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Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, PA: Where vibrant art, vibrant neighborhoods, and vibrant people come together to create an unforgettable experience. Come and be a part of our colorful tapestry.

#Pennsylvania #PittsburghLife #CityofBridges #PGH #PittsburghProud

11 Best Things To Do In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Calling all adventure seekers. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has it all. From epic skyline views to mouthwatering cuisine, here's your ultimate guide to the 11 best things to do in the Steel City. Let the fun begin.

#PAWanderlust #PittsburghLife #VisitPA #PittsburghMustDo

Snow day and school day...kids are a little ticked. #pittsburghlife #lovepgh (at South Fayette) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIQeEx-l4E5/?igshid=1fizf42zzwpnx

#pittsburghlife #lovepgh

Living Car-Free is One of the Most Effective Environmental Actions

Students all over Pittsburgh own cars and while some of us may need to drive, there are also many of us who don’t need to drive as often as we do. Reducing how often we drive or going completely car-free can have an enormous impact on local carbon emissions and air quality. If the majority of students were to make the choice to go car-free, we could improve the overall wellbeing of our city.

A research study published in 2017 found that, next to having a smaller family, living car-free is the second most effective individual action an individual can take against climate change. Shown in the infographic below, one person can save almost 2.5 tons of CO2 a year by living without driving a car.

Graphic Source

The transportation industry is one of the leading contributors to climate change. Cars and trucks alone account for about one-fifth of the total US emissions. The transportation sector in the US produces 30% of all US global warming emissions, which is more than any other sector.

Pittsburgh students have the ability to reduce the total transportation emissions on a local scale. By choosing to use public transportation instead of driving, students can reduce carbon emissions, lessen city-wide traffic, improve air quality, and contribute to the overall wellbeing of the city.

The 2019 State of the Air report placed Pittsburgh as the seventh worst city for year-round particulate matter (PM), or soot pollution, and 10th worst for short-term particle pollution. Both rankings are worse than in previous years. Both smog and the daily and long-term measures of PM have worsened for the second year in a row.

Image Source: HuffPost

Studies have shown that air pollution can have adverse short- and long-term effects on human health. It is known that short- and long-term exposure to PM can increase the risk of heart-related diseases, impairments and can reduce life expectancy by months to a few years. One study, comparing six cities, found that the most heavily polluted city had a 26% higher mortality rate than the least polluted city.

The transportation sector contributes to our poor air quality. If the number of cars on the roads were reduced, Pittsburgh air quality could be greatly improved. Additionally, there are many other Pittsburgh residents that rely solely on the transit system to get to work, buy groceries, and travel. Students ave the ability to improve the public transit system by taking part in it and advocating for better infrastructure. The more people that use public transit, the more likely the city will be to invest in improving the transit infrastructure.

As students, we have the ability to make a change. We are able to control our own lives, which can have a great impact. So, next time you need to buy shampoo and snacks from Target, try hopping on the 71B instead of driving!

Check out my other posts for more information on how to best use public transit in Pittsburgh.

#public transport #transportation #climate change #air quality #pittsburghlife #walk #71B #health #carbon footprint

Thrifting in Pittsburgh

One of the easiest ways we can combat fast fashion (see my previous post to learn more about fast fashion), is to not partake in the system!

In an ideal world, I would purchase all sustainably-made, recyclable, locally- and organically-grown cotton clothes. That would be the only way to cut off our dependence on the fashion industry. But we all know that clothing like that is rarely affordable or accessible. As college students, it’s not realistic for us.

One way to distance ourselves from the fast fashion industry is through thrifting. This allows us to support local businesses and ultimately reduce the amount of money being funneled to companies who are destroying the environment and exploiting people for labor.

And-- let’s face it: thrifting is fun. What’s better than buying an article of clothing knowing that it is unlikely you will see someone else wearing the same thing?

Here are the best thrift stores in the ‘Burgh:

Avalon Exchange- High-end clothing, great selection of cool sunglasses

Squirrel Hill- 5858 Forbes Ave

Priciness: $$$

Buffalo Exchange- High-end stylish clothing, urban-vibe

South Side Flats- 1214 E Carson St #1a

Priciness: $$$

Goodwill (the best one)- Low to medium quality clothes, can also buy second-hand items

Southside- 2700 E Carson St

Priciness: $

Plato’s Closet- Collection of ForeverXXI, American Eagle, H&M, athletic brands, Free People, Urban Outfitters

North Pittsburgh- 7219 McKnight Rd