12 Rules Every Pittsburgh Driver Should Know
Company is coming, and a lot of out-of-town drivers don't know how to zipper merge. But let's be honest, some of yinz don't either! Driving down steep hills and navigating tight streets can be a challenge, and people have been complaining about our city's layout for decades. In the 1930s, renowned journalist Erine Pyle wrote, "Pittsburgh is the cockeyedest city in the United States. Physically it is absolutely irrational. It must have been laid out by a mountain goat.” Before tens of thousands of visitors descend on our city, we're revisiting our conversation with friend of the pod and former Uber driver Jakob Lazzaro. Together, we're talking about why the streets are like this, share some very important rules for navigating our narrow, hilly streets, and – of course – debate the efficacy of the Pittsburgh Left.
**This episode originally aired September 4, 2024.
Notes and references from today’s show:
- Topography and annexation shaped mismatched Pittsburgh streets [WESA]
- Drivers, you're not alone. Pittsburgh really does have frustrating and short on-ramps [WESA]
- Choose a color and buckle up: Allegheny County's belt system is low tech, but navigable [WESA]
- Rainbow Connections [City Paper]
- U.T.B.A.P.H. [99% Invisible]
Learn more about the sponsors of this Wednesday, April 15th episode:
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
Want more Pittsburgh news?
- Sign up for our daily morning newsletter.
- We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh.
- Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Pittsburgh's Best Bagels
It's one of our most contentious debates: Can you get a good bagel in Pittsburgh? The City Cast Pittsburgh team is entering the fray and...
Free Parties, Concerts & Hidden Gems of Draft Week
The NFL Draft is taking over Pittsburgh, and even if you're not a football fan, there's still probably something up your alley. We've got...
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Pittsburghers, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices ar...
Michelin Guide Proves Us Wrong! Plus, Music Crawl & Underground Park
The Michelin Guide is coming to Pittsburgh! The timing is kind of hilarious, since we just did an episode about why our city doesn't have...
The 13 Best Pizza Joints in Western PA
While we have a growing number of delicious pizza joints in and around the city, our pizza scene just doesn't compare to New York — at le...
Legal Weed, Raising the Minimum Wage & More High Hopes in the PA House
Pennsylvania is one of the few states with a split legislature, which makes it extra hard for a bill to become law. The Democratic-contro...
Carrie Blast Furnace Mystery Solved, Hollywood Money & Space Research
Rivers of Steel finally figured out who the Carrie Blast Furnace was named after! Roman Hladio, chief reporter at NEXTpittsburgh, joins h...
How Pittsburgh Became the World's Roller Coaster Capital
Kennywood's almost open, and we're not talking about your fly! The amusement park's first day of the season is April 18. To celebrate, we...
'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Both Denver and Pittsburgh wanted, but didn't get, a WNBA team. While more and more people are embracing women’s sports, Denver is only t...
$200 Parking, Money for Parks & Pour One Out for Fat Head’s
City Council's getting in on the NFL Draft action. They've approved security agreements with 18 law enforcement agencies — and that inclu...