Living Car Free - Car Free and Hurricane Ike in Inner City Houston

Well I can say with experience that pre and post hurricane that the bicycle has got to be one of the ultimate forms of transportation for a single guy without kids. While others were waiting in line for hours at gas stations I was able to look for and get food and easily make several trips to and from my sister’s place to mine (Montrose to Bellaire) and go exploring around town. Even hours after the hurricane getting around was not a problem with minor flooding and while obstacles were still blocking roadways, though the downed power lines were kind of scary. I was even prepared to leave Houston completely if needed via bike to my parents RV in Bellville or head to Dallas to my other sister’s place if needed though this would have probably taken a couple to a few days. Funny thing I saw so many more people on bikes after the hurricane. I was very fortunate that I didn’t loose anything and I have everything other than cable working. It’s really liberating knowing I am not dependent on gasoline for transportation. Hopefully work will be up and running soon if not will look for a place to volunteer.

Good observation. A few years ago I was at a fishing camp in the hill country. There was a heavy rain that flash flooded the area. None of the back roads were paved. I had a fat tired bike with me. When the water started receding I was able to get out and around on the bike a couple of hours before any of the 4 wheeled vehicles could.

Yup, as long as you're a lone wolf, a bike is a pretty good A to B vehicle. I'm enjoying it while I can too, though I don't want it to last forever.

I was listening on CNN how the people in Houston were forming HUGE lines just to get gas. They rolling cars to one gas station to the next just to get fuel. It's was insane watching people waiting four hours with an empty canister just to get a gallon of gas. Incredible.

I just can't believe that people are so dependant on gas. It was like the world had come to an end!

I was listening on CNN how the people in Houston were forming HUGE lines just to get gas. They rolling cars to one gas station to the next just to get fuel. It's was insane watching people waiting four hours with an empty canister just to get a gallon of gas. Incredible.

I just can't believe that people are so dependant on gas. It was like the world had come to an end!

And how far does that gallon of gas really get you maybe 25 miles. Surprisingly people for the most part have been coping pretty well considering the circumstances. On one of my trips back to my sisters today I hear someone yell free cake I make a u turn to find one of the local bakeries/chocolate /coffee shops “The Chocolate Bar” was giving away free slices of cake, cheesecake and bottled water just when you think there is no more love in the world somebody goes and surprises you. This was really needed because after curfew last night I heard several gun shots by my sister’s apartment complex.

Surprisingly people for the most part have been coping pretty well considering the circumstances.

Where are you biking? I've been going to and from Rice Village from the Med Center and people are NUTS.
I think the drivers have gotten crazier! In the last two days, I've had three cars turn right in front of me even after making eye contact with me (none of them signaled) and one guy purposefully run me off the road. The three right-turners were all on cell phones. I was in a bright pink shirt in broad daylight. I wasn't invisible. I've even started turning on my rear blinker in daylight hours.

I had to drive today to the Galleria and the drivers were especially rude. Reminds me of why I **hate** driving. Never again. Biking only! :commute:

These gas lines have made me so thankful that I have a bike and that I'm in-shape enough to ride it. A drive to my friend's house takes 15 minutes... A bike ride takes 20. :D

Well I can say with experience that pre and post hurricane that the bicycle has got to be one of the ultimate forms of transportation for a single guy without kids. While others were waiting in line for hours at gas stations I was able to look for and get food and easily make several trips to and from my sister’s place to mine (Montrose to Bellaire) and go exploring around town. Even hours after the hurricane getting around was not a problem with minor flooding and while obstacles were still blocking roadways, though the downed power lines were kind of scary. I was even prepared to leave Houston completely if needed via bike to my parents RV in Bellville or head to Dallas to my other sister’s place if needed though this would have probably taken a couple to a few days. Funny thing I saw so many more people on bikes after the hurricane. I was very fortunate that I didn’t loose anything and I have everything other than cable working. It’s really liberating knowing I am not dependent on gasoline for transportation. Hopefully work will be up and running soon if not will look for a place to volunteer.

This is an excellent example of the prime reason why I bother with bikes in the first place. Although I would think that during a crisis such as you just lived through, you might run a big risk for a bike jack. The lack of consideration that drivers gave you in the later posts you made gave me the impression there is no stable law enforcement in Houston at this time. Just many people out and about searching for food and water-and some for the lesser noble reasons of looking for opportunities for trouble.

