THEY PLAN TO NAVIGATE ALL THIS. THIS ONCOMING STORM IS EXPECTED TO BRING CHALLENGES FOR EVERYONE, AND THAT’S ESPECIALLY THE CASE WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH SOME OF THE STEEPEST STREETS. HERE’S WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE. GARFIELD NEGLEY AVENUE IN SQUIRREL HILL NORTH, BEECHVIEW AND SOUTH SIDE SLOPES. RESIDENTS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ALL SHARE THE SAME QUEASY FEELING WHEN BIG SNOW ARRIVES. ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. LUCKILY, I HAVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND I PUT IT IN FIRST GEAR. I GOT THE X-MODE. I GOT THE, YOU KNOW, LOWEST GEAR POSSIBLE. BUT IT’S TERRIFYING. YEAH, IT’S A VERY CHALLENGING, VERY DIFFICULT AT TIMES BECAUSE VERY DANGEROUS. BECAUSE I DRIVE AND, YOU KNOW, I’VE ALMOST WRECKED A COUPLE TIMES ON THEM STEEP STREETS BY MY HOUSE. THIS IS WHAT IT’S LIKE ON THE CREST OF ONE OF BEECHVIEW STEEPEST STREETS. THIS IS WHAT IT’S LIKE LOOKING DOWN NEGLEY AVENUE TOWARD FIFTH AVENUE AND SQUIRREL HILL NORTH. ALEX GILMAN SAYS NEGLEY AVENUE GETS SO BAD, HE INSTALLED A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA ON HIS PROPERTY TO RECORD THE ACCIDENTS HE ANTICIPATES IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. SOME INCIDENTS ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS. THERE HAVE BEEN CASES WHERE PEOPLE REAR END AND COMING DOWN TO A STOP OR SOMETHING, OR HITTING POLES, OR SOMETIMES THEY’LL JUST POP UP OVER THE CURB AND END UP LIKE DRIVING THROUGH THE GRASS OR WHATEVER. AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME PEOPLE WILL PARK SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN A HILLY STREET WHERE THEY LIVE AND SIMPLY WALK HOME. OTHERS WILL WAIT UNTIL THE STREET IS PLOWED BEFORE DRIVING. WELL, WE PARK OUR CARS ELSEWHERE. WE PARK LIKE DOWN THE HILL OR UP THE HILL, AND WE’RE GOING TO WALK TO OUR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT FREES UP ANOTHER UPDATE AFTER THE STORM ON HOW THOSE RESIDENTS MADE OUT. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN PITTSBURGH’S SOU
City residents on Pittsburgh’s steepest streets plan ahead of oncoming storm
Updated: 6:26 PM EST Jan 23, 2026
On a clear day, some neighborhoods provide spectacular views of the city, but when big snow events rumble through the region, it’s a different story.It becomes a frightful ordeal for residents living on steep, hilly streets when snow, slush and ice invade their neighborhoods. “It’s very challenging, it’s very difficult at times, it’s very dangerous, because I drive, and almost wrecked a couple of times on those steep streets by my house,” said John Rethage, who lives on the South Side Slopes.Squirrel Hill North resident Meredith McDermott says Negley is another street that strikes fear and chaos because of the steep downhill trajectory toward Fifth Avenue.”Absolutely terrifying. Luckily, I have all-wheel drive, and I put it in first gear. I’ve got the X mode, the lowest gear possible, but it’s terrifying,” Negley said. When heavy snow approaches, many residents avoid parking on hilly streets where they live and choose to park on flat terrain, even if it means walking a good distance to get home.”We park our cars elsewhere, like down the hill or up the hill, and then walk to our vehicle if it freezes up,” said Calvin Chambers, of Beechview.That’s his plan when the snowstorm arrives this weekend.
PITTSBURGH —
On a clear day, some neighborhoods provide spectacular views of the city, but when big snow events rumble through the region, it’s a different story.
It becomes a frightful ordeal for residents living on steep, hilly streets when snow, slush and ice invade their neighborhoods.
“It’s very challenging, it’s very difficult at times, it’s very dangerous, because I drive, and almost wrecked a couple of times on those steep streets by my house,” said John Rethage, who lives on the South Side Slopes.
Squirrel Hill North resident Meredith McDermott says Negley is another street that strikes fear and chaos because of the steep downhill trajectory toward Fifth Avenue.
“Absolutely terrifying. Luckily, I have all-wheel drive, and I put it in first gear. I’ve got the X mode, the lowest gear possible, but it’s terrifying,” Negley said.
When heavy snow approaches, many residents avoid parking on hilly streets where they live and choose to park on flat terrain, even if it means walking a good distance to get home.
“We park our cars elsewhere, like down the hill or up the hill, and then walk to our vehicle if it freezes up,” said Calvin Chambers, of Beechview.
That’s his plan when the snowstorm arrives this weekend.