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City Council adopts ban on standing or sitting on narrow medians for pedestrian safety
Summary
Houston City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting people from sitting, standing or walking on median strips less than 6 feet wide after debate about enforcement, equity and public education. The measure passed 11–2 and includes limited exceptions and an initial public-education period, council members said.
Houston City Council voted 11–2 on Aug. 27 to adopt an ordinance that bans sitting, standing and walking on median strips measured at 6 feet or less, a change council members said is aimed at reducing avoidable pedestrian injuries.
The ordinance, sponsored in council discussion by Councilmember Huffman, makes small, narrow medians — often traffic dividers with little room for anyone caught there — off-limits except when a pedestrian is passing through in the most direct route or in emergency or law-enforcement-directed situations. Violations are a Class C misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500, and council members said the city expects an initial public-education period and officer discretion before enforcement increases.
"Public safety has to be a top priority in our city," Councilmember Huffman said during debate, describing data showing a high share of pedestrians among traffic fatalities and noting design standards that recommend pedestrian refuges be at least 6 feet wide. She said the ordinance was tailored to mirror language adopted in other cities and had been vetted by the city attorney.
Supporters noted the measure is narrowly written to cover only medians too narrow to function as refuges and emphasized an education-first approach. "Narrow medians were never meant to be a place for people to walk, sit or stand," Huffman said. "They leave individuals inches away from fast-moving traffic with no protection." She told colleagues the ordinance was discussed at a Proposition A committee meeting and that first-responder groups had raised the issue.
Opponents and cautious council members raised concerns about unintended consequences for people experiencing homelessness or other vulnerabilities. Councilmember Plummer asked how the city would reach people who are not on social media or mailing lists and warned that low-income people could accrue fines they cannot pay. Councilmember Thomas, who later voted no, asked that the council monitor impacts and said he supported the safety aim while worrying about enforcement outcomes for people without stable housing.
Mayor John Whitmire and other council members said they expected HPD to emphasize warnings and education in the ordinance's initial phase and to use discretion for hardship cases. The roll call recorded 11 yes votes and 2 no votes (Councilmembers Thomas and Plummer voted no).
The ordinance includes explicit exceptions for momentary passage across a median in the most direct route, actions directed by a peace officer, and emergency or necessity defenses under state law, council staff said. Councilmembers said they would ask HPD for an outreach and education plan during the grace period and to report back if enforcement produced disproportionate impacts.
The new rule joins the city’s Vision Zero goals and other pedestrian-safety efforts brought up repeatedly in public comment during the evening session, when speakers urged more street redesigns, safer crosswalks for schoolchildren and restoration of protected bike lanes.
Councilmembers and staff said the item will be monitored and can be revisited by the council if enforcement produces harms not intended by the ordinance.
