We didn’t realize that the US was such a terrible place to live until the Sydney Morning Herald reported it this morning. According to the Economist’s 2009 liveability survey, Pittsburgh is the most liveable city in the United States of America, ranked 29th in the world.
At the top of the list? Vancouver, Vienna, Melbourne,Toronto and Perth, giving Canada and Australia two of the top five cities in the world each. Dakar (Senegal,) Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Kathmandu (Nepal) were at the bottom of the 131 polled cities.
Not a surprise, for those of us that know and love Pittsburgh.
And the `Burgh is home to the Super Bowl Champs Stillers and soon to be Stanley Cup winners Penquins — Let’s go Pens
I was just in Vancouver last week, and it is a great city. And, even better, the parking downtown is super cheap.
Here’s another opinion, published a few weeks ago:
http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html
They rank on a long list of factors, and have Vancouver (4) in the top spot in North America. Honolulu (29) is the city in the United States with the highest quality of living. Washington, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Portland and Chicago are all in the top 50. Top three are Vienna, Zurich, and Geneva.
Pittsburgh’s great! Its nice to see us get some good press for something more than winning football and hockey games. (Note to fellow Pittsburghers: not that I don’t like it when we win more football and hockey games).
Pittsburgh has its appeal. But I’m surprised that there was no mention of beautiful downtown Ambridge, home of School Trinity for Ministry, and only fifteen minutes drive to Pittsburgh.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Best-Places-to-Live-usnews-15476164.html?.v=1
Alternatives.
William, isn’t Pittsburgh a suburb of Ambridge?
You get a good bishop in Pittsburgh. In Vancouver, well, not so much….
And just wait til Friday evening, when our Pens bring home Lord Stanley’s Tureen . . . .
Of all the places I have lived as an adult, Pittsburgh has been my favorite by far. I think the people are among the friendliest I have ever encountered. I was warmly received not only in the church, but surprisingly at work and in the communities in which I lived. I had the privilege of living in the area twice during the 80s. I found it easy to get around, both driving and via public transportation (unless there was a major bridge or tunnel construction project underway, for which there were many opportunities to pray for travel mercies and many occasions for repentance when they were not granted). My strongest attachment with the city is that it is there that I was baptized and began spiritual walk as a Christ-follower (in an Episcopal Church, no less!). My time in the ‘burgh was a time of great blessing!
#6 William Witt – Surely you must be referring to another (more gentrified) Ambridge! In 1982-1983, I lived one block south of the downtown commercial area, about three blocks from the American Bridge facility. It was evident that the town had been bustling when the mills were operating, but I found it bleak, sad, and somewhat depressing. TSM was in its early stages and I found it comforting knowing that it was there, but I did not have any occasion to interact with the TSM community. I haven’t been back to Ambridge since I left in 1983, but I trust that TSM’s presence has been a blessing there.
By the way – 15 minutes to the city from Ambridge?! My experience was more like 30-45 minutes. You must be blessed with some extra-special travel mercies!
Ardent Anglican. Take the opportunity to visit Ambridge and see how the TSM campus has rejuvenated that part of Ambridge. It is truly an amazing change from 1983 –miraculous even. In 1983 TESM consisted of a former Presbyterian Church and a former A&P;Supermarket and nothing more. Now TSM is a block and a half oasis in the middle of town.
Interesting perspective in the article – a definite point-of-view. From my one, mostly driving, visit to Pittsburgh – whose late 1970s renaissance my parents were very enthusiastic about after a visit – in about the third week of a recent December, I can say I wouldn’t mind returning but preferably in spring or autumn. It was grey skies, slightly icy – ’nuff said. I was very surprised at the condition of the freeways, the decrepit environs of the University of Pittsburgh, less appalled at Carnegie-Mellon’s campus, and we found the interiors there and the food at the main lunchroom above standard. It was clear in that section of the city that much has been done to make it more pleasant to spend time in. And it’s historically very important as Fort Duquesne (sp?)
Living in one of the top 5 cities of the Economist’s list I’d say that the condition of infrastructure could well be the major factor in the rankings – that is, with older infrastructure a city won’t get into the top unless it’s been maintained and refurbished to a top standard (though I don’t know about Toronto). Perth is mainly new, and no part is over 180 years old, so that’s not hard to do here. Other aspects that probably matter a lot are open green space and climate, which contribute significantly to health and well-being, along with the calibre of healthcare and the educational/cultural environment. Let’s face it, on a world-wide scale the climate of the western Appalachian region north of, say, Kentucky is not terrifically hospitable! (I’m nevertheless very thankful to have had 3-4 generations of American forebears who made their ways pre-railroad from New England, Washington DC and Virginia through that region to southern IN and IL, to flourish there for another 4 generations.) From the Rockies eastward, much infrastructure of the USA is increasingly degenerating; it’s naive to imagine otherwise, and the matter needs attention.
#12 David Wilson. Thank you for the update. I am thankful that TSM has benefited the town so greatly. I have fond memories of my time there.
Way to go Pittsburgh! This makes how many #1’s for them? I have lost count.
I am just old enough to remember when TSM started out in the old A&P;(We always drove passed it on the way to my orthodontist). When I took a couple of TEEM classes in the late 80’s they were using the fellowship hall of the chapel. My next trip home I need to plan a side trip through Ambridge.