The Steps of Pittsburgh: Portrait of a City [Paperback]

Bob Regan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0971183562 | ISBN-13: 978-0971183568 | Publication Date: March 15, 2004

One city, 712 sets of steps, 44,645 treads, 24,108 vertical feet. Sort of like climbing Mt. Everest.

With Photos by Tim Fabian.

Many of Pittsburgh's steps are legal streets, and all of them reflect the city's unique topography and history. Together, these 712 sets of steps provide a vital link in the city's transportation system as well as unusual challenges for pedestrians, joggers, the bike police, and especially pizza delivery.

Whether you intend to climb, scamper or crawl them, Pittsburgh's public steps are a unique feature in this topographically challenging city. Author Bob Regan and photographer Tim Fabian have captured their history, use, charm and care in this well documented and wonderfully photographed book sure to enchant locals and visitors alike. The book includes several easy-to-follow walking tours, making it a handy field guide as well.

Includes 100 photos, maps, illustrations, and survey tables.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Meticulously researched and documented; combines fun facts and stories with serious research and beautiful photography. -- Franklin Toker, author of Pittsburgh, An Urban Portrait (1986) and Fallingwater Rising (2003)

From the Publisher

San Franciscans like to boast about their steps and consider them a top tourist attraction, but they "only" have 350 sets. Cincinnatians do the same, but claim a mere 400. Neither have steps that are legal streets. Pittsburgh is clearly King of the Steps and a place beloved by the self-propelled. Whether you're an active step trekker or an armchair climber, The Steps of Pittsburgh should be on your to-do list!

Regan, a geophysicist affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh, moved to town a decade ago and was immediately taken with this unusual link in the local transportation system. Using Geographic Information Systems technology and riding a bicycle up and down Pittsburgh's many hills, he meticulously located and plotted every set of steps in the city over a period of several years. He counted the number, made notes about type, usage, and unique features, and, most happily for us, talked to everyone he encountered along the way from residents to bike police.

The author teamed up with Tim Fabian, a noted Pittsburgh photographer who was quickly infected by Bob's enthusiasm. With encouragement from colleagues, family, and friends, the two have turned a huge amount of data, wonderful human stories, and thousands of photos into The Steps of Pittsburgh, Portrait of a City.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Local History Co (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971183562
• ISBN-13: 978-0971183568
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,436,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read. A must have for an eastern PA dweller, January 3, 2005

By 

D. Perini (Beaver, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Steps of Pittsburgh: Portrait of a City (Paperback)

The steps of Pittsburgh brings a wonderful perspective to the genre. The is not the usual boring text about engineering feats in a city full of them. The book is also on of the best researched books I have read in recent timnes. The author knows his steps.

The books features fabulous photographs. I highly recommend picking up a copy as it is a pleasent and easy read.

I have also done some of the step tours in the book around the city of Pittsburgh

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stairways to Heaven, March 22, 2011

By 

Chris Novak - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Steps of Pittsburgh: Portrait of a City (Paperback)

The title of this book is not so great, it should have been called "Stairways to Heaven" because every stairway in Pittsburgh is like walking up the steps to the golden gates of heaven. Bob Regan is a genius. I enjoyed every thought that was conveyed. Sometimes I felt like he was in my head. The Steps of Pittsburgh will always lead you to awesome.

3.0 out of 5 stars I like this, December 6, 2010

By 

Charlotte (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Steps of Pittsburgh: Portrait of a City (Paperback)

I actually really enjoyed this book however it is out of date, some of the steps are closed or no longer there. However, most of them are still in tact and it was a lot of fun to search for the steps and walk them imaging how some people use those every day. It is hard to find this book, I had to buy used and paid more than the regular price then my shipment never arrived. I am from Florida so ended up going to the local library.