Debate Over Training Space Shutters Bike Lane in Front of Houston Fire Station

Apr. 1—Houston officials say an Austin Street bike lane interfered with firefighter training at Station 7, justifying its removal as part of a controversial street rehabilitation project.

But the Houston Fire Department says firefighters regularly trained in that space — until construction forced them to move.

"Each fire station has different access to public space for training, depending on the neighborhood," said HFD Communications Director Brent Taylor. "At Station 7, firefighters perform apparatus training, such as deploying the aerial ladder or practicing cab operations, in the space where road maintenance is now underway. Our firefighters will accommodate the work by moving this training to another nearby location."

Taylor added that the fire department has maintained a positive relationship with residents who use the Austin Street bike lane, "along with anyone else who passes the station."

An ongoing debate over a bike lane

The bike lane near Station 7 has been a point of contention for years. During the previous mayoral administration, former Mayor Sylvester Turner publicly read an email from a Station 7 fire captain stating that no firefighter had complained about the Austin Street bike lane. That statement conflicted with claims from some Midtown residents that the lane hindered HFD operations.

This week, Marlene Gafrick, an adviser to Mayor John Whitmire, said the decision to remove the bike lane was made in part because it blocked training operations for firefighters.

Several residents spoke at Houston City Hall on Tuesday about the bike lane. While some supported maintaining a two-way bike lane, others preferred a compromise, calling proposed sharrows — a shared lane marking for cyclists and vehicles — a "win-win solution" for those who don't want a concrete barrier on the road.

Other speakers argued that only bike lane advocates were being heard in the debate.

"Bike lanes are controversial in every city," said Council Member Sallie Alcorn. "We can't go to a city where they haven't had a big fight about bike lanes... this is a car-centric city."

Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said her office has been fielding concerns from residents along Austin Street for months about the design and function of the protected bike lane.

"These concerns include dangerous interactions between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, as well as challenges for emergency access and residents entering their own driveways," Shabazz said. "While I recognize that investments were made with good intentions, the lived experience of residents cannot be overlooked."

Fighting for Austin Street

Rice University political science professor Bob Stein also spoke before the council, expressing concerns about the mayor's unilateral decision to move forward with the project.

"All I'm asking the council and the mayor to do is carefully study this, and not make a midnight decision to pull up the barricades. People rely on that. Look at the data," Stein said.

More than 80 residents signed up to speak at Tuesday's council meeting, with over two dozen advocating for the protected Austin Street bike lane.

Aaron Regberg, who lives in Midtown, told the council he moved to the neighborhood specifically because he uses the bike lane every day.

"Now that bike lane is being removed," Regberg said.

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