IronTiger Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Topic title says it all, what's the most pedestrian unfriendly neighborhood in Houston? Before people start rattling off the usual suspects, I don't mean petty complaints, like "I don't like walking under bridges" or "Businesses are far too set back from the street", or anything that tends to mess with the "urban ideal", but truly troublesome areas. Narrow sidewalks next to fast roads (like, say, a non-ADA compliant width sidewalk or less next to a road with no ROW between the curb and private property), a lack of any sidewalks (and what's left isn't even, that is, even a mountain bike would have a difficult time), no crosswalks at stoplights, no curb cuts, et cetera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 This is hilarious because I've then thinking about creating a "Most Pedestrian Friendly Area", or streets with the most Pedestrian life lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Most Friendly - Downtown/Midtown Most Unfriendly - West End/Rice Military/Montrose/any crossing over or parallel to westheimer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky-guy Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Greenway/upper Kirby. For now, at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I would think Westheimer from 610 West Loop to Highway 6 would be the worst. Vehicular traffic + the volume of major roads that cross it + narrow sidewalks in many parts = pedestrian nightmare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 The West Loop in general - no sidewalks, lots of fast traffic. I once made the mistake of thinking I could walk from one building to its next door neighbor. I ended up turning around and getting my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Oh no Airline Drive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Anywhere on 1960 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 99% of the city Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I wouldn't say that. Any neighborhood will be easily walkable provided it does not have Westheimer (or similar) roads running right down the middle of it. Take the neighborhood between Rice - Bissonnet from Morningside - Main... of all that area mentioned only Rice and Bissonnet would be what I consider "unfriendly" towards pedestrians. Even Main south of the Montrose Oval is pedestrian friendly with big sidewalks and plenty of room for walkers, the rest of that area is easily walkable and not at all a hazard to pedestrians. Since most of Houston is low scale, single family homes in neighborhoods with big leafy trees (Houston proper) I would say much of it is much more walkable than most of us think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Anything developed after 1960 (the year, not the road). Watching anyone try to walk (regardless of sidewalks) outside of the beltway is pretty painful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tower26 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 West Mount Houston & Highway 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 99% of the city That statement coming from a person who admits he rarely ventures outside the Inner Loop, this is pretty funny...and according to COH, only 15% of Houston's land is inside the loop. Yeah, I know you were exaggerating, but I have a feeling there are parts of the city you didn't know existed. Go out and explore...I guarantee you'll find some great places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 A significant number of the outside the loop neighborhoods were built without any sidewalks at all - the only reason you don't get mown down walking in the street is because it's quiet, residential traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Anytime you have to walk along a road with a speed limit greater than 20-25 mph qualifies as the worst pedestrian place to be (especially on north-south feeder roads in Midtown and Downtown). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 A significant number of the outside the loop neighborhoods were built without any sidewalks at all - the only reason you don't get mown down walking in the street is because it's quiet, residential traffic. Less traffic does tend to lend points to pedestrian friendliness. Sidewalks aren't always everything. I suppose another major factor is lighted areas. I can understand not wanting to walk under a bridge if it's poorly lit, but such a thing like that is easily solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Another place where one takes life by the horns - at the exit to a downtown parking garage just before evening drive time, when people come flying out in hopes of getting ahead of traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 That statement coming from a person who admits he rarely ventures outside the Inner Loop, this is pretty funny...and according to COH, only 15% of Houston's land is inside the loop. Yeah, I know you were exaggerating, but I have a feeling there are parts of the city you didn't know existed. Go out and explore...I guarantee you'll find some great places.I've been all around houston. Sunny side, fifth ward, Jensen, gulfton, third ward before gentrification, places you wouldn't go if someone paid you. Leave your talking points to college station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 The sidewalks in my neighborhood are great, but I suppose it's politically incorrect to say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Any major thoroughfare in unincorporated Harris County. The County doesn't believe in pedestrians.Ever try to walk down Grant Road from say, Spring-Cypress to Louetta? It's not a very safe or welcoming area for pedestrians. You've got to have your head on a swivel on those major thoroughfares out in the County. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 The sidewalks in my neighborhood are great, but I suppose it's politically incorrect to say that.You're not in houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 You're not in houston. I do not live in the city of Houston. However, I do live in the Houston-Sugarland-The Woodlands MSA, so yes, I am in Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I do not live in the city of Houston.You said it yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwatra Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 at least we're not Orlando:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/us/16pedestrians.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I believe this topic started as a question on the most unfriendly areas in the City of Houston, not metro area. We all know unincorporated areas of Harris County would probably take the cake if the Metropolitan area were being discussed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 at least we're not Orlando:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/us/16pedestrians.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0Orlando just built a rail line that is longer than all of ours combined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Orlando just built a rail line that is longer than all of ours combined. So? In 50 years which Metro area will have more transit options (excluding Disney) Orlando or Houston?I'm putting all of my money on Houston. We have an inept transit agency + a booming population that will demand options as we site mired in traffic from one end of town to the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 So? In 50 years which Metro area will have more transit options (excluding Disney) Orlando or Houston?I'm putting all of my money on Houston. We have an inept transit agency + a booming population that will demand options as we site mired in traffic from one end of town to the other.Orlando's will be 60 miles soon. I see no expansion past this year based on current politicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 You're correct. But in the long run Houston will have a bigger system. Eventually the masses will demand something, and local politicos who don't listen will not be in office very long. The "good old boys" while still around, are slowly being replaced. The rest of us just have to bide our time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 You said it yourself Good grief. You'll find every opportunity to bash Houston because it's not like other cities, and then suddenly switch sides and discredit anyone else's opinion because "they don't live in Houston", all in the same thread. Good grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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