Cyclists and pedestrians protest in opposition to Houston’s bike lane and reconstruction initiatives, citing security considerations and adjustments to authentic agreements.
HOUSTON — Frustrations proceed to boil over between pedestrians in addition to bicycle owner fans in opposition to the Metropolis of Houston over building initiatives throughout town.
A consultant with the Mayor’s Workplace stated the development on the Austin Avenue Bike Lane is critical however BikeHouston disagrees.
In the meantime, in Montrose, a bunch known as Associates of the Boulevard are annoyed with the adjustments they’ve seen in a reconstruction mission for the world.
Lining the nook of West Clay and Montrose Boulevard are dozens of protestors in brilliant yellow vests.
“[Trying to adjust the project back to the original agreement] will not be achieved till a shovel hits the bottom,” Alondra Torres with Associates of the Boulevard stated.
Torres is amongst these holding indicators and waving to honking automobiles on the Monday afternoon protest.
Everyone seems to be expressing frustration about Monday’s official begin of the world’s reconstruction mission between the Metropolis of Houston and Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.
The present design is one Christos Patelis stated isn’t what they initially agreed upon. He stated that they had put collectively a plan with the earlier TIRZ board. Mayor Whitmire had changed 4 members of the board in June 2024 after their phrases expired.
Patelis stated that among the many contents of the unique plan was a 10-foot shared path to Buffalo Bayou Park, which he stated has since been reversed.
“Our earlier plan was secure for walkers. It was secure for bikers, for individuals with strollers, for youths going to highschool,” Patelis stated. “I am a driver. I perceive we want roadways which are secure for automobiles, however we additionally want streets which are secure for walkers,” he stated.
That very same sentiment is one Robin Holzer holds to as we chat on Austin Avenue simply 10 minutes away.
“I am very involved individuals are going to get harm and shortly,” Holzer, BikeHouston’s Deputy Director, stated.
On Monday morning, Holzer acquired texts that stated building was underway on the Austin Avenue bike lane. Her security concern is that extra individuals will probably be hit whereas biking.
Holzer pointed us to U.S. Division of Transportation statistics, which stated bike lane additions can cut back crashes as much as 49 p.c on city four-lane undivided collectors and native roads. The identical statistics stated there’s additionally a 30 p.c discount in complete crashes on city two-lane undivided collectors and native roads.
“There is a shadow of what was once the security barrier between the place individuals drive and the place individuals bike, and it is it is gone,” Holzer stated.
This improvement has annoyed residents like Juliann Agno.
“My husband and I moved to this space a couple of 12 months and a half in the past, um, largely due to the Austin bike lane,” Agno stated.
An advisor for Mayor Whitmire despatched us the next assertion:
Mayor Whitmire listens to Houstonians and the group’s voice is essential within the Austin Avenue bike lane mission. We have obtained suggestions from these immediately affected. Some have famous the removing of residential road parking and trash container assortment areas, in addition to the blockage of a fireplace station’s coaching space. Houston Fireplace has confirmed that the division suspended some coaching because of the bike lanes.
We evaluated one of the best plan of action to treatment the complaints and decided the roadway wanted a Avenue Rehabilitation mission from Holman to Grey Streets. This mission will present much-needed infrastructure upgrades, together with drainage and water line enhancements. Houston Public Works will repave the roadway following the Mayor’s Mobility Guiding Rules, which embrace enhancing normal mobility lanes, encouraging pedestrian security, and restoring or enhancing metropolis service supply for emergency responders and stable waste assortment. Upgraded site visitors lanes will probably be wider to incorporate shared lane markings, additionally known as sharrows, markings used to point {that a} lane is shared by each bicycles and motor autos. This can enable for safer commuting for all customers and restore parking for the neighborhood. Building is scheduled to wrap up later this summer time.
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis launched the next assertion concerning the Austin Avenue bike lane building:
KHOU 11 Information is working to get clarification on how the removing is all being paid for and if any doable adjustments may come to the Montrose mission.
A number of individuals, together with Agno, are anticipated to speak on the metropolis’s public remark assembly on Tuesday to voice their frustrations about each initiatives.
