Trip #76 Mohawk Street, West Oakland, Pittsburgh took place on November 2, 2017, and was published on December 29, 2017.
Sitting high above Fifth Avenue I’m taken aback by the city’s harsh smells: fresh asphalt, burning rubber and exhaust from the stream of vehicles slowly moving and frequently stopping below. Road construction + bridge construction + building construction = Vehicular constriction. Polluted air infiltrates my nose and lungs, and I’m ready to pack it in and leave when the sun breaks out through the clouds, through the Pittsburgh grey, and the warmth hits my face and feels so good I stay a little longer. Squinting against the sun’s glare, I look out over all of the elements, both natural and human-built. A lone hawk silently circles overhead searching, scanning, looking for something. I too am looking for something, and despite the air-quality concerns, a little piece of it is right here.
Field Notes: This one is still open but I did not go all the way down as some of the concrete was very cracked. It’s never a good day for falling… However, the top afforded fabulous views of the bridge, so I didn’t mind staying put.
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!!
