Houston Public MediaApr 2, 2025

BikeHouston's executive director said he believes Houstonians support more cyclist infrastructure -- not less. His comments came the day after Mayor Whitmire criticized the backlash from cyclist & pedestrian advocates over the Austin Street bike lane removal.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2025/04/02/517606/houston-bike-lane-removal-bikehouston-john-whitmire-criticism/

#CityOfHouston #HelloHouston #Infrastructure #Local #News #AustinStreetBikeLanes #BikeHouston #HoustonBikeLanes #HoustonMayorJohnWhitmire #MontroseBoulevard

BikeHouston director critical of Mayor Whitmire’s removal of bike lanes

Houston's cyclist community has continued to push back against Houston's removal of bike infrastructure in the city. BikeHouston Executive Director Joe Cutrufo says Mayor Whitmire has a “moral obligation” to ensure that residents are safe, regardless of their mode of transportation.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMar 26, 2025

More than 20 protesters lined the Heights Boulevard bike lane Tuesday afternoon, days after Houston Public Works removed physical protections known as “armadillos” that separated cyclists from vehicular traffic. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2025/03/25/516896/houston-cycling-advocates-protest-removal-of-safety-features-along-heights-boulevard/

#CityOfHouston #Houston #HoustonMayor #Local #News #Protests #Traffic #Transportation #BikeHouston #HeightsBoulevardBikeLane #HoustonBikeLanes #HoustonMayorJohnWhitmire #HoustonPublicWorks #StreetSafety

Houston cycling advocates protest removal of safety features along Heights Boulevard

After Houston Public Works removed protections from the Heights Boulevard bike lane, more than 20 demonstrators lined the street Tuesday in protest. Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s administration says the protections were removed because of “safety issues.”

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMar 21, 2025

Houston Public Works removed cyclist safety protections, known as “armadillos,” that separated a bike lane from vehicular traffic along Heights Boulevard from Interstate 10 through Washington Avenue.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2025/03/21/516616/houston-public-works-removes-protectors-along-heights-boulevard-bike-lane-because-of-safety-issues/

#CityOfHouston #Houston #HoustonMayor #Infrastructure #Local #News #PublicSafety #Transportation #AbbieKamin #BikeHouston #HeightsBoulevard #HeightsBoulevardBikeLane #HoustonPublicWorks #ProtectedBikeLanes

Houston Public Works removes protectors along Heights Boulevard bike lane because of ‘safety issues’

According to the Federal Highway Administration, adding physical protectors separating cyclists from vehicular traffic can reduce bicycle-vehicle crashes by up to 53%.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMar 6, 2025

A critical link in Houston’s bike-lane network between downtown and Midtown reopened Thursday morning after reporting from Houston Public Media and complaints from BikeHouston.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2025/03/06/515427/houston-austin-street-bike-lanes-reopen-closed-prematurely-by-construction-contractor/

#CityOfHouston #Development #Houston #Infrastructure #Local #News #Transportation #AustinStreetBikeLane #BikeLanes #BikeHouston #ConstructionProjects #HoustonPublicWorks #Midtown

Houston’s Austin Street bike lanes reopen after being ‘closed prematurely’ by construction crews

Austin Street and its bike lanes, which connects downtown to Midtown as well as the Museum District and Texas Medical Center, were unexpectedly blocked in late February by construction. After reporting from Houston Public Media and complaints from advocates, the city took action.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMar 5, 2025

Houston’s key bike lane on Austin Street has been blocked by construction—with no warning and no detour. BikeHouston is calling out the city and says it violated its own rules on closures.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2025/03/05/515352/houston-austin-street-bike-lanes-unexpectedly-blocked-for-construction-project-advocates-cry-foul/

#CityOfHouston #Houston #Local #News #Transportation #BikeHouston #BikeLanes #HoustonCyclists #Midtown

Houston’s Austin Street bike lanes unexpectedly blocked for construction project; advocates cry foul

