Trip #674 Graymore Street Beechview, Pittsburgh took place on November 17, 2021, and was published on December 17, 2021.
It can be hard to admit that many things in life are outside our control. Gravity is a great example! We spend billions of dollars to have the fleeting experience of breaking free from it. We allocate millions to rebuild and repair structures weakened from its pull. And we pay (out of pocket) thousands of dollars to erase its effect on our bodies. But regardless of the number of zeros included in the cost, they’re all short-term measures. The lure and attraction of gravity’s force is an unceasing constraint of our existence on Earth. And perhaps because we have no other alternatives, we fight against it nearly every day. What would happen if we just stopped? What would our world and lives look like then?
Field Notes: This stairway runs parallel to Canton Avenue (the steepest street in the continental USA, see Trip #650) and connects to another flight of city steps that leads to Hampshire Avenue (see Trip #649). The sidewalk portions of this flight though are eroding quite a bit due to the deteriorating hillside.
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.
