Walking around downtown Pittsburgh?
October 11, 2013 12:09 PM Subscribe
My partner and I are very excited about our trip to Pittsburgh next month! But I have a question about walkability. We'll be staying downtown on Penn Avenue and it looks like we can walk to a lot of places quite easily, but should we? We are big walkers and our city is very residential downtown, but it seems Pittsburgh's downtown gets pretty empty at night...is that a concern re: safety or for any other reason?
An example: the Warhol museum looks like an easy 15 minute walk from our hotel, but we'd have to walk across the 7th Street Bridge. Can you walk over that bridge on foot easily?
Also what about safety day and night in the downtown area? I have read some really divergent opinions about how safe it is to walk around at night. I ask as the Museum is open until 10 pm on Fridays, but should we take a cab back if we stay that late? Can we/should we walk there earlier in the evening?
And generally, can we (two women for what it's worth) walk around safely at night in the downtown as long as we talk all normal big city precautions?
An example: the Warhol museum looks like an easy 15 minute walk from our hotel, but we'd have to walk across the 7th Street Bridge. Can you walk over that bridge on foot easily?
Also what about safety day and night in the downtown area? I have read some really divergent opinions about how safe it is to walk around at night. I ask as the Museum is open until 10 pm on Fridays, but should we take a cab back if we stay that late? Can we/should we walk there earlier in the evening?
And generally, can we (two women for what it's worth) walk around safely at night in the downtown as long as we talk all normal big city precautions?
Pittsburgh rolls up the sidewalks downtown after dark. Walking won't be dangerous per se, but creepy, isolated and dull.
Also a lot of the places that will be open for lunch won't be open for dinner.
I'm assuming you're staying at the William Penn, any specific reason for that choice?
I don't really think of Pittsburgh as being a 'walkable' place. Some neighborhoods are. Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, South Side and the Mexican War Streets.
Check out some buses so that you're not stuck in a concrete canyon downtown.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:24 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also a lot of the places that will be open for lunch won't be open for dinner.
I'm assuming you're staying at the William Penn, any specific reason for that choice?
I don't really think of Pittsburgh as being a 'walkable' place. Some neighborhoods are. Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, South Side and the Mexican War Streets.
Check out some buses so that you're not stuck in a concrete canyon downtown.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:24 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: No, not the William Penn -- the Westin -- because we got a very good deal. (It was not our first choice, but it seemed just fine.)
posted by Lescha at 12:27 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by Lescha at 12:27 PM on October 11, 2013
The bus will be your friend. Downtown on a weekend can be deadly dull. Get out into the neighborhoods, that's where the fun is!
Also LOVE the Warhol!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:30 PM on October 11, 2013
Also LOVE the Warhol!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:30 PM on October 11, 2013
If it were myself, I would have a car when visiting Pittsburgh, and aim to do walking in neighborhoods I drove to. For instance, Shady Side and Squirrel Hill are close to each other... But also probably 500ft elevation difference (my lazy side is also strong, this is actually a quite nice walk up Negley, or the road of your choosing). Mount Washington / Lebanon have great sights, but I don't know how you would get there without a car.
I agree with others that downtown Pittsburgh is not a happenin' evening-time place. Although you will be close to, eg, the south side by any public transportation, taxi, and walking via the smithfield street bridge (google maps shows a sidewalk, I've never walked it, see lazy above).
posted by Phredward at 12:36 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree with others that downtown Pittsburgh is not a happenin' evening-time place. Although you will be close to, eg, the south side by any public transportation, taxi, and walking via the smithfield street bridge (google maps shows a sidewalk, I've never walked it, see lazy above).
posted by Phredward at 12:36 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I also highly recommend the Mattress Factory (a museum with a confusing name), if it's your cup of tea. It's just a little farther away.
posted by Phredward at 12:38 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by Phredward at 12:38 PM on October 11, 2013
Yeah, I wouldn't be in Pittsburgh without a car. And a downtown hotel will charge an arm and a leg.
My MO is to stay at the Courtyard in Homestead (where parking is FREE!) and you can drive all over with ease.
There's NO way I'd walk up Negly. I'd need O2 or something like that!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:54 PM on October 11, 2013
My MO is to stay at the Courtyard in Homestead (where parking is FREE!) and you can drive all over with ease.
