Trip #728 W Meyers Street, Carrick, Pittsburgh, took place on April 16, 2022, and was published on May 16, 2022.
Feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or fear decrease as knowledge and personal experiences increase, and this equation certainly holds true when investigating old city steps. Long abandoned and structurally unsound flights, streets with names but no houses, overgrown paths, and uncovered storm grates and sewer system access points, not to mention questionably restrained dogs, are conditions that must be acknowledged and evaluated to minimize personal risk. But this isn’t a complex process; it’s essentially about paying attention to your surroundings and listening to your instincts. Caution tape doesn’t always mean that caution is required in the present moment; sometimes, it’s a reminder of a prior tragedy.
Field Notes: This little wooden flight connects the end of Meyers to Mount Joseph Street that runs slightly perpendicular to it. However, like many older flights, this one kind of sort of enters someone’s backyard, which can be a little worrisome. Also, seeing the feathery remains of a chicken made me not want to go much further!
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, and trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling.
