I'd be willing to bet those employees didn't live off 11th street. Or own businesses on 11th
11th Street Bike Lanes Update
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Last: 3 days ago by Ryan the Temp
One of the main city employees pushing it lives/lived between 11th and 12th and Yale and Shepherd.
He used that as a reason residents supported it.
He resigned when Whitmire came in.
The fact Turner paused the process tells you how much opposition there was to this but it was always going to get pushed through.
And the biggest F U of all was doing pour in place curbs instead of pre-cast. I asked and they said it was the same amount but they knew undoing poured in place would be much more costly than pulling up pre-cast.
That's when I really knew what a massive ram rod it was.
He used that as a reason residents supported it.
He resigned when Whitmire came in.
The fact Turner paused the process tells you how much opposition there was to this but it was always going to get pushed through.
And the biggest F U of all was doing pour in place curbs instead of pre-cast. I asked and they said it was the same amount but they knew undoing poured in place would be much more costly than pulling up pre-cast.
That's when I really knew what a massive ram rod it was.
It was explicitly designed that way for that reason.Quote:
And the biggest F U of all was doing pour in place curbs instead of pre-cast. I asked and they said it was the same amount but they knew undoing poured in place would be much more costly than pulling up pre-cast.
"well, we can't undo it because just look at what it will cost!!!"Ryan the Temp said:It was explicitly designed that way for that reason.Quote:
And the biggest F U of all was doing pour in place curbs instead of pre-cast. I asked and they said it was the same amount but they knew undoing poured in place would be much more costly than pulling up pre-cast.
I was told and I believe in all of the presentations they showed they would be using pre-cast.
I remember thinking it could be easily undone.
Then when I saw the curb pouring machine I knew we were fooked for a good while.
That's when I asked the cost different in the two and they said it was the same and decided to go this route instead.
They knew it wasn't a popular decision and cared more about their legacy than what the people living in the area wanted.
I remember thinking it could be easily undone.
Then when I saw the curb pouring machine I knew we were fooked for a good while.
That's when I asked the cost different in the two and they said it was the same and decided to go this route instead.
They knew it wasn't a popular decision and cared more about their legacy than what the people living in the area wanted.
I'm kind of ambivalent on the bike lane component but the new design is much safer. My kids cross 11th multiple times a day so I'm all for the protected crosswalks and reduced number of lanes.
Absolutely! Everyone that lives near Nicholson or that is on the trail has been for that for years. I walk the trail almost everyday and been damn near run over 5x.wessimo said:
I'm kind of ambivalent on the bike lane component but the new design is much safer. My kids cross 11th multiple times a day so I'm all for the protected crosswalks and reduced number of lanes.
There's not a person in the neighborhood that doesn't like what they've done at Nicholson and 11th.
It's awesome and extremely necessary.
That point was also made many times to the City that were okay with what we did there but we didn't need the bike lanes.
In fact, my argument to the City centered around being fine with lane reductions between Shepherd and Yale but no center lane and not opening up additional lanes at Yale and Shepherd to get more traffic through the lights was foolish.
Instead, we got bike lanes that nobody uses…
It's awesome and extremely necessary.
That point was also made many times to the City that were okay with what we did there but we didn't need the bike lanes.
In fact, my argument to the City centered around being fine with lane reductions between Shepherd and Yale but no center lane and not opening up additional lanes at Yale and Shepherd to get more traffic through the lights was foolish.
Instead, we got bike lanes that nobody uses…
My favorite part of it is being behind Manueala from Guatemala that thinks the stop for pedestrian signs are some sort of fancy Estadios Unidos stop signs and ****ing stops at every *********one of them, causing major traffic conflagrations.
Has happened to me twice recently.
Has happened to me twice recently.
They should have designed it the same way Shepherd/Durham was designed. Granted, I still never see bicyclists on Shepherd/Durham, but the design is excellent, safe, and easy to maintain.
I feel like there isn't really space for that, though? But I do agree that design is better. The design of 11th makes bike lanes virtually impossible to maintain even if the city wanted to or tried, which they won't.Ryan the Temp said:
They should have designed it the same way Shepherd/Durham was designed. Granted, I still never see bicyclists on Shepherd/Durham, but the design is excellent, safe, and easy to maintain.
My opinion, should have been one lane each way with a turn lane the length of that stretch vs. the bike lanes.
Signed someone who doesn't live there but up until this week drove 11th almost daily.
It should be legal to run over any one that refuses to push the button to activate the crosswalk light on 11th.
htxag09 said:Ryan the Temp said:
They should have designed it the same way Shepherd/Durham was designed. Granted, I still never see bicyclists on Shepherd/Durham, but the design is excellent, safe, and easy to maintain.
I feel like there isn't really space for that, though? But I do agree that design is better. The design of 11th makes bike lanes virtually impossible to maintain even if the city wanted to or tried, which they won't.
