SpaceCity Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 actually, if it's possible, you should add "A combo of one or two" since some probably go to a park and ride, and take a Bus/train combo, and whatnot. Ricco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Mine is a combo, that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehan Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 I'm in sales, so I have to drive nearly all the time. When I go downtown, I sometimes use the rail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abarr2001 Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 I live inside the loop but work outside the beltway, so I drive all the way everyday. My car and I spend much quality time together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VelvetJ Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Drive via tollway (most of the way). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmancuso Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 this: in houston, going by car is the only feasable way of getting around. unfortunatly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Two-three days a week I drive. The other days it's either a combination of METRO bus and rail or bus only, depending on which routing I'm in the mood to take that day. I currently live in the Braeswood area and work just west of the Galleria, so driving is the fastest, but I save money when I take METRO (but it takes longer). Regardless of whether I do the bus-only route or the combined bus and train, it takes about the same amount of time. Usually I do the light rail because I like riding it. However I'm job hunting and hopefully will end up working downtown or in the Medical Center. Then it will be METRO most days for me, except for when the weather is extremely unpleasant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincoRanch-HoustonResident Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 The Katy Freeway. What a drag it is. To drive out of Cinco Ranch is enough at 6 in the morning. Then you have to drive about 25 miles to Downtown. It is frustrating to me. I usually take the Addicks Park&Ride on the Metro Bus. It's quicker than Kingsland Blvd. When I am in that traffic though, I want to scream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 The Katy Freeway. What a drag it is. To drive out of Cinco Ranch is enough at 6 in the morning. Then you have to drive about 25 miles to Downtown. It is frustrating to me. I usually take the Addicks Park&Ride on the Metro Bus. It's quicker than Kingsland Blvd. When I am in that traffic though, I want to scream.No offense, Cinco, but if the commute is that horrible, why do you live out there? I find it hard to have much sympathy for anyone who has moved to the far west suburbs in the last twenty years when it comes to griping about the Katy Freeway. It's not like it's a new problem or anything -- it was pretty awful back in 1985 and everyone knows that the commute from the Katy area to downtown is terrible. So why live out there if you work in town?And, I meant what I said about no offense. I'm not trying to be insulting or anything with this post. Just trying to understand the reason why so many people here choose to live out there, knowing the traffic is going to be a nightmare, and then constantly complain about it after they have moved to the Katy area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Car: From the West end to Uptown... Traffic is a night mare. I wish We had rail, so I could take the train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanLandscape Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I generally bike, though I also walk when I have to or drive at night and when the weather sucks.But of course, I live in Hunstville and I'm a full-time student at Sam Houston State University. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasPaul Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I am able to share a ride in the mornings and then ride the train to a friends office downtown after work. We then share a car ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincoRanch-HoustonResident Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 No offense, Cinco, but if the commute is that horrible, why do you live out there? I find it hard to have much sympathy for anyone who has moved to the far west suburbs in the last twenty years when it comes to griping about the Katy Freeway. It's not like it's a new problem or anything -- it was pretty awful back in 1985 and everyone knows that the commute from the Katy area to downtown is terrible. So why live out there if you work in town?And, I meant what I said about no offense. I'm not trying to be insulting or anything with this post. Just trying to understand the reason why so many people here choose to live out there, knowing the traffic is going to be a nightmare, and then constantly complain about it after they have moved to the Katy area.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Because of the area. It's a good area and I don't want to move from it. It has a good quality of life, too. Why do people live in the Woodlands, Kingwood, Pearland, or Sugar Land? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 So you're saying the rest of us in the city lives in slums? Personally, all that couldn't keep me IN the 'burbs. The quality of life improves significantly when you move towards town. You gain several hours a week of your life, your commuting costs are next to nothing, and you're able to enjoy more time with your kids or send them to some of the better private schools here and STILL be able to take them to a movie or dinner at night AFTER they do their homework. Ricco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 BTW: My work is all over town, so I have to drive most frequently. Depending on what's going on, I'll generally park somewhere along the line and ride metro in. (The valet's generally know me well enough to keep my car downstairs if I tell them I'll only be a few minutes. God bless them. Ricco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 So you're saying the rest of us in the city lives in slums? Personally, all that couldn't keep me IN the 'burbs. The quality of life improves significantly when you move towards town. You gain several hours a week of your life, your commuting costs are next to nothing, and you're able to enjoy more time with your kids or send them to some of the better private schools here and STILL be able to take them to a movie or dinner at night AFTER they do their homework. Ricco I totally agree Ricco. When I moved to Houston my office was in Westchase so I lived in Westchase. Then my social life started to center around Montrose and other inner loop areas. Then my office moved to the Galleria area and my short commute more than doubled. After my recent move into town, I have about the same drive to work but am much closer to the rest of my life outside of work. I'm averaging an extra 4-5 hours per week now that