AustrianInHou
@austrianinhou.bsky.social
US/Austrian dual citizen who grew up in Austria, now living in Houston. Just want to walk/bike with kids to nearby restaurants/parks without risking our lives.
Reposted by AustrianInHou
When change isn't made, change doesn't happen.
Two months into 2025 and already 21 Houstonians have died while walking and rolling.
The Mayor works daily to make it worse, not better.
Two months into 2025 and already 21 Houstonians have died while walking and rolling.
The Mayor works daily to make it worse, not better.
March 3, 2025 at 4:13 PM
When change isn't made, change doesn't happen.
Two months into 2025 and already 21 Houstonians have died while walking and rolling.
The Mayor works daily to make it worse, not better.
Two months into 2025 and already 21 Houstonians have died while walking and rolling.
The Mayor works daily to make it worse, not better.
After 16 years of living in Houston and driving to work, I decided a few weeks ago to bike to work. And I've been enjoying it so much that even a 28F morning didn't deter me. (and yes, that stylish balaclava was handed to me by my daughter because "it's too cold daddy" 🤪)
February 20, 2025 at 5:42 PM
After 16 years of living in Houston and driving to work, I decided a few weeks ago to bike to work. And I've been enjoying it so much that even a 28F morning didn't deter me. (and yes, that stylish balaclava was handed to me by my daughter because "it's too cold daddy" 🤪)
@mattlanza.bsky.social for us gardeners, is there a good website/tool that calculates the odds of a freeze still happening this season for houston? I would assume mixing the 10-14 day models with some historic data should be able to every day provide a probability for one more freeze this season?
February 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
@mattlanza.bsky.social for us gardeners, is there a good website/tool that calculates the odds of a freeze still happening this season for houston? I would assume mixing the 10-14 day models with some historic data should be able to every day provide a probability for one more freeze this season?
Reposted by AustrianInHou
The city consistently fails to provide safe detours and regularly allows sidewalks and bike lanes to be blocked. Please tell us how pedestrian safety is a top priority? We've got a million examples. Walk and roll with us Houston Public Works. @jayrjordan.bsky.social
.
.
February 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The city consistently fails to provide safe detours and regularly allows sidewalks and bike lanes to be blocked. Please tell us how pedestrian safety is a top priority? We've got a million examples. Walk and roll with us Houston Public Works. @jayrjordan.bsky.social
.
.
Reposted by AustrianInHou
To the extent Whitmire has addressed road safety at all in the first year of his tenure, it has uniformly been to stop, delay, or water down any measures to improve it. He ran on enforcement as the solution (dubious) but hasn't even done anything on that front!
Houston roads deadlier than ever as Whitmire and his critics spar over solutions
Mayor Whitmire has focused on traffic enforcement efforts, but critics note street design is driving many of the fatalities and the city is falling behind.
www.houstonchronicle.com
February 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
To the extent Whitmire has addressed road safety at all in the first year of his tenure, it has uniformly been to stop, delay, or water down any measures to improve it. He ran on enforcement as the solution (dubious) but hasn't even done anything on that front!
Reposted by AustrianInHou
I think it was a success :)
January 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I think it was a success :)
Reposted by AustrianInHou
A couple thoughts on this upcoming winter storm for #Houston. We are now entering the timeframe where forecasting specifics gets modestly more comfortable. Models have been almost uncomfortably stable with the general theme of this storm for 2+ days now. 1/11
January 19, 2025 at 2:27 AM
A couple thoughts on this upcoming winter storm for #Houston. We are now entering the timeframe where forecasting specifics gets modestly more comfortable. Models have been almost uncomfortably stable with the general theme of this storm for 2+ days now. 1/11
Reposted by AustrianInHou
Why speed matters and why Houston needs to lower it's residential speed limit to 20 mph.
January 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Why speed matters and why Houston needs to lower it's residential speed limit to 20 mph.
Reposted by AustrianInHou
What works is traffic calming. What works are safety improvement projects. But the Mayor has cancelled those left and right. www.walkandrollhouston.com/high-injury-...
January 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM
What works is traffic calming. What works are safety improvement projects. But the Mayor has cancelled those left and right. www.walkandrollhouston.com/high-injury-...
Reposted by AustrianInHou
Americans are ~2.5x more likely to die in a crash than a Canadian, ~3.5x more likely than a Spaniard, and ~5x more likely than a Japanese person.
Here are a few of the articles I wrote in 2024 trying to understand why the US is uniquely terrible at road safety.