My opinion, should have been one lane each way with a turn lane the length of that stretch vs. the bike lanes.
Signed someone who doesn't live there but up until this week drove 11th almost daily.
There is enough space to install shared use paths (combined bike lane/sidewalk) like on Shepherd and still have a center turn lane, but the people pushing the project could only sell it at a lower cost and what we got was the result of the lower cost, so their insurance policy was poured curbs instead of modular barriers. Had modular barriers been used, the bike lanes would already be gone.
I'd prefer if drivers and runners/walkers just look for each other and work it out with realistic yielding to each other.
I don't mind the light, but the worst is when you have someone who presses the light and then waits until it turns red even though cars have stopped.
Then the cars sit there because the light is red even though there's nobody looking to cross 11th.
I don't use the light because I think it's easier to manage without it but I get someone with a stroller or kids wanting to use it to play it safe.
I just slow down my run until cars are clearly stopping and then clear the crossing so the cars can get back to moving.
I just wish more drivers would realize it's a heavy pedestrian crossing using awareness and common sense.
I also wish runners and walkers would pay more attention to the cars. On Friday evening we were going to dinner. As I pulled up to the crossing there was a guy approaching the crosswalk. I stopped assuming he was going to cross. He didn't hit the light button The dipsheet seriously stopped right before the crosswalk and looked at his phone and never any vehicles for 15 seconds. I just drove through.
Ain't nobody got time for someone like that.
I don't mind the light, but the worst is when you have someone who presses the light and then waits until it turns red even though cars have stopped.
Then the cars sit there because the light is red even though there's nobody looking to cross 11th.
I don't use the light because I think it's easier to manage without it but I get someone with a stroller or kids wanting to use it to play it safe.
I just slow down my run until cars are clearly stopping and then clear the crossing so the cars can get back to moving.
I just wish more drivers would realize it's a heavy pedestrian crossing using awareness and common sense.
I also wish runners and walkers would pay more attention to the cars. On Friday evening we were going to dinner. As I pulled up to the crossing there was a guy approaching the crosswalk. I stopped assuming he was going to cross. He didn't hit the light button The dipsheet seriously stopped right before the crosswalk and looked at his phone and never any vehicles for 15 seconds. I just drove through.
Ain't nobody got time for someone like that.
BMX Bandit said:
It should be legal to run over any one that refuses to push the button to activate the crosswalk light on 11th.
Yeah, that's a total cluster from both sides.
Everyone was trained to stop for the crosswalk traffic so now nobody knows if we should keep driving assuming pedestrians will wait for the light or stop if you see anyone.
Chewy said:
I'd prefer if drivers and runners/walkers just look for each other and work it out with realistic yielding to each other.
Houston drivers don't acknowledge crosswalks if there aren't 50 signs and a zig zag gauntlet of concrete curbs like on 11th or a raised speed bump crossing like on Heights. I cross TC Jester at a crosswalk often and I'd be dead if I didn't wait for all oncoming traffic to clear.
People were complaining about no light...and now that there is a light. I like the light and generally use it if traffic is heavy. But I don't use it plenty of times too if I don't need to.
But I agree with Chewy - pay attention and use common sense! Drivers AND pedestrians/cyclists. As a driver, I'll always stop if I see you - but come on with it!
Possibly to BMX's point...I will say that at night and dusk, it's really hard for an old guy like me to see pedestrians/runners/bikers...and some don't slow down at all or seem to perceive that it's a major road crossing. Push the damn button to be safe/sure I see you! Someone is going to get hit and it's going to suck.
But I agree with Chewy - pay attention and use common sense! Drivers AND pedestrians/cyclists. As a driver, I'll always stop if I see you - but come on with it!
Possibly to BMX's point...I will say that at night and dusk, it's really hard for an old guy like me to see pedestrians/runners/bikers...and some don't slow down at all or seem to perceive that it's a major road crossing. Push the damn button to be safe/sure I see you! Someone is going to get hit and it's going to suck.
drumboy said:Chewy said:
I'd prefer if drivers and runners/walkers just look for each other and work it out with realistic yielding to each other.
Houston drivers don't acknowledge crosswalks if there aren't 50 signs and a zig zag gauntlet of concrete curbs like on 11th or a raised speed bump crossing like on Heights. I cross TC Jester at a crosswalk often and I'd be dead if I didn't wait for all oncoming traffic to clear.
Yeah. I've been running basically daily for 10 or so years now. At my old place I used the crosswalks at Washington / westcott to get to memorial. Now I use the crosswalk at tc jester to get to the white oak trail.
I can count on one hand the amount of cars that have slowed to let me cross when I'm sitting at those crosswalks. Crosswalks mean absolutely nothing to 99% of Houston drivers.
Quote:
I'd prefer if drivers and runners/walkers just look for each other and work it out with realistic yielding to each other.
its a designated cross walk with a system in place to make the realistic yielding much easier. there is really no excuse to not use it.
