trymahjong Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 www.gohealthyhouston.org/sundaystreetshtxabout There were community meetings about this last week and Ellen Cohen talked about it in her newsletter.For Montrose looks like you can use your bike on Westheimer from Yoakum to Hazard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwatra Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 just heard this on NPR. This is great, I was just in SF biking and they close off Golden Gate park to vehicles (at least most of it, including the major thoroughfares) on Sundays. I was wishing Houston would do more then the Picnic Loop. Not sure about Westheimer... but as a cycler I'm going to take advantage! though too short for any real exercise, but if it gets people on their feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Oh...Sunday's on Westheimer could be great. Especially if the bars/restaurants make it an event! Not unlike the old street festival...but maybe with out people peeing on private property. It think it will really bring people out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Part of Washington, White Oak and Westheimer streets will be closed to vehicle traffic this Sunday. I remember in the early '80's they wanted to close lower Westheimer permanently and have restaurants and bars on both sides. I think this is a cool idea and I hope it works. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9455639 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Already a topic on this: Here. Mods, could you lock/merge this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I remember in the early '80's they wanted to close lower Westheimer permanently and have restaurants and bars on both sides. I think this is a cool idea and I hope it works. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9455639 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Already a topic on this: Here. Mods, could you lock/merge this?Done, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I actually experienced this in Bogota, it's awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 more info in Chronicle this morning. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/City-closing-streets-to-encourage-exercise-5291684.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little frau Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 (edited) Part of Washington, White Oak and Westheimer streets will be closed to vehicle traffic this Sunday. I remember in the early '80's they wanted to close lower Westheimer permanently and have restaurants and bars on both sides. I think this is a cool idea and I hope it works.http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9455639 I believe it doesn't start until April and even then, it will not be at all three locations on the same day. Disclaimer: I may have missed something somewhere stating otherwise. Edited March 7, 2014 by little frau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 You are right. I misread the ABC13 link. It is indeed the first Sunday of the month, beginning in April. Thanks for catching that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerloop Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Just a reminder that this Sunday, May 4th is the second event. This time it's Westheimer from Yoakum to Hazard. Thankfully the weather is supposed to be great as opposed to what we got in the Heights last month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 While I tend to be in favor of this idea, how are people going to access businesses on Westheimer during this time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 With their feet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Where do people park? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Grumpy old man here. It's fine if they close streets in parks as in SF Golden Gate, but somehow I'm not quite sure I see the point of periodically closing streets to traffic. If the goal is to encourage pedestrians I would suggest things like mandating wider sidewalks and supporting planting trees. This just strikes me as a kind of painless feel-good initiative that doesn't change any fundamentals, like the annual "lights out" campaign. Grumble grumble.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I think it helps show that there is a demand for more pedestrian facilities. I for one would love to see Westheimer rebuilt as a more pedestrian friendly street with wider sidewalks and fewer traffic lanes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 It makes the city more fun and enjoyable to live in. Also, spoke with a retailer on Westheimer who said business was amazing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Closing White Oak can be an issue for the folks whose garages are on the alley that only opens onto White Oak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Closing White Oak can be an issue for the folks whose garages are on the alley that only opens onto White Oak. I could imagine that either the barricades are placed so that someone could worm their way in or have someone there to open it up for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 I could imagine that either the barricades are placed so that someone could worm their way in or have someone there to open it up for them. We have friends on one of the streets South of White Oak who were unable to get their cars out on one occasion when White Oak was closed. They are more careful now about moving them in front of the house before events. Police told them "too bad, so sad" when they asked about getting their car out the one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerloop Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 We have friends on one of the streets South of White Oak who were unable to get their cars out on one occasion when White Oak was closed. They are more careful now about moving them in front of the house before events. Police told them "too bad, so sad" when they asked about getting their car out the one time. That problem seemed to be addressed last month. The police set up a row of cones in the far south lane so that residents could come and go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) We have friends on one of the streets South of White Oak who were unable to get their cars out on one occasion when White Oak was closed. They are more careful now about moving them in front of the house before events. Police told them "too bad, so sad" when they asked about getting their car out the one time.Deal with it, it's a few hours in a month.Where do people park?Side streets Edited May 6, 2014 by Slick Vik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txn4art Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 I think it helps show that there is a demand for more pedestrian facilities. I for one would love to see Westheimer rebuilt as a more pedestrian friendly street with wider sidewalks and fewer traffic lanes. Sounds great, but Montrose traffic is bad now with two lanes in each direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Deal with it, it's a few hours in a month. That's pretty darned obnoxious on your part. The day our friends were "trapped", it was for more than 8 hours. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Your friends also had plenty of warning, I assume. If I'm told that my street is to be closed. Or that it's being resurfaced, or whatever. I deal with it, by parking my car around the corner. Or plan to use a cab or public transportation. Shouldn't be a big problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 That's pretty darned obnoxious on your part. The day our friends were "trapped", it was for more than 8 hours.Oh my gosh can't use the car one Sunday out of the entire year what to do? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Grumpy old man here. It's fine if they close streets in parks as in SF Golden Gate, but somehow I'm not quite sure I see the point of periodically closing streets to traffic. If the goal is to encourage pedestrians I would suggest things like mandating wider sidewalks and supporting planting trees. This just strikes me as a kind of painless feel-good initiative that doesn't change any fundamentals, like the annual "lights out" campaign. Grumble grumble.. You're seeing things from such a limited perspective. Why not look at it as a great opportunity to encourage Houstonians to move around and get out. It encourages more pedestrians to abandon their car for just a little bit and enjoy the day. I mean you seriously can't find an alternate route? And like someone already said, the businesses seem to love it. Isn't that ideally what you want? A more fun city? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 You're seeing things from such a limited perspective. Why not look at it as a great opportunity to encourage Houstonians to move around and get out. It encourages more pedestrians to abandon their car for just a little bit and enjoy the day. I mean you seriously can't find an alternate route? And like someone already said, the businesses seem to love it. Isn't that ideally what you want? A more fun city? Well I said I was grumpy old man. That kind of rules out wanting a more fun city. Anyway, it's not that I particularly object to wanting Houstonians to move around outside of their cars, far from it, but there are existing spaces for that, viz. parks and sidewalks. The thing is, that encouragement should be on an ongoing basis. Special occasions, like this or Lights Out Houston, are great feel-good gimmicks but aren't changing underlying behavior, and they just leave me cold. ...Hey! You kids get off my lawn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Oh my gosh can't use the car one Sunday out of the entire year what to do? Given they had something planned for that day, it was sort of a big deal. Where do you live? Can I come and block in your driveway for an entire day, on the day you planned to drive somewhere for a big event? Do your real life friends think you are an arrogant jerk too? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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