%%%%%%%% 9-16-2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – PLEASE PASS IT ON Announcing the WALQ ‘n ROLL EVENT on West Alabama – Put PEOPLE FIRST! WHAT: Demonstration, 1-mile walk, 8-mile bike ride WHEN: 4:30-6:30 pm, Saturday, September 28, 2002 WHERE: West Alabama at Kirby (near Whole Foods) WHO: Walkers, bikers, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, residents, concerned citizens WHY: To make Houston a walkable, bikeable, accessible and livable city, starting with the imminent West Alabama reconstruction The City of Houston/TxDOT/Metro just released a plan for diverting freeway traffic onto Richmond and West Alabama while the US59 construction closes Spur 527 for two years. Believe it or not, they want to take out the tree-filled esplanade on Richmond to make more traffic lanes, and put HOV lanes on West Alabama for up to 110 Metro buses an hour. There has been no consideration for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, the accessibility of the disabled, or the livability of the neighborhood. The young, the old, the disabled, nearby residents and businesses, and just about everybody else in Neartown, are being forgotten in this madness to give suburbanites a free ride into and out of downtown on these mean streets paid for with our local taxes. The West Alabama QOL Coalition, BikeHouston, WalkHouston, and Houstonians with Disabilities are inviting all concerned to demonstrate their support for quality of life in the area. We are meeting at the corner of West Alabama and Kirby at 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, September 28, 2002, to express our desire for a more livable, walkable city. We are inviting the Mayor, City Council, Public Works, TxDOT, METRO and Harris County to this event, and will ask each to dedicate a just 15% of every transportation project for people necessities (the City uses the misnomer 'amenities' as if it's some sort of luxury) like smooth sidewalks, street furniture, bike lanes and trees. Starting at 5:30 there will be a one-mile walk along Alabama. Experience first-hand the deplorable condition of 40-year-old, too-narrow sidewalks that are in even worse shape than the bike lanes. Help us assist folks in wheelchairs and with vision impairments over the missing and broken sections and around the sign poles, water meters and parked cars blocking the sidewalks. Tell your Council Member that functional sidewalks are synonymous with livability, that pedestrian safety means accessibility for the mobility-impaired. At the same time (5:30), the BikeHouston Freedom Riders (of Bike Ban Bash fame) will lead an 8-10 mile bike ride. This could very well be the last one with the poorly-surfaced bike lanes. West Alabama is slated for reconstruction in January 2003. Ask Public Works if it will still have a bike lane when they finish it, or too-narrow bus lanes instead. Free City of Bicycles t-shirts, and other prizes (sponsors permitting). Come in traffic-stopping costume. Decorate your bike. Signs will be provided, but please bring your own if you can. Sign a petition. Bring your voice. Bring your heart. Sponsored by BikeHouston, WalkHouston, and the West Alabama Quality of Life Coalition For more information: Ray Jones 713 529 7887 RayAJones@aol.com or Dan Lundeen 713 652 2555 dan@bikehouston.org. Websites: walq.org bikehouston.org walkhouston.org BE SURE TO SHOP AND DINE ON WEST ALABAMA WHILE YOU ARE HERE. USE THE POWER OF YOUR PURSE TO TELL MERCHANTS, “CARS DON’T SPEND MONEY. PEOPLE DO.”