🧵
Here are a few of the articles I wrote in 2024 trying to understand why the US is uniquely terrible at road safety.
🧵
December 31, 2024 at 1:35 PM
Americans are ~2.5x more likely to die in a crash than a Canadian, ~3.5x more likely than a Spaniard, and ~5x more likely than a Japanese person.
Here are a few of the articles I wrote in 2024 trying to understand why the US is uniquely terrible at road safety.
🧵
Here are a few of the articles I wrote in 2024 trying to understand why the US is uniquely terrible at road safety.
🧵
Reposted by AustrianInHou
It’s interesting that downtown now has a free golf cart shuttle but it still costs a 1.25 to get somewhere from Denver harbor, I guess Whitmire’s equity concerns evaporated now that it’s not about blocking safe bike infrastructure
January 3, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It’s interesting that downtown now has a free golf cart shuttle but it still costs a 1.25 to get somewhere from Denver harbor, I guess Whitmire’s equity concerns evaporated now that it’s not about blocking safe bike infrastructure
Reposted by AustrianInHou
Dropped some truthbombs about cars on teevee today.
January 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Dropped some truthbombs about cars on teevee today.
If Time Magazine had just listened to me... What a missed opportunity 😜
Easiest way to kick Elon out of the Trump admin: Give him a Time Magazine Person of the Year cover with the label "The Shadow President".
December 21, 2024 at 5:08 AM
If Time Magazine had just listened to me... What a missed opportunity 😜
Daylighting British style ... Probably this is also a lot more effective at alerting drivers of the upcoming crosswalk compared to a yellow sign on the side of the road. It's just paint, but paint can still make a positive difference.
December 16, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Daylighting British style ... Probably this is also a lot more effective at alerting drivers of the upcoming crosswalk compared to a yellow sign on the side of the road. It's just paint, but paint can still make a positive difference.
Really insightful video by Ashton Schottler (Type Ashton) about municipal funding differences in the US vs. Germany and how that leads to different outcomes for residents and creates different cities. youtu.be/w-2XqR6YHnU?...
Is Your City Broke? USA vs. Germany
YouTube video by Type Ashton
youtu.be
December 16, 2024 at 6:03 AM
Really insightful video by Ashton Schottler (Type Ashton) about municipal funding differences in the US vs. Germany and how that leads to different outcomes for residents and creates different cities. youtu.be/w-2XqR6YHnU?...
Reposted by AustrianInHou
Hard not to escape the conclusion that the Korean political system is more resilient than the US system
December 14, 2024 at 11:50 AM
Hard not to escape the conclusion that the Korean political system is more resilient than the US system
Reposted by AustrianInHou
WATCH: If you’re fighting for safe bike-lanes & better cities against blatant liars ANYWHERE, watch this DEVASTATING new video using both evidence AND COMMON SENSE by #NOTJUSTBIKES on “the World’s Dumbest Bike-lane Law.” (congrats Ontario, it’s your guy!)
PLEASE share it a lot!
youtu.be/KgFCQ7jEZxI
PLEASE share it a lot!
youtu.be/KgFCQ7jEZxI
The World's Dumbest Bike Lane Law Just Passed in Canada
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
youtu.be
December 13, 2024 at 10:35 PM
WATCH: If you’re fighting for safe bike-lanes & better cities against blatant liars ANYWHERE, watch this DEVASTATING new video using both evidence AND COMMON SENSE by #NOTJUSTBIKES on “the World’s Dumbest Bike-lane Law.” (congrats Ontario, it’s your guy!)
PLEASE share it a lot!
youtu.be/KgFCQ7jEZxI
PLEASE share it a lot!
youtu.be/KgFCQ7jEZxI
Reposted by AustrianInHou
Or we are on bikes in the lanes, slowing down the cars. When the Waugh bike lane ends, I take the lane until crossing over Buffalo bayou and a big truck behind me today laid on his horn. Advocate for bike lanes dude- I don’t want to share the lane with you either!
Do the folks who want to tear up bike lanes not understand that if the cyclists are not in the bike lanes they are in the lanes with the cars? In most cases in their own cars? Which means they are now (noisy, polluting) traffic? More car lanes just means more cars.
Ontario's government has vowed to tear up Toronto's new bike lanes, stoking tensions between the city and its suburbs
December 10, 2024 at 5:13 AM
Or we are on bikes in the lanes, slowing down the cars. When the Waugh bike lane ends, I take the lane until crossing over Buffalo bayou and a big truck behind me today laid on his horn. Advocate for bike lanes dude- I don’t want to share the lane with you either!
