Driving / Roads, Houston

Having lived in houston most of my life, you are not going to be shot if you cut someone off or honk. I honk at people all the time, no one has ever waved a gun at me. this is apparently a common misconception I have been reading on these pages.

At most you will get the middle finger and see the person yelling in their car, but who cares?

Houston is very spread out and the easiest way to navigate the city is to stay on Westheimer. This street has the best shopping and dining. Westhiemer goes on for miles and miles. Another great street is Montrose.

The city is spread out, so the people here learn that the only way to get from their home to work and back, as well as anywhere else, is to use highways, and drive fast. At least faster than is customary in some other areas. So if you insist on driving speed limit, move to the right.

1 more image

One of the things that I noticed on Houston freeways was that drivers seldom signal before changing lanes. I had a local with me one day in my rented car and I asked him about this. His response was that if you signaled, you would tip off the driver behind you on your left or right and that driver would then speed up to prevent you from getting in front of him!

Unfortunately, Houston has no real public transporation system.

The light rail, which will be completed in early 2004, will only serve those from downtown to Reliant Park. Although this includes the Museum District and the Medical Center, it does not include the Galleria area, NASA, and other outlying areas.

Though there is a bus system, you really need a car and a good map to get around in Houston.

The best situation is know someone in Houston who will drive you to the places of interest.

The way Texans go to the beach is with their precious cars!!! If you dream of pristine wild beaches to walk on, Texan ones are not for you!! So if you decide nevertheless like me to have a stroll along the ocean, watch these giant pickups and stay off the main tire marks on the sand...

Here's a 'cultural' tip. If you are gonna drive in Houston, be the BIGGEST *** you can. It's what we do best. If you go under 70 on the freeways, then for god's sake, GET OUT OF THE FAST LANE. This is our biggest pet peeve.

If you find yourself trapped on the 610 loop around the city, remember what you have heard is true. There are a great number of pissed of people who are armed. BE PATIENT and nobody gets hurt.

Not a cultural tip but just bizarre - Found a drive up ATM with braille instructions! My question is why is a blind person driving?