Trip #717 Custer Avenue, Carrick, Pittsburgh took place on April 3, 2022, and was published on April 18, 2022.
Even when we want to embrace new ideas and methods, it can be a challenge! Our established behaviors and responses are like pathways etched into our brains and bodies, and changing isn’t always as easy as we might want it to be. If you’ve ever had to use your non-dominant hand to write or learn how to use new technology, you know there are often gaps between what you want to do, what you think you can do, and what you’ll need to do to reach your expected outcome. Finding these gaps introduces possible setbacks, and they require our attention. If we ignore their message, we risk reverting to the old familiar ways, but if we “mind the gap,” we can bring something previously thought impossible into our world.
Field Notes: This little flight of sidewalk stairs leads to an old Catholic church and its associated buildings. Like so many church buildings here in Pittsburgh they are now a combination of empty or used for other things. It was a quiet and grey morning and other than a barking dog, the area was empty. It was a nice walk that went past a “Pittsburgh Mary“(and it’s also close to other flights).
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.
