Bike Commuters Identified The Need

• 1,300+ multifamily residential units built in the last decade
• Adaptive re-use and mixed use projects: renewable energy start-ups, experiential art exhibits, locally sourced shopping
• Encourage further mixed-use, mixed-income development along the Washington Avenue corridor for pedestrians and cyclists
• Improved access for 30,000+ residents of Greater Heights to several transit stops and mobility routes
• Multi-modal connections between: Cleveland Park, West End Park, Lawrence Park
• Reinforces Bayou Greenways Initiative by connecting M-K-T Trail and White Oak Bayou to Buffalo Bayou Trail
• Provides safer access to schools, churces and businesses along the corridor
• Serves as foundation to Blossom St. Signature Entrance to Memorial Park
• Complements programmed transportation projects including the proposed Patterson St. Bridge, the Shepherd/Durham rehabilitation
• Leverages existing infrastructure including the low traffic Patterson Bridge at IH-10 and the Jackson Hill St pedestrian bridges from Cleveland Park to Buffalo Bayou

In addition to the reconfiguration of the streets, there will be several traffic safety measures:

1. At the intersection of Scotland St and Jackson Hill St, there will be improvements for the landing of the bridge that connects to Buffalo Bayou Park
2. At the I-10 feeder intersection, a “bike box” similar to those on Woodhead St will be implemented to allow bikers to advance to the front of the intersection.
3. At Inker St, a series of concrete curbs will facilitate crossing and increase safety
4. At Washington Ave, the pedestrian safety islands and modal filter will allow for easier crossing and reduce congestion along Washington Ave.

Twelve years ago, on a milestone birthday, I made what seemed like a wild decision: I ditched my cars and went bike-only in Houston, Texas. Really! I sold the Red Rocket Volvo S60T5, passed along the Lemon Jeep my dad left me, and never looked back. Best. Move. Ever.

I’m lucky—I live in the best neighborhood in the city, with everything I need close by. I didn’t need a car to get to work (I was traveling every other week anyway), and I discovered the freedom of the bike/bus combo on METRO. And here’s the truth: unless Houston gets serious about getting people out of cars and onto METRO, we’re in real trouble.

But let’s be honest—riding a bike here is terrifying. If you don’t believe me, hop on one and you’ll see. Drivers are glued to their phones, flying through red lights and right turns like bikers and pedestrians don’t exist. Houston leads the nation in drunk driving, road rage, and that ugly “us-versus-them” mindset where people in cars think they own the streets.

And yet, bikers? We’re some of the best citizens this city has. We vote. We show up for our communities. We volunteer. We love the outdoors. We want a Houston that works for everyone. That’s why it’s heartbreaking to watch progress slip away—bike lanes ripped out, sidewalks left broken, intersections designed for chaos instead of safety. And sorry, but shaving ninety seconds off someone’s drive home to Katy is not worth a single life.

I’ll never forget pedaling home from Walmart one afternoon with a bag of garden seeds, passing the ghost bike at Thompson and Washington. Except it wasn’t there anymore. A car had smashed into it, leaving only engine parts. A guy nearby told me, “That ghost bike dude got killed twice in Houston. Be careful.” That moment hit me hard.

My daily reality is navigating some of the most dangerous intersections in Houston:

• Washington at Patterson—pure chaos.
   
• Memorial by St. Thomas—blocked sidewalks, illegal U-turns, and cars flying onto Memorial without stopping.
   
• Shepherd at West Dallas—drivers never yield. Ever.
  Even smart redesigns like Allen Parkway at Shepherd don’t help when no one respects a red light or stop sign.
   

This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s life or death. And it doesn’t have to be this way.

That’s why I’m urging the Mayor and City Council to move forward on the Patterson Bikeway. This isn’t just about bikes—it’s about slowing the Jackson Hill racetrack cut-through, saving homeowners the cost of speed bumps, and making our streets livable again. The project would already be here if the last contractor hadn’t failed. Let’s not miss another chance.

I met the Mayor this spring at Cleveland Park. First time we’d ever talked, and I liked him. He was easygoing, genuine. I believe he can be convinced to push Houston forward—not backward—on this.

So let’s make it clear: better bikeways mean safer streets, stronger communities, and a healthier Houston.

Gracias, Thank You—

Brian Bottorff

#11 on the Houston Bike App for Most Trips in a Year 🚴‍♂️

Founder, Friends of Cleveland Park 

Precinct 52 Chair : Jackson Hil+Cleveland Park=Magnolia Grove