Despite Houston's reputation for sprawl, the city has made impressive efforts to build out its bike infrastructure.
BikeHouston's new executive director, Joe Cutrufo, sees his new home city as "a place brimming with potential to become one of the nation’s most bike-friendly cities." Cutrufo spoke with Andy Olin of the Kinder Institute about his choice to take the job and the challenges and opportunities presented by the vast and dynamic city.
One of his top goals is to advocate for the construction of a comprehensive bike network, the key to creating safe streets and encouraging more biking. "Houston is very big on the map in terms of cities with good bike networks and growing bike networks," Cutrufo said. "I see some systemic problems when it comes to expanding bike network, but I see a lot of goodwill." He sees expanding bike infrastructure as a step toward a more equitable and inclusive city, where jobs and opportunities are within reach for people who don't drive. "That’s where I think bicycling can step in as a mode that can give people greater access to opportunity."
Cutrufo is laser-focused on creating a comprehensive and accessible bike network that includes on-street infrastructure, safe bike storage, and effective linkages to job centers, parks, and public transit. He recognizes that this effort has to involve a variety of stakeholders at the neighborhood, city, and county level. "When it comes to creating a shared vision for Houston, in terms of safe streets, and creating dedicated, protected bike networks, there needs to be a shared vision."
FULL STORY: The new BikeHouston boss has a vision for safer streets for all
Cycling Rates Remain High Across the Country
The bike boom that began during the pandemic shows no signs of abating, according to a new report.
Dallas Makes First-Ever Annual Commitment to its Bike Lane Program
Dallas is making new commitments to alternative transportation options—the latest example is found in a budget expenditure for several bike lane projects.
Bikelash Wins in Phoenix
Neighborhood opposition overwhelmed a plan to reduce the number of vehicles lanes on North Central Avenue to make space for a new bike lane, despite evidence of the benefits of the proposed street reconfiguration.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association