Energy Finance

I am a big fan of Houston Mayor Bill White. I think he should be voted King-For-Life of Houston.

However, the one thing he has not moved on is a Walk Houston ad campaign, to educate motorists to right-of-ways of pedestrians, and to encourage more pedestrian and bike traffic. Let’s follow the example of New York.

The mayor there will close two lanes to cars on Broadway in midtown to make way for a bike lane and a pedestrian walkway with cafe tables. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

The esplanade, called Broadway Boulevard, will run from 42nd Street eight blocks south to Herald Square. The project will reduce traffic and pollution by encouraging bike riding and other alternatives to cars. Planters filled with flowers will separate the pedestrian areas from car traffic.

Our Houston sidewalks are much too narrow. A tv and newspaper ad campaign on the benefits of walking (say $10 million) and one lane of traffic losed on Westheimer, from Highway 6 to the 610 Loop, (say another $5 million for paint) would be a great start.

Yes, yes, it would slightly squeeze traffic on the chosen side, but, so? We don’t really need all those lanes on Westheimer, do we?

This could be a start to reduce car traffic and pollution, encourage biking and walking, reduce traffic and pollution, and bikers and pedestrians will be fitter.

What harm could it do?

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