Driving up the Steepest Street in the World: Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh PA

The earth is not flat. The surface is curved and uneven. In some places, streets appear to defy the laws of gravity. They wrap the tallest mountains and climb upwards towards the clouds. Steep roads that will stop the most athletic pedestrians can be ascended only by the most powerful cars.

In Hollywood movies, the streets of Los Angeles are portrayed as the world’s steepest roads. Numerous action scenes choreograph vehicles racing up and down these hills. Visually exciting, but Eldred Street tops out at a 33.3% gradient.

The Guinness Book of World Records claimed that Baldwin Street in New Zealand is the steepest street in the world. Baldwin Street has a 35% gradient. The local town is filled with souvenir shops advertising the claims on t-shirts and postcards. Additionally, the townspeople erected a new sign at the end of the street that boasts, “The Steepest Street in the World.”

Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales has a sign at the top of the street that claims 40%. While a steep claim, it turns out the government rounded up the number to make the sign easy to read. The actual gradient is 36.63%.

When discussing steep streets, everyone seems to have a contender. This lively debate is likely to continue. Claims from around the world circulate the internet with photos and videos. Some streets are picturesque; some are plain. However in the end, only actual measurements can determine the winner.

To avoid controversy, the following is the definition of “street” used in this article: This is a comparison of public access roads on official public land. The road must be paved. The road must be open to all motor vehicles. Discounted from comparison are pedestrian-only steps, and dirt trails near someone’s campground in the forest. Although a notable contender, Waipio Valley Road in Hawaii is not included in this comparison. It is a restricted access road, and is open only to 4-wheel drive vehicles.

When the numbers are compared by the above definition, Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh tops the list. According to the Department of Public Works, this road officially measures at a 37% gradient. The road is so steep that the city maintenance vehicles cannot climb its slope. As a result, Canton Avenue is neither plowed nor salted during the winter. This steep road has been known to leave unprepared drivers and their cars wrecked and stranded.

Nestled within the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Canton Avenue is just one of many mountainous roads in the area. To most Pittsburgh residents it is just another street to travel on from back and forth to work.

Unlike Baldwin Street in New Zealand, there are not special plaques or souvenir shops nearby. Unlike in Los Angeles, there are no movie producers standing in line with video cameras ready to shoot their next action scene. Except for a small annual event for cyclists, Canton Avenue blends invisibly into the surrounding neighborhood.

Every year in November a group of cyclists attempt to race up 13 of Pittsburgh’s steepest streets. The “Dirty Dozen” event continues to attract participants. While all of the hills are formidable, Canton Avenue is the one that separates the strong from the weak. Last year 325 people attempted to pedal up the street, while 600 spectators cheered from the sides. Many did not succeed to reach the top, and were left out of the race.

Many automobile drivers suffer a worse fate. Careless daredevils often stall their engines midway up the hill, or careen uncontrollably and crash on their attempts down. The police do not enforce the “Do Not Enter” signs at the top of the street. Like a scarecrow in a cornfield, the signs are in place to dissuade inexperienced drivers from causing a traffic accident.

I have to admit that when I first visited Canton Avenue, I arrived as a both a tourist and adventure seeker. Wanting to write a popular article about this street I looked for exciting photos and made videos of my car climbing up its steep 37% gradient. My original plan was to simply document and leave quickly, gathering just enough material to publish.

But it turns out that Canton Avenue has more to offer than just statistics. After I parked my car, I met some of the people that lived on the street. It’s a friendly community. Everyone had a unique story to tell. One resident was so interesting, that I made plans to return there for another visit.

Midway up Canton Avenue in a bright red house lives Joe Bonadio. When I approached the front door, I saw an elderly male inside playing a flute. He was facing the sun coming in through the opposite window. The music that streamed through the air was inspirational. After he was finished playing his music he saw me, opened the door, and we talked at length about his life on Canton Avenue.

Joe said his father built the house in 1903. Over a hundred years later, the house looks as sturdy as the day it was constructed. As Joe proudly stated, “That house isn’t going anywhere.” With a smile, Joe told me that his family moved from the side of a mountain in Italy to the side of a mountain in Pittsburgh. In addition to being a talented musician and WWII Veteran, Joe is a professional golfer that has the luxury of playing on some of the world’s finest golf courses. Although he has the opportunity to live anywhere he wants, he chooses to reside in his family home on Canton Avenue.

Joe pointed at an area where a brick was missing from the road. He said careless drivers often damage the road by speeding, and then slamming on their brakes midway down. The road is constantly in need of repair. Four orange traffic cones surround an area of the street that was damaged last winter when an underground water pipe broke. Joe said the steel pipe was stamped “Made in 1897”.

Joe told me that for years he has repaired the road by himself. He recalled stories of when Canton Avenue was covered only by dirt. Back then it was a very treacherous street. After his sister slipped in the mud during a rain storm, his family pleaded with the city to pave it. To this day, Joe cares for the road as a landscaper nurtures his garden.

While we were outside talking, a couple college-aged guys trudged slowly up the hill snapping photos, kicking rocks, and making jokes about the steep gradient. Within a few minutes they were gone, leaving nothing behind. At that moment I realized that the real champions of Canton Avenue were Joe and his family. The City of Pittsburgh also has a similar opinion. In 2014 the city council made an official proclamation that March 4th is now Joe Bonadio Day.

Joe’s current car is a 1989 Lincoln Town Car “Signature Series”. With a powerful 8 cylinder, 440 engine, the car is still young with only 74,000 miles on its odometer. While the paint shows oxidation from the sun, the interior looks supple and clean. Joe bought the car 15 years ago, and is the second owner of the vehicle. Other than a new set of tires and regular maintenance, he said the car has never had a problem. He has no plans to sell the car. The only time he doesn’t drive up or down the street daily is when winter weather covers the bricks with ice.

After a couple more photos of the car, I made plans with Joe to visit again. This trip to Canton Avenue taught me more than improved driving skills. What I thought would be a short article about the world’s steepest street, turned out to be a story about a man, his car and the road they share together. When visiting somewhere new, you have to remember to get out of your car and walk around. Put down the camera for a minute or two. Take some time to meet some of the people that made the place somewhere that was worthy to visit in the first place.