There's NO way I'd walk up Negly. I'd need O2 or something like that!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:54 PM on October 11, 2013
Pittsburgh is one of those cities where the CBD is one of the least interesting places. Pittsburgh is a small city with wonderful little neighbourhoods that really are 'Greater Pittsburgh'. Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, East Liberty, Bloomfield, Oakland, etc.
The CBD is central, but since it's not that walkable to all the interesting places you'll actually want to visit, you should look into buses. Since you'll need buses, you might consider a more interesting part of the city to work from.
I would recommend that you choose a place based on having a bit of an interesting night life so you can wander around before and after dinner, close to your hotel. Or, just take cabs from your CBD location and call it a day.
Great city, but I've always found it one of those 'not for touring, best place for living' kinda deals. Pittsburgh is all about the wonderful and eclectic restaurants and bars, great little museums, gorgeous parks with hiking, biking, and sport, as well as visually striking architecture from a wide range of development cycles. So, to really enjoy Pgh, you need to get out into the neighbourhoods.
posted by qwip at 1:02 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
The CBD is central, but since it's not that walkable to all the interesting places you'll actually want to visit, you should look into buses. Since you'll need buses, you might consider a more interesting part of the city to work from.
I would recommend that you choose a place based on having a bit of an interesting night life so you can wander around before and after dinner, close to your hotel. Or, just take cabs from your CBD location and call it a day.
Great city, but I've always found it one of those 'not for touring, best place for living' kinda deals. Pittsburgh is all about the wonderful and eclectic restaurants and bars, great little museums, gorgeous parks with hiking, biking, and sport, as well as visually striking architecture from a wide range of development cycles. So, to really enjoy Pgh, you need to get out into the neighbourhoods.
posted by qwip at 1:02 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
I've run up Negley; it's not that bad.
The 7th Street Bridge is an easy walk, and I've made it alone, back from the Warhol to catch a bus downtown at around eleven. Downtown isn't especially dangerous, but it is...boring. You'll be staying in the busier portion of it, so I think you'll be good.
That all said, cabs are cheap, but you can't hail them from the street. I use the taxi magic iphone app to order them, and it usually takes ten minutes for one to get you if you're near downtown.
posted by punchtothehead at 1:06 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
The 7th Street Bridge is an easy walk, and I've made it alone, back from the Warhol to catch a bus downtown at around eleven. Downtown isn't especially dangerous, but it is...boring. You'll be staying in the busier portion of it, so I think you'll be good.
That all said, cabs are cheap, but you can't hail them from the street. I use the taxi magic iphone app to order them, and it usually takes ten minutes for one to get you if you're near downtown.
posted by punchtothehead at 1:06 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Agreed with others that if you're working out of downtown you need to be looking at buses. Or calling taxis - you can't expect to just find one when you need it, except for maybe right at your hotel. If you're relying on buses you need to be aware that A) buses may not run as late as you are used to depending on where you're coming from and B) buses do not run on their actual schedules. Buses in Pittsburgh run on their own mystical timetables that bear only a passing resemblance to their schedules.
The good news is, a lot of the bus routes start, end, or pass through downtown, so you're well positioned to head from there out to wherever you want to check out.
Downtown at night is reasonably safe, but I do feel a bit more comfortable being with another person after 11 or so, if only because it's so empty that if something does happen, you can't rely on someone else being around to intervene, call for help, whatever.
posted by Stacey at 1:10 PM on October 11, 2013
The good news is, a lot of the bus routes start, end, or pass through downtown, so you're well positioned to head from there out to wherever you want to check out.
Downtown at night is reasonably safe, but I do feel a bit more comfortable being with another person after 11 or so, if only because it's so empty that if something does happen, you can't rely on someone else being around to intervene, call for help, whatever.
posted by Stacey at 1:10 PM on October 11, 2013
Buses in Pittsburgh run on their own mystical timetables that bear only a passing resemblance to their schedules.
