the pittsburgh pedestrian experience

Tuesday makes me quite grateful for South Hills Junction. I didn’t use it for the better part of the first year that I lived in my house, despite being less than a mile away. The Junction is useful but it’s not welcoming. It’s hidden from the world in a valley, surrounded by Port Authority storage and maintenance facilities, and has limited and unsafe access. I actually spend a good portion of my time at work helping the neighborhoods surrounding the Junction to find resources to improve it.

Tuesday morning I was heading to work by walking down to the Junction with a plan to catch the bus. I missed the bus and while waiting for the next one, I got a text message from my co-worker suggesting that I change course and plan to head straight to my morning meeting (in Beechview, rather than Brookline where my office is located). This was exceptionally easy to accommodate at the Junction. I simply crossed the busway to the T tracks and grabbed the next 42 train to Beechview. Despite being on track to be late for work, I ended up being early for the meeting.

I think that this kind of multi-modal transit hub is extremely useful and I am grateful to have it in my neighborhood.

Tuesday’s tally:

Walked: 3.5 miles
Bussed: 7 trips
Carpooled: 2 trips
Drove: 0