Thanks for making me realize why Houston is such a hell-hole.

Deputies: Truck hits cyclist, drags him for mile in East Harris

http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....16932.html

Given the amount of open space here and the wide setbacks of most buildings, even inside the loop, there is plenty of space for pretty generous sidewalks and bike paths along many streets. To me it seems like more of a political problem (i.e. lack of a plan, vision, etc.) and an entrenched way of thinking that seems to rule here. “That’s the way it has always be done.” The comments of Mr. Seegers exemplify this mindset. It’s time to grow up Houston; this isn’t some little honky-tonk, two-bit town anymore.

It is amazing how sidewalks don’t seem to be a priority in the city. And it is just as much an “urban” problem as it is a “suburban” one. I suspect the homeowner is responsible. I’ve never checked. But if so, commercial property owners would be responsible as well. And the city should force the issue. Maybe Gene Locke will. Annise Parker will be too busy running interference for her buddies at V&E as they continue to try to “Stop Ashby” and of course the money the city could be spent for sidewalks, regardless of who should or should not pay for them, is better spent defending spoiled brats and their law firm.

The study says that arterials are a factor in more than half of the pedestrian deaths. That includes walking along or crossing an arterial. They allow cars to travel at high rates of speed, and they are not built for pedestrians, so they are “dangerous by design.”

And try to get HPD to even go stick a ticket under the windshield wiper. It is particularly bad in Montrose with all the townhouses that the homeowners obviously use the garage for an extra room.

And try to get Sue Lovell’s office to return a phone call about it. That was one of many reasons why I didn’t vote for her.

It’s particularly amazing to see when there’s a ton of room in front of the car in the driveway, and tons of street parking right in front of the house.

The is the first place I’ve lived where your car would not be quickly towed away for doing that in any central city neighborhood.

Houston’s pedestrian infrastructure is bad even in places where walking could be a feasible alternative. Sidewalks are broken or non-existent, crosswalks are slim to scarce, streets are too wide with traffic traveling at high speeds and blocks are too long. Even in Midtown the situation is pretty pathetic given Houston is the 4th largest city in the US.