Houston launches 'Sunday Streets Houston'

The U.S. fourth largest city of Houston will close portions of some heavily traveled roads to cars, in a bid to encourage residents to take to the streets for some exercise and entertainment, local media reported Wednesday. Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced the program on Wednesday that a combined 2.5 miles (4 km) of two downtown streets will be closed to automotive traffic for four hours on the first Sunday of April, to make way for pedestrians and cyclists. "It is a way to acquaint ourselves with what is around those streets in a way we don't normally experience it going by car," Parker told the Houston Chronicle. The program, called Sunday Streets Houston, will also be held on different streets in May and June. Parker said similar "open streets" events have worked well in other cities. The first program started in Bogota, Columbia over 30 years ago. Houston officials say there are 200 similar open street initiatives worldwide, including events in San Antonio, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Portland, New York and Los Angeles.