, Pittsburgh took place on September 11, 2021, and was published on September 24, 2021.
Stumbling into the unexpected throws the brakes on the speeding car of the mind. When this happens, opting for the path of curiosity (instead of annoyance) allows us to explore and develop a greater understanding of our environment. These out-of-the-blue events and situations provide us with an opportunity to practice expansive thinking and open-mindedness in ways we don’t encounter when we’re cruising through daily life. In this case, the chance impassability of the Templeton Street stairs segued into a somewhat random but spirited conversation with a Harley Davidson enthusiast whose garage is nearby. If there’s one thing my inner “stairs geek” enjoys, it’s connecting with other people who gladly display their interests and hobbies. Fascinating, enjoyable – and completely unexpected!
Field Notes: This long flight of city steps is clear for the first leg but due to the overgrowth it’s impossible to get all the way down to West Liberty Ave. Despite my travels being stymied, I met a gentleman who was cleaning his motorcycle – and got a mini-lesson in the world of Harley-Davidson. Very interesting!
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.