Reposted by AustrianInHou
We want a Montrose Blvd that’s safer to walk, roll, and drive. Join tonight on Zoom or in person to demand a shared use path and no lane widening montrosehtx.org/meeting/dece...
December 2024 - Montrose TIRZ 27
The Board of Directors of Reinvestment Zone Number Twenty-Seven, City of Houston, Texas (the “Zone”), and along with the Board of Directors of the Montrose Redevelopment Authority, City of Houston, Te...
montrosehtx.org
December 9, 2024 at 8:08 PM
We want a Montrose Blvd that’s safer to walk, roll, and drive. Join tonight on Zoom or in person to demand a shared use path and no lane widening montrosehtx.org/meeting/dece...
Reposted by AustrianInHou
I’m reminded often of the work Maggie Gordon has done at @houstonlanding.bsky.social on the constant problem of train crossings, traffic, emergency services, and student commutes in Houston. It was inevitable that this tragedy would eventually occur.
HISD has confirmed that the pedestrian fatally struck by a train this morning was a student at nearby Milby High School.
HISD Student fatally struck by train crossing tracks near Milby High School
n a statement to Houston Public Media, an HISD spokesperson confirmed that the pedestrian was a student of Milby High School, which is located near where the crash occurred.
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
December 9, 2024 at 7:32 PM
I’m reminded often of the work Maggie Gordon has done at @houstonlanding.bsky.social on the constant problem of train crossings, traffic, emergency services, and student commutes in Houston. It was inevitable that this tragedy would eventually occur.
Reposted by AustrianInHou
"Many people are worried about President-Elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming administration’s corrosive effects on democracy. The corrosion is already happening, though. A particularly vocal subset of the ultrarich is steering the ship, and doesn’t care who knows."
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Even the Koch Brothers Weren’t This Brazen
Tech billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Marc Andreessen aren’t even trying to mask their politics anymore.
www.theatlantic.com
December 9, 2024 at 4:05 PM
"Many people are worried about President-Elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming administration’s corrosive effects on democracy. The corrosion is already happening, though. A particularly vocal subset of the ultrarich is steering the ship, and doesn’t care who knows."
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Reposted by AustrianInHou
Bus lanes save lives!
Madison St is the only continuous thoroughfare that runs from waterfront to waterfront in Seattle
Emergency vehicles can now slice right through traffic from 1st Avenue to MLK, saving precious minutes in their response!
Thanks, SDOT!
Madison St is the only continuous thoroughfare that runs from waterfront to waterfront in Seattle
Emergency vehicles can now slice right through traffic from 1st Avenue to MLK, saving precious minutes in their response!
Thanks, SDOT!
December 6, 2024 at 8:11 PM
Bus lanes save lives!
Madison St is the only continuous thoroughfare that runs from waterfront to waterfront in Seattle
Emergency vehicles can now slice right through traffic from 1st Avenue to MLK, saving precious minutes in their response!
Thanks, SDOT!
Madison St is the only continuous thoroughfare that runs from waterfront to waterfront in Seattle
Emergency vehicles can now slice right through traffic from 1st Avenue to MLK, saving precious minutes in their response!
Thanks, SDOT!
It can be done if engineers want to...
When Bryant Ave S was being reconstructed in Minneapolis there was quite a bit of concern re: firetrucks being able to navigate the narrower street design.
Watch this extra long firetruck easily make the turn onto narrowed Bryant at Lake St for an emergency yesterday.
Watch this extra long firetruck easily make the turn onto narrowed Bryant at Lake St for an emergency yesterday.
December 5, 2024 at 4:06 AM
It can be done if engineers want to...
Quite ironic that installing a DFO ("deadly fixed object") on a multitude path is no concern for engineers but taking a similar approach on a car intersection would never pass in the US. (and yes this definitely is VERY effective in slowing down people and avoiding intersection crashes)
Yup it’s a tight squeeze. These are 65cm Nitto For Shred bars and I’ve got *maybe* 3-4” on each side.
Obviously drop bars will fit fine, but heads up if you’re riding flat bars!
(Spring Branch trail, Shadowdale connector)
Obviously drop bars will fit fine, but heads up if you’re riding flat bars!
(Spring Branch trail, Shadowdale connector)
December 4, 2024 at 5:44 AM
Quite ironic that installing a DFO ("deadly fixed object") on a multitude path is no concern for engineers but taking a similar approach on a car intersection would never pass in the US. (and yes this definitely is VERY effective in slowing down people and avoiding intersection crashes)