9/6/2013
First things first ... Park at the bottom where there is a free(?) parking lot. Our GPS led us to the top where there is only metered street parking and not much of that. We got lucky and found a meter right in front of the incline.
The views from the observation tower are great. Overlooking the rivers, the park, Heinz Field, one gets a sense of this "bridge" city.. The inner workings of the incline can be seen for a small, additional fee.
The gift shop lady a the top was friendly and talkative. That is very different than the money-lady at the bottom of the incline. You pay at the bottom to a person behind a glass barrier by dropping the EXACT CHANGE into a bus-styled money box. I wonder how many people come down the incline and leave without paying. We paid, but we got no return tickets for the ride back up. Apparently, this person remembers who paid or did not pay. I wonder what happens if there is a shift change and the other person does not remember that you paid! In addition, this person at the bottom was a bit rude and did not really seem interested in answering questions. There are bill changing machines at the bottom and I think I saw a sign for an ATM. I might have rated this incline 5 if it were not for this person at the bottom.
The Monongahela Incline nearby was having some maintenance done so we did not walk to that for the return trip, which we initially planned on doing.