Sidewalks might be the most overlooked part of Pittsburgh’s transportation network, but they’re also the piece of infrastructure residents use most — from downtown workers dodging construction cones to suburban parents pushing strollers. Advocates said years of disinvestment, combined with a wave of projects that close or narrow walkways, have left many people choosing between navigating broken concrete or stepping into the street.
The Pittsburgh Walks coalition is working to put sidewalks back at the center of the city’s safety conversation. Through its Safe Sidewalks Crew, volunteers are cataloging the condition of blocks across the city using a simple phone-based web form, noting cracked pavement, missing curb ramps, construction detours and places where sidewalks disappear altogether. The coalition’s Safe Sidewalks program page lays out how that work is organized and how it ties into broader efforts around accessibility and equity.
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All of that information is feeding into a growing data set. An online dashboard and interactive survey map show where sidewalks are in the worst shape and where a few targeted fixes — like repairing an ADA curb ramp — could create a safer route to a grocery store or bus stop for an entire neighborhood. A running leaderboard highlights which volunteers and neighborhoods have covered the most ground, while the coalition’s FAQ walks newcomers through how the project works and what to expect in the field.
Residents who want to help can sign up for virtual trainings and in‑person survey walks directly through the Safe Sidewalks Crew form on the main website, then grab a phone, pick a route and start mapping the sidewalks they use every day.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pittsburgh Safe Sidewalks Crew maps dangerous sidewalks across city