Trip #72 Vinial Street to Province Street, Troy Hill, Pittsburgh took place on October 25, 2017, and was published on December 18, 2017.
I’m halfway up this straight-shot flight of 177 steps when Hitchcock’s classic film, “Vertigo” comes to mind. Looking back, looking down and looking out over the city skyline I follow the paths of the intersecting lines. Straight and angular for the steps and rails, curved and fluid for the overhanging branches and vines. I’m drawn in, fascinated and captivated by the natural symbolism of shapes and forms. Unlike an elevator, stairs offer no meteoric rise or fall. Every step up or down is hard work, intensive labor, but with time and space for breaks in the tempo. You’re in control of how fast and how far you’ll travel. Unless, of course, you’re a character in a Hitchcock film.
Field Notes: Holy smokes! (pun intended as there’s a boarded-up church at the very top) This flight is straight up! Great city views but wicked vertigo! This trip marks the END of Volume 1, Issue 1 of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps. Trip #73 will become part of Volume 2, Issue 1 due out sometime in June/July 2018!
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
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. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