Yeah the lack of working signal lights is tough and just plain scary at night, you can't hardly see them at night so those driving and not familar with that part of town are burning through lights and probably don't even know it. The lack of street lights at night really make appreciate my good headlight. I live in montrose but have been making several trips into west u/bellaire.
As far as police patrol and I have seen them out and pulling over people, I think Houston is holding up pretty good considering the circumstances.

This is an excellent example of the prime reason why I bother with bikes in the first place. Although I would think that during a crisis such as you just lived through, you might run a big risk for a bike jack. The lack of consideration that drivers gave you in the later posts you made gave me the impression there is no stable law enforcement in Houston at this time. Just many people out and about searching for food and water-and some for the lesser noble reasons of looking for opportunities for trouble.

If it was anything like some of the towns I have been in after major storms, traffic enforcement is the least of the police departments' worries. They are trying to survive themselves and keep property protected. The last storm I went through was Katrina and I was working in Mobile, AL at the time. Several neighborhoods were blockaded and the police were checking everybody coming and going in an attempt to minimize the looting. I was at home in Fayetteville, NC when Hurricane Fran came through in '97. Our neighborhood was completely isolated because of downed 150 year old oak trees. We were without power for 7 days. We took matters into our own hands and kept up block by block patrols to keep the riff raff to a minimum. The biggest hassle for us was the sightseers, had one woman complain that we weren't clearing our roads fast enough to suit her...and she didn't live in the area:rolleyes:


Aaron:)

My wife and I have appreciated the 4 way stops because it usually means the cars passing us are more evenly spaced and have more room to pass. Even as noobs, we can make the 15 miles from our apartment to our parents neighborhood in about the same time on bikes as in a car right now.

scattered73,

I also live in Montrose (on Colquitt between Woodhead and Dunlavy). About the lights - some of them are not working, and some of them are simply *not there* lol... The traffic signal lights at Woodhead and Richmond either got blown away during the hurricane or taken away by looters.

For the past week and a half I've been staying at my parents' place in Copperfield (Highway 6 and 290). My house in Montrose probably won't get electricity back until the end of the week, and I've been visiting every few days to check up on it. My main commuter bike (Jamis Aurora) is still stuck at my house because it's too bulky to transport easily in my car.

After a week I was seriously starting to show withdrawal symptoms from not being able to bike anywhere, and from being stuck in suburban hell where everyone jumps in the car to go down the street. So when I visited my house this past weekend I made sure to bring back my trusty old mountain bike w/knobby tires, and this evening I went for a long vigorous ride through the neighborhood. :)

I am on Garrott and Flora, funny my parents live on Barker and 529 and I actually grew up in Northmead in Copperfield. Not really the most bike friendly part of town, though I make quite a few trips via bike from montrose to there ususally an overnighter otherwise no real time to visit.

scattered73,

The traffic signal lights at Woodhead and Richmond either got blown away during the hurricane or taken away by looters.



OK, whats the truth here? Are people really looting in Houston? Why would looters take traffic lights? To decorate their rumpus room? Have you seen looting?

That was kind of a tongue-in-cheek comment. I haven't heard of any looting of stores, but I've seen people take away things that just happen to be sitting there. For example, the Shell station next to my house was pretty much destroyed. The day after the hurricane I drove by and there were a bunch of college kids walking off with the S, H, E, L, L letters.

Why would someone want a City of Houston traffic signal light? Beats me - probably same reason why they would want a 5-foot tall S hanging in their apartment.

That was kind of a tongue-in-cheek comment. I haven't heard of any looting of stores, but I've seen people take away things that just happen to be sitting there. For example, the Shell station next to my house was pretty much destroyed. The day after the hurricane I drove by and there were a bunch of college kids walking off with the S, H, E, L, L letters.

Why would someone want a City of Houston traffic signal light? Beats me - probably same reason why they would want a 5-foot tall S hanging in their apartment.