I used to spend driving between the inner parts of town and home in Westchase that I now have free to do other things. Granted I don't have kids to take care of in the evenings but that extra time is worth every penny of extra housing costs I'm paying. And those extra housing costs are being offset by an estimated $25 per month in saved gas and about $30 per month in saved tolls. But, to each his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceCity Posted September 2, 2004 Author Share Posted September 2, 2004 I want to take this to work, but the boss won't let me park it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 Just felt the need to add my two cents...I grew up in the southwest part of town (Westbury/Bellaire). Why didn't I stay there when I got married and had kids? One reason, the houses were cheaper and nicer and newer in the 'burbs, there was less crime in the 'burbs, and the schools were much better than HISD. So, there you have it, affordable housing, better schools, and less crime. I realized that there are trade-offs; worse commute, less entertainment (arts, music, zoo), but I knew these things going in. If I was single again, I'd probably live in Downtown Houston in a heartbeat, because I loved the excitement of the city, but when you have kids, other considerations come into play. (I'm guessing I'm a lot older than others posting to this site!) HA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 Kids will change your life and your urban attitude. It did for me. That's the challenge with inner loop living. It's great for adults (DINKS and Singles) but when you have kids there are a lot of other challenges.My friends without kids say "I'll NEVER live outside Loop 610". I used to say that, too. Then reality sets in.School, finding a decent house in a good hood, nice neighbors for the kids to play with, etc. Inner loop Houston can't support the traditional family unit right now, but hopefully it will one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westguy Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 One option is missing. Remember, Houston is a cowtown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincoRanch-HoustonResident Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Houston City Limits has good quality of life, too. Its just that I like where I live. And so do most other people who live in suburbs, because, in some case, they choose to live there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Inner loop Houston can't support the traditional family unit right now, but hopefully it will one day.I tend to disagree with this statement, simply because there are a lot of nice inner loop neighborhoods with lots of kids living in "traditional" families, as well as some not so traditional (but equally loving and stable) family units. Yes maybe the houses aren't as new or as affordable and some of the HISD schools aren't as good (although there are some excellent HISD schools inside the loop), but I don't think you can say that the inner loop neighborhoods can't support families when thousands of families live in those neighborhoods. Yes, maybe downtown and midtown aren't prime places to raise children yet, but lots of places here are.And you are right, having kids does change you. If I ever have any I might feel differently, although at this point if I ever do find a partner and we decide to adopt children, I think we'd definitely give careful consideration to some of the nicer inner loop areas. But at the moment, that's all still a long way off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanLandscape Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 One option is missing. Remember, Houston is a cowtown. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But Huntsville got the statue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 It's about being priced out, and having to settle for less house or townhome living inside Loop 610. Upper middle class housing really does not exist in the city. There are plenty of 2/1 with a one car garage optoins with 1200sf out there, but it tough to live in that with children. Timbergroe Manner is a good example of this size home. This article in the Chron sums it up pretty well.http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2673461INSIDE THE LOOPFinding happiness as an Inner LooperMany young buyers don't want to give up the perks of living near downtown, but few can find what they need inside the Loop for less than $200,000Buying inside the Loop can be a personal statement. Dara and Laura Childs wanted to hang on to the perks of living in the middle of the city. They lived in a 1,550-square-foot house in the Houston Heights until a baby boy was born. Suddenly the home felt too small. There was no nursery for 3-week-old Noah. "His crib was at the top of the stairs," Laura said. The couple started looking for a house in February and closed in April on an 1,840-square-foot home in Timbergrove Manor. They paid $172,000 for the house, but they knew it was not even close to their taste. It would take two-and-a-half months of remodeling and an additional $90,000. --------Close to 300K for 1,800 sf. is no bargain. And even then, the schools are questionable, and the area is gem or junk. That's why people end up in the burbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 I want to take this to work, but the boss won't let me park it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You might get a few stare if you used it on the freways. I would love to take the bus or ride my bike or even carpool but so far those options are not open to me at this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 I just bought my patio home (townhome with no common walls) for $180K. It has three bedrooms and two baths with a two car garage.It is just north of I-10 west of TC Jester. Its before you cross the big bridge on TC Jester.This neighborhood is being revitalized. Most of the homes are in a delapidated state.I work at 290 and Hollister and drive from the above location. I use to live by Westheimer and Kirby in the Upper Kirby area. The move to the new house has cut off 15 minutes of my commute. Plus I'm going the opposite way that most traffic is going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowbrow Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 If my offer on this condo goes through I'll soon be taking the montrose>59>westpark way into Westchase in the morning instead of coming all the way around the beltway from Pearland.Saving a ton in tolls and some in gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 My commute is changing from a combination of driving and taking METRO to a weekly trip to IAH and flight to wherever I'm working that week. And on the occassional week I'm in Houston for work, it will be driving to a client site or when I'm really lucky, walking about 20 feet from the bed to my desk to tele-commute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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