Battle on dallas vs. Houston (Tyler, Galveston: living, beaches, transportation)

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by codytravers

For sure. Unfortunately for Houston, the # of highrises doesn't always translate into active street life. I'll take more people on the street over a bunch of towering skyscrapers anyday. Although having both would be ideal, it seems to me like the most active, pedestrian parts of Dallas have low to mid-rise buildings. Not sure why/how this is the case.

Where is the pedestrian street level activity in Dallas? I usually go to Fort Worth for that.

[Lakewooder]

I certainly don't think the Dallas boho areas I named look sterile! You must be thinking of the burbs. Another detraction to Houston street life is that many streets don't have sidewalks, just bar ditches to help with the drainage. You have to walk in the street, even in some parts of Montrose.

[codytravers]

I usually see a lot of people around where I live in Uptown. I've been to downtown FW; it was OK but not as awesome as some people try to make it out to be.

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Where is the pedestrian street level activity in Dallas? I usually go to Fort Worth for that.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I certainly don't think the Dallas boho areas I named look sterile! You must be thinking of the burbs. Another detraction to Houston street life is that many streets don't have sidewalks, just bar ditches to help with the drainage. You have to walk in the street, even in some parts of Montrose.

Houston has 345 miles of dedicated bicycle lanes & paths. There is also a skate park in front of downtown. Houston has more green space & urban parks than Dallas.

Houston Bikeway Program

I see sidewalks & bike paths here.


Bike path under construction in the Heights area near downtown.



Bike path going through the heart of downtown.


Crossing the Buffalo Bayou near downtown.


Going underneath I-45 next to downtown


What does Dallas have?

[R1070]

I hope you don't think Dallas doesn't have bike/jogging trails and paths throughout the city. That would show that you know very little about Dallas.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by R1070

I hope you don't think Dallas doesn't have bike/jogging trails and paths throughout the city. That would show that you know very little about Dallas.

Oh I know for a fact Dallas has bike lanes, but does it have 345 miles of them?

Most of the ones I've seen are around White Rock Lake & South Dallas.

Are there any in downtown proper like Houston?

[ClarenceBodiker]

I was in Downtown Dallas on Saturday night right in the heart of Main Street and the place was CROWDED. We had to wait 45 minutes to get a table at our restaurant. We then went to City Tavern and I couldn't even find a table. I don't go downtown often, but everytime I do I am surprised at how much livelier it was than the time before. The old myth that everybody can't wait to leave downtown after 5:00 p.m. is all but dead unless you haven't been downtown in a few years. There is plenty of foot traffic these days.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I certainly don't think the Dallas boho areas I named look sterile! You must be thinking of the burbs. Another detraction to Houston street life is that many streets don't have sidewalks, just bar ditches to help with the drainage. You have to walk in the street, even in some parts of Montrose.

Where in Montrose doyou have to walk on the streets? Houston is full of sidewalks in the Inner Loop, and areas outside the Loop are getting more. Dallas may have it's bohemian areas, but do to zoning, it's like Dallas tries to hide the quirky areas. Houston's are a lot more open.

[Lakewooder]

I am talking about some of the side streets..how am I (or anyone else) trying to hide the quirky areas in Dallas?

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I am talking about some of the side streets..how am I (or anyone else) trying to hide the quirky areas in Dallas?

By zoning them to the point where all of Dallas' once quirky neighborhoods are no longer in existence or pushed away for good. Deep Ellum immediately comes to mind.

Even Dallas' top strip club is having a hard time with their liquor license. Its an on going battle with the City of Dallas & club owners. If the city had it their way they'd shut down every night club that serves alcohol or gets called in for noise restriction. At one point & I believe its still a law there is not supposed to be any dancing if there is no dance floor or something totally off the wall like that.

This is why I think Dallas is too conservative socially for being as large of a city as it is.

You just don't see that type of anti "live & let live" attitude down in Houston. Hell, I even see the cops having a good time even though they are doing security over at somewhere like Tan Tan in Chinatown till 3am.