Trailblazing Houston Bike Rides

The Houston Bike Trail System: "It's like you took a bag of Cheetos and spilled it on a picnic table.” (Houston Chronicle) A better analogy might be fetal neuronal dendrites trying to connect up into a living viable neuronal network. Until a plan to connect up the existing trails into a network is further along, we have to grow our own dendrites between the Cheetos. Houston has some quite remarkable bikeways like the Buffalo Bayou Trail, Braes Bayou Trail, Heights Trail, and the White Oak Bayou Trail. The problem is to get to them and between them. This blog will try to connect these bike trails to each other to make for charismatic bike rides through Houston.

Bike riders in Houston are a bit like armadillos, trying not to become road kill. The challenge in trailblazing bikeable rides in and about Houston is to find, between the official bikeways, connecting links that are quite untrafficked by cars. This means, when possible, avoiding thoroughfares like Chimney Rock, Buffalo Speedway, Memorial, or Kirby, the obvious straight routes through town, dominated by we, the motorists. Instead, we must cut trails using residential streets, streets which seem pretty much designed to discourage motorist use. The best streets have little traffic, cars parked on the street in front of houses, children playing on the front lawn, or on the street. Sometimes however, we can't avoid the major thoroughfares, so that means riding on the sidewalks. Luckily, there are rarely pedestrians on sidewalks, so it is quite feasible. The problem is that the cars, which don't expect pedestrians, will pull out into the sidewalk right in front of you. Be aware.

Generally, I have only tested these bike rides on weekends, when traffic is particularly favorable. Also, I take a Grant Peterson Rivendell Unracer approach, what might be called "bikehiking". Houston is a different world when seen from an easy rider point of view. And you don't need to be dressed in racer drag to appreciate your own backyard. You rode a bike as a kid. If you are just getting back into it, I highly recommend Grant Peterson's book Just Ride. It may help you not to get the latest, fastest, uncomfortable bike that's unrideable on the potholed streets of Houston, i.e., the one recommended by your bike shop's racing enthusiast.

Houston could be a great biking city - which might help it to become a great city. The bayous, ditches, power line easements and disused railway easements interweave through the city as a hidden and unused biking internet. What will bring this network to life? I wonder.

Notice the List to the right called "1. Bike Rides Around Houston". Start with the Primary Houston Bike Loop to orient yourself.

Nothing is real. Discipline your mind to enjoy the ride...

Friday, October 9, 2015

Channel 13 report on state of Houston Bike Trails

http://abc13.com/hobbies/hitting-houstons-bike-trails-what-you-need-to-know/990859/

HOUSTON (KTRK) --

For those of us wanting to give bike riding a try, sometimes the streets can be intimidating. Well, Houston offers several bike trails for riders. David Dick has spent over 50 years riding the roads of Houston, and he says there are plenty of trails to try.

"I grew up in Houston. I'm a native Houstonian, so I spent my entire life riding around exploring some of the places in Houston."

When he was a kid, bike trails were practically nonexistent. "The first trail that I know of in Houston is the Brays Bayou trail that was built in the mid-1960s," says Dick.

Now, you can ride more than 20 trails in the Houston area. Dick's favorite is the 14-mile long White Oak Bayou Trail that starts in Downtown and can now make a direct route to Antoine.

Dick also recommends the 17-mile Terry Hershey Trail along Buffalo Bayou. "You don't even have to cross any roads at street level. You can ride all the way to Fry Road in Katy if you want to," he adds.

Another trail to try is the Brays Bayou Trail. "That's not as scenic, but it is functional. It will take you all the way from along Brays Bayou all the way from 59 to Mason Park near the Port of Houston," says Dick.

Finally, staring October 3rd, you'll want to check out the newly renovated Buffalo Bayou Trail, which opens on October 3rd and will extend from Sabine to Shepherd. "Plus, they're going to have canoe rentals and restaurants - that's going to be like Houston's Central Park," adds Dick.

When choosing a trail, Dick says he considers, "Connectivity - I want to be able to go from one part of town to another part of town, and also getting across town. For instance, this trail takes you under 610, underneath I-10, and underneath I-45."

Also, new riders should consider joining a bike club, and any bike store can help hook up riders with a group. Dick belongs to Houston Bicycle Club.

"We have rides every weekend - some are in town, some are out of town for various levels, everything from the slow leisurely ride to longer rides," he says.

Finally, if you're going to ride, pick your time wisely. "Sunday mornings are the best day for exploring because traffic is the lightest."

For more information, visit these websites:
www.bikehouston.org
houstonbikeways.org/index.php/bikeways
www.houstonbikeways.org
www.houstonbikeplan.org
houstonbicycleclub.org/Pages/HomePage.aspx

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