My Dad tells stories of waiting in a snow bank for the bus that was promised, but never came.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:12 PM on October 11, 2013
My Dad tells stories of waiting in a snow bank for the bus that was promised, but never came.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:12 PM on October 11, 2013
Downtown Pittsburgh is deserted and creepy late at night. You absolutely want to be taking buses or call cabs to get around (nthing everyone else though that you'll want to get the number of a reputable cab company from your hotel or something and call cabs when you want them. You won't really be able to hail them from the street and people randomly driving around calling themselves "cabs" was a thing when I lived there). Driving in Pittsburgh is, IMO, a very nasty circle of hell. I'll never do it again. I wouldn't even consider renting a car or anything, but maybe someone with more patience and experience with city driving wouldn't loathe it as much.
I actually hated living in Pittsburgh quite a lot, but really liked the bus system. I walked around a lot alone at night and never really had any problems, though I was on high alert.
posted by Aquifer at 2:15 PM on October 11, 2013
I actually hated living in Pittsburgh quite a lot, but really liked the bus system. I walked around a lot alone at night and never really had any problems, though I was on high alert.
posted by Aquifer at 2:15 PM on October 11, 2013
Uh, Downtown has plenty to offer, even on a weekend. A couple of years ago I would've been squarely in the, 'it's boring' camp, but things have been looking up.
First off, you've got to take advantage of the trails along both sides of the Allegheny river. You could walk across Penn Ave almost directly across from your hotel, down through the Convention Center water feature (and cross your fingers that it's on (it's off more often than not) because it's a very cool experience), right to the Allegheny River.
When you reach the river:
a.) if you go to the right, you're headed to the Strip District which is a barrel of fun on a Saturday morning (nothing dead or boring about it) - just walk along the trail and when you come to the end of it at the Cork building, hang a right and head towards the action. Maybe have a coffee at La Prima to start and then soak in the scene. If you head back from the Strip on Penn Ave you could always stop in at the History Museum - lots to look at there or just buy some cool Pittsburgh stuff etc at the gift shop.
b.) If you go left at the river, you're headed to the Point and Point State Park which was recently spiffed up - including the fountain - it's a fun place to people watch. Or, before you get to the Point, you could go up one of the ramps or staircases and cross one of the sister bridges (three yellow bridges called: The Warhol, The Rachel Carson and The Roberto Clemente) and make your visit to the Warhol. Or you could go further down river on that side (the north side), check out the stadiums (and the fandemonium if the Steelers are home), hang with Mr Rogers and/or go to the Science Museum.
I agree that the Mattress Factory is cool, it's just a little tricky to get to and if you hit the Warhol on this visit, you could save the MF for next visit when you're more familiar with things (for your North Side visit, you could stay at the Priory, go to the MF, maybe kayak on the Allegheny if you're here when it's warm etc etc)
If you're looking for places to eat - you can of course have snacks in the Strip. You could even taste some local whiskey at Wigle (google it) while you're there. For a sit down meal you could head to Market Square - some decent chains and some really nice, unique to Pittsburgh options: NOLA, il pizzaiolo, La Cucina Flegrea (upstairs). There are plenty of other options too, downtown. If you like beer, check out the Sharp Edge also on Penn Ave close to your hotel. There's been a micro brewery explosion in the region, so plenty of good, regional beer to try - and if you're really into beer, then you might want to go to Lawrenceville and check out a few new micro brewery/brew pub places.
Also, downtown is the Cultural District - so if you're interested in classical music, we have a world class symphony orchestra, theater (Pittsburgh Public Theater which is putting on what looks to be a good revival of Our Town until 10/27, Broadway type stuff at the Benedum theater etc etc). Pittsburgh Dance Council might have something going too - check out http://www.trustarts.org/.
I could definitely spend a weekend downtown and not be bored and I live here - so, don't worry too much about getting out to the other neighborhoods - you can save that for another trip and in that case, stay in hotel on the South Side or Shadyside or Oakland or The North Side as I mentioned above . . . and have another, different, great Pittsburgh weekend.
And now for your question, the later it gets, the quieter it gets and it might be a little creepy. I don't think I would walk along the river trails after dark, but I'd feel perfectly comfortable crossing the bridges and walking around downtown. You should be fine since you'll be together.
