Pittsburgh

One of the major gripes I’ve heard people make about the Port Authority transit system in Pittsburgh is that it’s impossible to plan trips. The best method is generally to talk with people who have been using public transportation for longer than you have. Port Authority set up a route search engine through its website about a year ago, but it was downright terrible. I know this system can still be accessed, but I’ve been disillusioned enough by it to forget about its existence. Well, it looks like Google has taken a step in the right direction and created Google Transit, which is a product currently available in 8 U.S. cities, including Pittsburgh. It’s exactly what it sounds like it would be: a way to search public transportation lines in the city of Pittsburgh. I haven’t thoroughly tested it yet, but the interface is basically an extension of Google Maps. Good stuff. I suppose that having Google in Pittsburgh will lead to this type of perk. I’m sure there are some kinks to be worked out, but I’m EXTREMELY happy about this development. I generally think that public transportation is a great way to travel, and one of the hindrances has definitely been route planning, at least for this city. This type of online aid should help with this problem. Now if we can only work on this price system…

I’ve been meaning to write out my thoughts on the Engage Pittsburgh event that Emily and I attended a few weeks back. This event, sponsored by The Sprout Fund, was meant to serve as an idea-roundup for ways that individuals wanted to change the city of Pittsburgh. There were ideas fitting many categories, including transportation, economic development, housing, arts & culture, etc. Based upon the ideas that came out of the event The Sprout Fund will be issuing around $100,000 to help with the implementation of some of these initiatives. If you’d like to see one of the ideas I helped to conceive you can link to it here. The idea centers around changing the Pittsburgh busways so that bikers could use them as well. Though there would definitely be some infrastructure issues I think an idea along these lines would be extremely beneficial for the city.

The whole event, though noble in intent, was lacking in several ways. First, Emily and I were immediately split up. Though we came to the event to experience and brainstorm ideas together the staff separated parties that came together. Though I could understand the intent of this procedure there was no advance warning that such a split would occur. This was surprise one of the day.

Though I was really hoping to engage personally with individuals there wasn’t much time for such interactions. The whole event was extremely structured, and we were meant to keep a stringent schedule. In that sense the event felt extremely inorganic. While there was a large contingent of people who knew one another (the “in” crowd), I was not one of these people. It seemed that both the staff and “in” individuals weren’t interested in getting to know me. I was saddened by this reality. But toward the end of the day I did get to interact with a few people a bit more fully, so I wouldn’t call the day a relational waste.

I commend The Sprout Fund for their initiative on this event, but I thought that the details could’ve been carried out in a friendlier and more efficient manner. As a silly example, though there was a lunch provided only about 25% of them were vegetarian. But this was an event for the GRANOLA crowd of Pittsburgh. I’m being a bit facetious but you get my point. By the time Emily and I got there the vegetarian option had vanished. And I know that a lot of other folks experienced the same problem.

I’m hoping that the event actually advances change in the city. I’m weary that there was a lot energy generated that will vanish into the ether. Hopefully I’ll be proved wrong on that point.

Aldo Coffee Company is probably responsible for brewing the best coffee in Pittsburgh. It’s located in Mt. Lebanon, and is less than a five minute walk from the Mt. Lebanon trolley stop. They take coffee quite seriously in this cozy place, and they also happen to serve some scrumptous Panini sandwiches as well. The owners are friendly, the decor is inviting, and the drinks are just plain good (my favorite so far is the Cappuccino Aldo).

Also, it just so happens that the establishment boasts as a barista Ms. Belle Battista, who will be traveling to Charlotte this weekend to compete in the United States Barista Championship. In other words, she makes some dang good coffee. Actually, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper wrote an article about her yesterday. You can read that article here. So if you’re looking for some good coffee, I highly suggest checking this place out.

Good luck and happy brewing this weekend Belle!