Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.
After pushback from local bike advocates, Houston Mayor John Whitmire walked back plans to kill a protected bike lane on Heights Boulevard, indicating that the street will now receive a one-way, unprotected bike lane, reports Ryan Nickerson in the Houston Chronicle.
According to the article, “Construction crews had already begun tearing up the old protected bike lane on Monday before the mayor’s office made the change public Thursday in an interview with the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board.” Whitmire said the new design will “improve the mobility and the access of the homeowners and certainly the fire station and it will allow the bike lane to continue.”
Mayor Whitmire has come under fire in recent months for his efforts to dismantle Houston’s bike infrastructure. “When asked whether the new lane will include a physical separation — such as a curb or an armadillo — Whitmire simply said the project would follow the Heights Boulevard model. That lane is unprotected, though it provides a dedicated space for cyclists next to vehicle traffic.” Optimistically, the change could signal that the mayor is listening to the public.
FULL STORY: Pivoting, Whitmire says Austin Street will get a dedicated bike lane, but no physical barrier
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How to Make US Trains Faster
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Columbia’s Revitalized ‘Loop’ Is a Hub for Local Entrepreneurs
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Invasive Insect Threatens Minnesota’s Ash Forests
The Emerald Ash Borer is a rapidly spreading invasive pest threatening Minnesota’s ash trees, and homeowners are encouraged to plant diverse replacement species, avoid moving ash firewood, and monitor for signs of infestation.
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