I dugged the article about Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh is the unofficial steepest public street in the United States and the world. This street is grade of 37% or 37 feet rise by elevation in 100 feet horizontal. I pinpoint the map of Canton Ave in Google Map.
Interesting. I went to look the Canton Ave, which is not far, just around twenty minutes drive from my home to check this out and feel like to walk up and down on the steep street. Believe it or not, I took a little out of breath as I walked to top from bottom in Canton Ave. I can feel my ankle little uncomfortable on my feet as I walk slowly back down to bottom from top!
According to Guinness Book of Records, they claim Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand is world's steepest street with grade of 38%. According town own website, it listed as 35% grade. From the source in Wikipedia:
Baldwin Street's claim to fame has caused some controversy after it emerged that the original entry in the Guinness Book of Records was based on a typographical error, claiming a maximum gradient of 1:1.266 (38° or 79%). This would be impossible to walk up, and appears to be an error for 1:2.66, which itself is slightly steeper than the currently accepted figure of 1:2.86. Alternatively, the mistake may have been caused by confusion between grade in degrees and percentage grade, i.e., mixing up 38% with 38°. Nevertheless, the Guinness Book officially recognizes Baldwin Street as the world's steepest street at a 35% grade.
Is it [Baldwin Street] inaccurate? Should Guinness go back and take the accurate measurement in New Zealand? I can see the difference in the picture: Baldwin Street is longer in length of climbing the elevation than Canton Ave.
UPDATE: (10/9/2007):You might find this photos in Google Maps: Street View.
wow...interesting to know!!
Especially in our hometown :)
gwlj
Posted by Grant W Laird Jr | September 24, 2007 4:46 AM
Just saw this one today...
http://www.oddee.com/item_91717.aspx
Posted by Grant Laird Jr | December 10, 2007 5:39 AM
While Canton is incredible, I believe the best experience in Pittsburgh is to drive down Boustead, which is about a half a mile south. It is almost as steep, and its steepness is much longer. I can't help but to break into laughter every time I go down it. It's a wtf moment.
Posted by Mike | December 14, 2008 8:35 PM
I drove up Canton today and truthfully was not impressed. Maybe its because its so short. The hills I drive in San Francisco fell much steeper when I visit there.
Posted by robert | October 18, 2009 11:33 PM
Glencoe ave and Sycamore streets in Cincinnati, put this Canton st. hill out of business for real..
Posted by Rob | October 22, 2009 6:26 PM