Jill_Ion
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Bicycling Tourist Shares His Thoughts - 2008/04/29 22:28
Tony sent this to us in April 2008:
I am a tourist visiting from Maine and was intrigued by a recent RTC magazine article about the 'Columbia Tap' bike/ped way reported to open in April 2008.
I stopped in at Boones to ask about location of this rail trail and they had not heard of it. Another bike shop in Montrose didn't know a thing about this new and close-by facility either.
I went to the City Hall info center and asked about bicycling in general. Initially, they were at a loss about Houston bicycling information-- no maps/brochures/nothing. Then a supervisor remembered the Houston Bikeways program map and gave me her last copy from a backroom. The 'Columbia Tap' location was shown on the map. The next day, I took the light rail and walked out east of Minute Maid park. I found the bike lanes easily, which led to the beginning of the trail. Very nice concrete 11-12' wide with good signage and striping and landscaping. No name of the trail -- so I assume that this is the "Columbia Tap" (which seems like an odd name -- advocate for a name change to something that the community can relate to -- not some old Southern Pacific legacy name).
I started walking on the trail which is complete for about the first two miles. At the I-45 crossing (right next to a school -- but no trail access???) there are gaps in the cement at road crossings. No sign of recent construction activity and no users up to this point. I continued south on the unfinished but passable trail. I saw my first users. I passed 6 different bicyclists who were using the trail for transportation (and not too friendly to a person obviously not from their community).
This rail trail has great potential for community use, transportation from the Medical Center to Minute Maid Park and for "safe routes to school".
Please help spread the word and advocate for the funds to finish the last touches to make this trail complete and attractive.
Tony Barrett -- member Bicycle Coalition of Maine and infrequent visitor to Houston.
Harpswell, Maine
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