I saw this idea somewhere else, thought I'd post it here too. The Vulnerable Road Users Ordinance that was passed by Houston’s City Council requires motorists to give 3 feet of space when passing a vulnerable road user (cyclists, pedestrians, etc.) This ordinance makes it impossible for a motorist to legally pass a cyclist on Main Street in Downtown or Midtown. Thus, should Main Street be closed to cars in downtown and midtown and be given the title of a pedestrian and bike only street?
Or you could close it to cyclists. I'd be down with closing it to cars actually. It's already a pain-in-the-ass road to drive on because of all the left-hand turns you can't take. I think you might want to make one or both of the neighboring toads two-way though to compensate for the loss. Of course, I'm sure there are businesses all along that road that would strongly object.
No, just don't pass cyclists. Are pedestrians allowed to walk on Main Street anytime or place other than crossing at intersections? What would closing Main Street to cars in Downtown do to rush-hour traffic in a top-four city with one of the longest commute times in the country?
Yeah, this sounds like something the idiots in Austin would welcome. This ain't Austin. Give me my cars and plastic bags.
There are many streets parallel to Main you could go on. It would be for the benefit of downtown life.
Have you seen the businesses on Main Street along the rail in both Downtown & Midtown? It's terrible. If business is already bad with motorist traffic passing by everyday, how could making it strictly for cycling and foot traffic make it any better?
Now that I think about it, Bagby would probably be a better candidate since it has a number of businesses on it people walk to already, with a high amount of foot traffic. BlackFinn, Farrago, Cyclone Anaya's, Shot Bar, Red Door, Wonderbar, Drinkery, Dogwood, and this doesn't include stuff that is just a block off like Layal, Majorca, Front Porch Pub, Pub Fiction, Coco's Crepes, etc.
I would love that idea...making the area..really walking friendly...just would have to dodge trains and not cars as well...lol..but really i do like the idea
It's not a very good idea. IIRC they tried to do something like that here in Chicago with State St. and it was a disaster. You need to have cars with pedestrian activity, cabs needs to have access to streets like that. Making it pedestrian-only st isn't the best option to make a place vibrant.
I hardly ever have to drive on Main, but God, do I hate cyclists. The real reason we should all hate Lance Armstrong is for opening that Pandora's Box.
Yeah that's definitely one example. There are some examples out there, but there are also examples of why cars/cabs/trolleys are needed for creating a vibrant experience in districts. I personally don't think it would work that well in Houston.
Have you been downtown lately? No one drives on Main Street. Everyone drives on Travis and Fannin instead because of the rail. Closing would have almost no impact. There's a large chunk of it downtown that's already closed to cars as it is.
I think Main Street should be closed to cars AND bikes. It's much more annoying dodging bikes than cars as a pedestrian since bikers have no respect for anyone.
