Benefits

Become Aware of the Stairs!

Individuals

It is hoped that these stair inserts will increase awareness of the public stairs both as a means of transportation and for recreational use. Staircase awareness is now increasing on a smaller scale with the annual South Side and North Side climbs of the stairs. It has been shown that population health is directly linked to the amount that residents walk instead of drive. Particularly well decorated staircases could bring welcome attention into a community and increase property values.

Businesses

Another idea is that businesses be allowed to advertise on the stairs in exchange for contributing to their maintenance. This would be an Adopt-a-Staircase plan similar to the Adopt-a-Roadway plan that already exists in many places. Depending on the length of the staircase, one or more stair risers could be used to advertise the specific business taking responsibility for stair maintenance. Walking the stairs of Pittsburgh, it is clear that many staircases are already being maintained by local residents, and probably by community groups. It could increase the property values in some places if visitors knew the names of these local groups who are maintaining these public spaces.

The City

With an increased resident and business awareness of the city stairs, it is hoped that communities will help to maintain the stairs by contributing to masonry work, keeping foliage cut back, and keeping the stairs clear of snow when needed. One idea is that individual stair risers can be sold to community contributors and their name be inscribed along with other content. On a long staircase this would mean that hundreds of individuals could take ownership of the ongoing maintenance of the stairs as needed. Over time, this community maintenance will be a large cost savings for the city. Further, the more residents who use the public stairs to get to work the fewer cars there will be in the middle of the city which will also produce a cost savings by reducing the load on the city’s roadway infrastructure.

Tourists

Finally, it is hoped that the ornamented staircases could become a tourist destination for people coming to visit Pittsburgh similar to the way the staircases in San Francisco are already a draw in that city. Tours of the public staircases could be created as art walks which also showcased some of the breathtaking views of Pittsburgh that cannot be accessed by car. Tourists to a community would increase restaurant use and awareness of Pittsburgh’s communities.