The 18th Street steps can be thought of as the South Side Flat’s of Pittsburgh gateway to the South Side Slopes. The South Side Slopes go from Arlington Heights to Mt Washington and these steps are right in the middle.
These steps are an essential part of the Pittsburgh pedestrian infrastructure. They create link between the flats and the top of the slopes, and would have a large detour cost if they were not there.
They also had a public art project to light each step, although this has mostly stopped functioning.
The steps and railings are mostly in good condition and these steps probably get more use than other steps in the city. If you only visit a few steps, I recommend you climb these.