BikeHouston executive director Joe Cutrufo said the nonprofit did not receive advance notice of the street closure and no detours or diversions have been provided for users of the bike lane.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaFeb 19, 2025

Wider lanes for cars and no shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians — those are the main changes driven by Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s administration for the upcoming reconstruction of Antoine Drive.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2025/02/19/514260/antoine-drive-project-changed-to-have-wider-car-lanes-no-shared-use-path-for-cyclists-pedestrians/

#CityOfHouston #Houston #HoustonMayor #Local #News #Transportation #AbbieKamin #AmyPeck #AntoineDrive #BikeHouston #HoustonMayorJohnWhitmire

Antoine Drive project changed to have wider car lanes, no shared-use path for cyclists, pedestrians

After Houston Mayor John Whitmire called for additional data collection, the project managers spiked plans for a shared-use path because there weren’t enough people riding bikes along the busy street. “We don't justify building bridges over rivers based on the number of people swimming across,” argued a cycling advocate.

Houston Public Media
Show threadlegraLeGraAug 14, 2024

@houstonpublicmedia

My brother works at a restaurant in the Galleria area of #Houston — he commutes by #bike #bikeHouston from the 3rdWard

Former Mayor #SylvesterTurner stopped by & my bro thanked Turner for making his commute safer. Current mayor JW is trying to undo that good work unfortunately

ST installed tons of safe bike lanes and bike infrastructure all around Houston, ushering in better transit for bike folks & walkers

He’s excited to see ST’s next chapter, maybe in Congress #TX18

Houston Public MediaJun 14, 2024

Houston will soon be without a bike-sharing network for the first time in more than a decade.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2024/06/14/490790/houston-bcycle-to-shut-down-at-end-of-june-after-12-year-ride/

#CityOfHouston #Houston #Local #News #Transportation #BikeSharing #BikeHouston #HoustonBCycle #HoustonBikeShareProgram #Metro

Houston BCycle to shut down at end of June after 12-year ride

The nonprofit bike-sharing network had planned to keep operating until METRO, the region's transit provider, could launch a system of its own. It is unclear whether the latter will happen.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMar 13, 2024

Unsafe street conditions in Houston are not only resulting in fatalities and serious injuries among children, but they may also be contributing to kids’ physical and mental health problems, according to a Rice University study.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/public-safety/2024/03/13/480499/houston-street-conditions-contribute-to-fatalities-as-well-as-health-problems-among-children-study-finds/

#Houston #Infrastructure #Local #News #PublicSafety #Transportation #BakerInstituteForPublicPolicy #BikeHouston #LINKHouston #PedestrianFatalities #RiceUniversity #TrafficFatalities

Houston street conditions contribute to fatalities as well as health problems among children, study finds

Twenty-one children in Houston died while using active transportation modes such as walking and cycling between 2018-23, according to a recent study by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. The study authors noted that hazardous road conditions for children likely are contributing to a national trend in which kids have become considerably less active.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMar 13, 2024

The contentious redesign of 11th Street in the Heights, which is under review by new Houston Mayor John Whitmire, has landed the city a regional award for transportation infrastructure.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2024/03/13/480460/houston-awarded-for-11th-street-redesign-as-new-mayor-reviews-its-effectiveness/

#Awards #CityOfHouston #Houston #HoustonMayor #Infrastructure #Local #News #PublicSafety #Traffic #Transportation #11thStreetRedesign #BikeHouston #DownHouseHoustonHeights #HoustonMayorJohnWhitmire #HoustonPublicWorks #LINKHouston

Houston awarded for 11th Street redesign as new mayor reviews its effectiveness

Houston Mayor John Whitmire is re-evaluating a contentious street safety project in the Heights that was completed under the previous administration. The initiative, which added bicycle lanes and reduced space for cars and trucks, was recognized by the Texas chapter of the American Public Works Association for its success in "improving infrastructure and quality of life."

Houston Public Media