Happens all the time...ever seen a missing road sign after it has been run over?:lol:

Aaron:)

I work in South Houston, go to school at the University of St. Thomas, live on the west side of Houston (Barker Cypress & West Little York), and my girlfriend lives in Clear Lake. Katy/West Houston got power quick, by Sunday in most places. South Houston/Clear Lake didn't get power until five days after the hurricane, and St. Thomas didn't get power until this Monday and that was only because Center Point came out because it was a college.

I was on the 25 (Richmond bus) and noticed a lot of damage (including the Shell station). I personally rode out the storm in South Houston Fire Station 2, at one point my partner and I (along with a co-worker and a dog) were huddled inside the ambulance because the station started to rain inside and feel like it was going to come apart.

After the storm we had people arguing with us about PD taking over two pumps so we could fill up our fire trucks and ambulances. The lines were well over a mile long, most people had several five gallon gas cans for their generators (that was actually what most of the line was there for at several gas stations). Go figure, we also made quite a few generator fires resulting in the loss of the generator and some even lost the entire house or apartment.

The coolest thing ever was when my girlfriend and I rode from her house to an HEB off of Bay Area Blvd. that was open to buy beer. Why was this so cool? There was no place to secure our bicycles, so the manager let us take them in. So we bought some goodies, a case of beer, loaded up my Timbuk2 bag, and rode off. Leaving several people saying they wish they still had a bicycle. :thumb:

-Nate

That was kind of a tongue-in-cheek comment. I haven't heard of any looting of stores, but I've seen people take away things that just happen to be sitting there. For example, the Shell station next to my house was pretty much destroyed. The day after the hurricane I drove by and there were a bunch of college kids walking off with the S, H, E, L, L letters.

Why would someone want a City of Houston traffic signal light? Beats me - probably same reason why they would want a 5-foot tall S hanging in their apartment.

We only lost power for about 12 hours here in Bayou Blue during the Hurricane IKE so we had some TV (broadcast). The Internet stayed on mostly and I was able to access real time video reports from reporters in Houston. One of the reports made a point of showing the traffic signal lights blowing around and commented about a 50 pound traffic light coming loose and flying down the street airborne. Several were shown on the ground.

Any of you Houston folks notice that people seem to be running red lights much more frequently these days?

In my parents' suburb I'm seeing cars make a left turn a full 3-5 seconds after the signal turns red (a second or so after the opposing direction turns green). This seems to be happening consistently over the past week or so, and these are at fully-functioning intersections (all traffic signals working). I guess people are just tired of waiting at the non-working signals so they're trying to make up the time somehow.

Typically you see this behavior all the time in big cities in NYC, but this is the first I've noticed it on consistent basis in Houston (I've been here for about 28 yrs).

Guess some areas the people are better behaved when it comes to intersections than in others. Up in Kingwood and the Humble area, signal lights just now are operational at many intersections. There were few problems when the lights were out.

As for long lines at the gas stations, part of the problem was that of people with generators. The guy next door said his uses about 10 gallons a day. Those with gasoline generators would fill up at least ever two days, taking a bunch of cans with them. We filled our vehicles before Ike hit. By planning carefully, we did not need to fill up except for one car, my son's girlfriend forgot to fill up before the storm. Even then, by going early or late, there were few in line. With five in the household, its a bit difficult to change to bikes for large grocery trips, but the three stores that were all within 5 miles of us worked hard to keep folks supplied with ice and other necessities. While food variety was limited, it was plentiful.

I did see people using their bikes more. I used mine for the short low volume trips. And, the bike shops sold out of baskets quickly, not that they stocked many. My hope is that bike use continues in the future, especially by the kids who found that bikes could be fun. Maybe a few will give up their video games for time on the bike.

Any of you Houston folks notice that people seem to be running red lights much more frequently these days?
That's crazy lets not forget the cameras at the intersections, I have often wondered if me running a light on my bike sets off the camera.

That's crazy lets not forget the cameras at the intersections, I have often wondered if me running a light on my bike sets off the camera.

Doesn't matter, there's no way to send you a ticket unless you wear a big sign with your address on it.:roflmao2:

Better yet wear the name and address of someone you dislike.

I filled up after curfew right next to HPD officers.

Didn't drive much at all that week so I was fine.
I'm scared to keep commuting though because of how badly everyone is behaving on the road. Cars are expendable. Bikes are precious :(