Forward and Backward

Bike Stations

2009-03-05T14:51:00.002-06:00

Continuing on my earlier comments on ways to make Houston friendlier to cycling, the Phoenix area is to open i ts first bike station in downtown Tempe.

Bike stations, already popular in Europe and places like California and Washington State, provide a central location featuring cycle-related services, showers, lockers, etc and allow cyclists to rent space to store their bikes. Many have 24/7 security, security cameras and require key card access to reach secure areas. Some actually have individual bike “lockers” where the individual’s bike is completely secure.

The Millennium Park Bike Station in Chicago

Bike Station in Long Beach California

I envision a public-private partnership where stations are located within or near transit stations or centers. Ideal locations for initial stations could perhaps be located in or around Rice University and the University of Houston. Perhaps the city could partner with the universities in order to better cater to students. Another possible location would be in or around Montrose, ideally in conjunction with a stop on the University Line (if that line ever gets built).

Such stations, of course, require city planning and a strategy to be receptive and accommodating to cyclists. Phoenix, a city with many of the same issues and problems as Houston (sprawl, poor public transport, automobile culture), is taking that step. So should Houston.

Metro Finally Acts

2009-03-05T12:50:00.008-06:00

Well, after years and years of “planning” and wasted time, Metro has finally taken a major step to improve the transit infrastructure here in Houston. It is, in my mind, a welcome move and long over due.

That being said, the University Line still sits in limbo. Sadly, it seems that no one wants to make a decision on this vitality important line connecting the two most densely populated commercial areas of Houston, downtown and uptown. It is simply unacceptable that Metro has been so slow to move.

I realize that Representative Culberson has been a vocal and unwelcome hindrance to the line and to urban transit issues in general here. He, of course, has no problem with massive highways to the suburbs but his party has been out of power since 2006. A member from a minority party in the House of Representatives is essentially powerless and yet Metro has still been dithering. If other local representatives (and here I am mainly focusing on Democratic representatives) had any political skill and clout in Washington, they could push this through. The fact that they haven’t is testament to their weakness and, frankly, the region’s weakness in Washington in general. We are the 4th biggest city in the country and yet we are treated, in many ways, like a sleepy country town. This is a shame.

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Update 03/06/2009 9:30am

According to this morning's story in the Chronicle, it seems that without the University Line, Metro is going to put the kibosh on the Uptown line as well. So there you have it folks, the second most densely populated section of the city of Houston is still going to be without transit access. More delays and excuses.

More Delays at Metro

2009-02-18T22:22:00.005-06:00

According to the Chronicle, the Metro Board has yet another delay, calling off tomorrow's planned vote on a contract with Parsons Transportation Group to construct the four planned new rail lines.

This is really pathetic. I understand that these things take time to plan but this has been going on for years. I am a HUGE supporter of increased rail transportation in Houston but the actions of the Houston Metro Board so signs of complete incompetence.

Since moving here, I have wondered why so many people in this city seem to have so little trust in Metro. Now I am beginning to see the light...

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Update - 2009/02/19 1:30PM

Well, despite what was implied in the previous story, it seems likely that the vote was put off because the Metro Board knew that their federal funding was going to be cut by roughly half. Find the story here.

I would like to hear the full story as to why the funding was cut so drastically in the final bill (it was infrastructure spending after all). I suspect the lack of support from some in our Congressional delegation at least had something to do with it. With representatives like this, no wonder our infrastructure in Houston is in such sorry shape.

Cycling in Houston

2009-02-18T12:16:00.010-06:00

Off the Kuff mentions the Safe Passing Bill and the comments of Peter Wang regarding the rewards and potential dangers of cycling in Houston.

As someone who has cycled in several cities, I agree that Houston is not the most unfriendly place for cyclists. That being said, it certainly hasn’t received any recognition as a particularly safe or accommodating place for cyclists and nor does it deserve to be. Houston’s potential as a cycle-friendly city comes about from the fact that parts of the Inner Loop of the city are just dense enough to make driving a hassle but not quite dense enough to make walking a very attractive option, especially given the woeful lack of public transport. Given this, cycling is an excellent and healthy option. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem the city is very receptive or accommodating to cyclists. Certainly the Safe Passing Bill will help, but in the end, the city needs to provide better infrastructure to those who ride around on two wheels.

I recently spent some time in Berlin; a place that is a wonderland for cyclists when compared to a city like Houston. Berlin provides grade separated bike lanes along major thoroughfares that not only separate the cyclists from the auto traffic but also the cyclist from pedestrians. Below are examples of this configuration:

Now, obliviously Houston has nowhere near the cycling infrastructure of a city like Berlin and we are unlikely to see such a change in the city, at least in my lifetime. But there are areas where the city could begin to add grade separated cycling lanes. One obvious place would be along Allen Parkway. There is plenty of space for an additional cycle-only lane adjacent to the existing pedestrian lane which currently carries both cyclists and pedestrians. Also, as anyone who has been along Allen Parkway knows, is already plenty of demand from cyclists along that route. Perhaps that could be part of a larger renovation along Allen Parkway. Additional routes could be added as needed. Thankfully Houston has plenty of room for additional cycle lanes along many existing routes given the required setback requirements by the city. All that is required is the political will and foresight to move.

And it begins

2009-02-17T22:19:00.003-06:00

Well, after wasting countless hours reading through blogs and discussion groups regarding urban issues and transportation, I've decided to add my own voice to conversation (if you could call it that).

Now granted I have only been here a short time but so far I like Houston. The people have been nice, the weather is generally pleasant and my job is amazing. Of course, there are plenty of things that drive me crazy about this place. The sprawl, the haphazard development, the complete reliance on the automobile, the general ugliness of so much of the city; anyway...I don't want to belabor the point. That all being said, Houston is in many ways a blank slate (at least parts of it is) and therefore I think we have the ability to create a truly great city if we work at it and develop the right policies going forward!