Houston has become a more bicycle-friendly city. City council approved a plan that will add 600 miles to the existing 270-mile network. The city also plans to put more than 80% of people and jobs within a half mile of a "comfort bikeway" by 2027.
"Houstonians need more choices to connect safely to jobs, parks and services other than by car," Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement. "The Houston Bike Plan provides a guide toward creating a safer and more accessible city that can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to ride a bicycle."
Not everyone is sold on the plan. Critics argue there is no clear plan to pay for the improvements, relying on a yet-to-be-determined combination of funding from BikeHouston, the Houston Parks Board, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, TxDOT, the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. Council members Mike Knox, Steve Le, Michael Kubosh and Greg Travis voted against the plan, citing the cost — estimated at up to $550M — and burdensome requirements for some neighborhoods.
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