However, a dedicated group of about 30 people did turn up to make a stand against the title of world's steepest street being taken from the city and given to the North Wales town of Harlech.
Software developer Matthew Kraemer, painted as a Highlander, led the charge up the street, which he originally planned would involve Lime scooters, cyclists and a crowd of redheads - the latter because Dunedin is the most Scottish city in the country.
No scooters turned up, but several people - including some with conspicuous auburn locks - took on the daunting challenge of cycling or running up the steep street under the curious gaze of Baldwin St residents.
Dunedin man Glenn Alexander said as far as he was concerned, Baldwin St's title was "stolen through a loophole" and he wanted the topography, gradient and "sheer presence" of the Dunedin street to be acknowledged.
"It's not a legitimate claim [Harlech] can make."
He turned up with a device on a tripod made of cardboard, a piece of celery and a Weet-Bix box - which he claimed was a "Welsh theodolite" bought off eBay for 30 ($NZ50).
"Joking aside, it's quite serious," he said.
He said he wanted the city to "take this title back" and he had been talking to members of the engineering community, who agreed the Welsh way of measuring the street was incorrect, and he was looking at the best way to establish a methodology to "redress" the issue.
"Until I hear back from Guinness, we are just guessing," he said.
"We need a contact at Guinness that we can kind of correspond with. It may well be that they go `OK, we see your point'."
The crowd made their way up the street to the accompaniment of bagpipers from John McGlashan College, who turned out in kilts for the occasion.
Another social media event, titled "We make Baldwin St steepest again", is scheduled for Thursday - the event's description promises drastic action to help the North East Valley street retake its crown.