MAS444 said:
Possibly to BMX's point...I will say that at night and dusk, it's really hard for an old guy like me to see pedestrians/runners/bikers...and some don't slow down at all or seem to perceive that it's a major road crossing. Push the damn button to be safe/sure I see you! Someone is going to get hit and it's going to suck.
Yep me too, especially if there are headlights pointing at me and it's not well-lit (White Oak Blvd where the path crosses comes to mind)
htxag09 said:drumboy said:Chewy said:
I'd prefer if drivers and runners/walkers just look for each other and work it out with realistic yielding to each other.
Houston drivers don't acknowledge crosswalks if there aren't 50 signs and a zig zag gauntlet of concrete curbs like on 11th or a raised speed bump crossing like on Heights. I cross TC Jester at a crosswalk often and I'd be dead if I didn't wait for all oncoming traffic to clear.
Yeah. I've been running basically daily for 10 or so years now. At my old place I used the crosswalks at Washington / westcott to get to memorial. Now I use the crosswalk at tc jester to get to the white oak trail.
I can count on one hand the amount of cars that have slowed to let me cross when I'm sitting at those crosswalks. Crosswalks mean absolutely nothing to 99% of Houston drivers.
I'm familiar with those as well as Shepherd/Durham and hardly anyone yields to people crossing at the crosswalks.
I thought about asking the speed trap cop (Matt Davis formerly busted for overtime fraud years ago and made $170K just in overtime alone in 2024 now reassigned to patrol) if he'd go a quarter mile north to enforce the pedestrian safety laws, but figured he'd give me a ticket for no front license plate (like he gave my wife when pulling her over for not speeding).
Sounds like someone needs to just put a giant guerilla sign up that says "hit the button to cross you ******s"
I'll agree most drivers in this city could give a sheet less about yielding to pedestrians. However, I'm always pleasantly surprised at the drivers that yield to pedestrians on the Nicholson trail between 8th and 16th.
It's why I don't mess with the pedestrian light at 11th. At worst it's 2-3 cars and then one stops.
On the other streets, it doesn't have the traffic of 11th, but cars routinely stop to let people cross on the trail when the car has no stop sign, cross walk, or yield sign.
My experience is running or walking the dogs during the day.
It's the rare exception in this city.
It's why I don't mess with the pedestrian light at 11th. At worst it's 2-3 cars and then one stops.
On the other streets, it doesn't have the traffic of 11th, but cars routinely stop to let people cross on the trail when the car has no stop sign, cross walk, or yield sign.
My experience is running or walking the dogs during the day.
It's the rare exception in this city.
Chewy said:
However, I'm always pleasantly surprised at the drivers that yield to pedestrians on the Nicholson trail between 8th and 16th.
I can't stand when people take it for granted and cross without even looking if a car is coming. It's like they've never lived in Houston before.
I always stop for people trying to cross... When I can see. But there is a distinct 20-30 mins at dawn/dusk where the sun is just in the absolute worst spot (depending on what direction you are driving) and unblockable with the visor.
Driving up S Shepherd in Rice Village south of 59 there are "Stop for Pedestrian" signs up at every cross street. No Abuelas there thinking they are normal stop signs, like in the Heights, so people blow on past 'em.
I and another car were lead dogs coming up Shepherd from Rice and a lady on her phone stepped out onto Shepherd without even glancing our way. We hit the brakes and damn near got rear-ended. I was this close to scraping a Commandante Hidalgo voter out of my Ranch Hand. She either didn't care about life or used the Force on us like Obi-Wan, but she's not long for this earth doing that.
I and another car were lead dogs coming up Shepherd from Rice and a lady on her phone stepped out onto Shepherd without even glancing our way. We hit the brakes and damn near got rear-ended. I was this close to scraping a Commandante Hidalgo voter out of my Ranch Hand. She either didn't care about life or used the Force on us like Obi-Wan, but she's not long for this earth doing that.
She's an idiot for thinking houston drivers are paying attention and following the law of stopping when seeing someone waiting at or entering a crosswalk
One minor piece of good news - The N. Shepherd/Durham Phase 2 project is going to remove the median on W. 11th between N. Shepherd and Dorothy. This will allow for left turns on/off Dorothy again. I'm sure Bakery Donut will appreciate that.
W. 11th westbound from Dorothy will be a full two lanes to the intersection. Eastbound it will be two lanes as well with a 6-foot shared use path on the south side of W. 11th, but instead of tapering into one lane, my understanding is the right lane will terminate as a right turn lane onto Dorothy. That change might start feeding more cars to that hungry bike lane curb.
W. 11th westbound from Dorothy will be a full two lanes to the intersection. Eastbound it will be two lanes as well with a 6-foot shared use path on the south side of W. 11th, but instead of tapering into one lane, my understanding is the right lane will terminate as a right turn lane onto Dorothy. That change might start feeding more cars to that hungry bike lane curb.
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