One more thing, and I haven't been yet, but if you like modern art, then you might want to take the bus up to Oakland and visit the 2013 Carnegie International which just opened: http://ci13.cmoa.org/.
posted by nnk at 2:32 PM on October 11, 2013 [5 favorites]
First off, you've got to take advantage of the trails along both sides of the Allegheny river. You could walk across Penn Ave almost directly across from your hotel, down through the Convention Center water feature (and cross your fingers that it's on (it's off more often than not) because it's a very cool experience), right to the Allegheny River.
When you reach the river:
a.) if you go to the right, you're headed to the Strip District which is a barrel of fun on a Saturday morning (nothing dead or boring about it) - just walk along the trail and when you come to the end of it at the Cork building, hang a right and head towards the action. Maybe have a coffee at La Prima to start and then soak in the scene. If you head back from the Strip on Penn Ave you could always stop in at the History Museum - lots to look at there or just buy some cool Pittsburgh stuff etc at the gift shop.
b.) If you go left at the river, you're headed to the Point and Point State Park which was recently spiffed up - including the fountain - it's a fun place to people watch. Or, before you get to the Point, you could go up one of the ramps or staircases and cross one of the sister bridges (three yellow bridges called: The Warhol, The Rachel Carson and The Roberto Clemente) and make your visit to the Warhol. Or you could go further down river on that side (the north side), check out the stadiums (and the fandemonium if the Steelers are home), hang with Mr Rogers and/or go to the Science Museum.
I agree that the Mattress Factory is cool, it's just a little tricky to get to and if you hit the Warhol on this visit, you could save the MF for next visit when you're more familiar with things (for your North Side visit, you could stay at the Priory, go to the MF, maybe kayak on the Allegheny if you're here when it's warm etc etc)
If you're looking for places to eat - you can of course have snacks in the Strip. You could even taste some local whiskey at Wigle (google it) while you're there. For a sit down meal you could head to Market Square - some decent chains and some really nice, unique to Pittsburgh options: NOLA, il pizzaiolo, La Cucina Flegrea (upstairs). There are plenty of other options too, downtown. If you like beer, check out the Sharp Edge also on Penn Ave close to your hotel. There's been a micro brewery explosion in the region, so plenty of good, regional beer to try - and if you're really into beer, then you might want to go to Lawrenceville and check out a few new micro brewery/brew pub places.
Also, downtown is the Cultural District - so if you're interested in classical music, we have a world class symphony orchestra, theater (Pittsburgh Public Theater which is putting on what looks to be a good revival of Our Town until 10/27, Broadway type stuff at the Benedum theater etc etc). Pittsburgh Dance Council might have something going too - check out http://www.trustarts.org/.
I could definitely spend a weekend downtown and not be bored and I live here - so, don't worry too much about getting out to the other neighborhoods - you can save that for another trip and in that case, stay in hotel on the South Side or Shadyside or Oakland or The North Side as I mentioned above . . . and have another, different, great Pittsburgh weekend.
And now for your question, the later it gets, the quieter it gets and it might be a little creepy. I don't think I would walk along the river trails after dark, but I'd feel perfectly comfortable crossing the bridges and walking around downtown. You should be fine since you'll be together.
One more thing, and I haven't been yet, but if you like modern art, then you might want to take the bus up to Oakland and visit the 2013 Carnegie International which just opened: http://ci13.cmoa.org/.
posted by nnk at 2:32 PM on October 11, 2013 [5 favorites]
You may want to look at if there any events going on - we were downtown for the debut of the giant duck (I think there was also a gallery walk going on), and the streets were PACKED.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:35 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by Chrysostom at 2:35 PM on October 11, 2013
Hmm, I live on the east end of Pittsburgh and I would not have described downtown as being dead or rolling up the sidewalks at night. The area you're talking about has always been hopping when I was there late, but then the only times I have been downtown at night were when I was attending some event like a play or concert or baseball game, and such events do bring in a lot of extra people. Maybe it really is dead most nights and I'm just there at the wrong times to see it. But there's also the possibility that some commenters' information is dated. I've only lived here for a bit less than 2 years. Some friends who used to live here but moved away maybe 6 or 7 years ago came to visit and were astonished at the changes in some areas.
The 7th street bridge is a cakewalk, BTW.
posted by jon1270 at 7:25 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
The 7th street bridge is a cakewalk, BTW.
posted by jon1270 at 7:25 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
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posted by FormerMermaid at 12:20 PM on October 11, 2013