How walkable is Galleria area? (Houston, River Oaks: hotels, taxi cab, store)

[Kenpar]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

There does seem to be an extraordinary amount of homeless people and street beggers throughout the Galleria. They seem to think the area is very walkable. I frequent various small cafes in the Galleria area and these people dressed in their holy dirty cloths come in often with a handful of change to buy something small to eat. I wanna know where they sleep!

Some probably sleep Downtown. Homeless people do ride public transportation you know.

[tstone]

IMO Galleria = not walkable, unless you are brave and/or crazy. Everything is very wide/spread-out and crossing 6-10 lanes jaywalking or at a crosswalk on foot to go to the bank or grab some food is not worth it. I've taken this adventure before a few times when I worked there and each time it was a complete waste. There is more than enough parking in the area if you live, work or visit, and you'd be making a big issue for yourself not having a vehicle.

[westhou]

I live in the Galleria area and I walk instead of drive sometimes. I hate using my car during the holidays because the traffic is very gridlocked around Post Oak Blvd and Westheimer. It's best to just walk. Those telling you not to walk are just not used to doing it and have become too lazy or scared to venture out of their car. I was in NYC a few months ago and there were thousands of people walking around without a care. If they can walk several blocks there in much heavier traffic, then we in Houston can walk a few blocks in much less traffic. There are crossing signals at every intersection. Just be smart and always follow the crossing signals. Please don't run across the middle of the street dodging cars. That is dumb in any city. If you do decide to rent a car get ready for a major headache if you plan on driving down Westheimer and Post Oak Blvd during rush hours and that includes the lunch hour.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by westhou

I live in the Galleria area and I walk instead of drive sometimes. I hate using my car during the holidays because the traffic is very gridlocked around Post Oak Blvd and Westheimer. It's best to just walk. Those telling you not to walk are just not used to doing it and have become too lazy or scared to venture out of their car.

Either that, or they are simply too busy to walk 20-30 minutes each way to their destination, when they could hop in their car and get there in less than 5. It definitely does get insane there during the holidays and for afternoon rush, but apart from that traffic flows fine over there, with city streets as wide as freeways. From the OP I assume she isn't coming over here during Xmas 2010.

As far as being lazy , I can think of a dozen more entertaining (and safe) ways to get exercise vs walking the streets of Uptown by myself. Ever wonder why most of the females walking around there have their mace cocked & car keys ready to gouge some eyeballs?

It's true the area has strip malls on most corners you could easily walk to from work or home for certain conveniences, but overall it is still very car-centric. If that area is ''walkable'' then any place in Houston that has sidewalks and crosswalks is also ''walkable.''

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by tstone

Either that, or they are simply too busy to walk 20-30 minutes each way to their destination, when they could hop in their car and get there in less than 5.

It takes five minutes just to get from one intersection to the next in that traffic. I move faster walking.

[blkgiraffe]

I couldn't blame anyone if they decided to drive just across the street from their home in the Galleria Area. Lots of crazy driving and no need to be risking your life over a harmless little trip to the store.

Personally; I wouldn't recommend anyone move to that area if they were looking for a walkable environment. I'm a energetic person myself and walks lots of places. I've walked from TSU to TMC to Downtown and I did this with no type of public transit (Yes I have a car). But walking through the Galleria area is a different experience and one that I hated.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by jfre81

It takes five minutes just to get from one intersection to the next in that traffic. I move faster walking.

That always bothers me during afternoon rush hour there- stuck in car, watching people go faster on foot... my life like Office Space. When I'm out there to interface with the home office, it's the #1 thing I'm not looking forward to deal with every day again.

But like I said, apart from afternoon rush hours & holiday shopping traffic- it honestly does move pretty well out there. Morning rush (7-8am) is semi-busy, but still moves ruthlessly along near posted speeds, and lunch rush is somewhat better. You can easily hop in your car and shoot west to Lucky Village in 5 minutes, same goes for that BBQ joint Bellaire... or inside the loop to Upper Kirby - Montrose for lunch in <10 minutes. We did this all the time and still do when I interface. Took less time to drive to good eats vs walk to fast food, and much of that area is like that. Lunch hour only lasts for 1 hour.

Same goes for mid morning or mid afternoon errands or doctor/dentist appts. Uptown = extremely convenient location for those, <15 mins drive... if you have your own car. (PTO is expensive.)

If you want some semblance of a quality life over there, having your own ride is a must IMO. You can rough it, walk, take the bus, cab, etc but I think after awhile it would grate on your nerves and make you miserable. If you're making the money there's no reason to go without one, just so you can brag, get street cred, a feather in your cap, etc.

[EasilyAmused]

Residences right around Uptown Park are really the only "walkable to retail" in my book...but you still need a car to get to Rice Epi. Crossing around Post Oak and Westhiemer or Sage Westhiemer is a suicide run.

But with a car, it's probably one of the most convenient areas to live in town.

[Kenpar]

I really have not had these experiences. My opinion is that you don't need a car for the Galleria area. Maybe if your a little older, or out of shape you might. But, if your in any kind of shape you won't have a problem. I also don't know how much more risky it is to cross the street in the Galleria area than some other streets in Houston. Have fun in that area OP!

[CoderGeek]

Originally Posted by Kenpar

I really have not had these experiences. My opinion is that you don't need a car for the Galleria area. Maybe if your a little older, or out of shape you might. But, if your in any kind of shape you won't have a problem. I also don't know how much more risky it is to cross the street in the Galleria area than some other streets in Houston. Have fun in that area OP!

I was going to post something very similar having lived in Galleria for a little more than a year before moving out to Katy. Just realize the city blocks are "Texas sized," unlike Montrose, Midtown and Downtown.

The one thing I would add is that it becomes less walkable during the heat of the summer (mid May - October). If you're out of shape, you will need a car/bus pass for that part of the year.

As for crossing Westheimer, quite doable. Then again, I used to cross Queens Boulevard in NYC as a child -- the wide part near the mall (but without the benefit of the overpasses), not that rinky-dink road in Kew Gardens .