A project manager from Public Works told representatives from three bicycle groups that dedicated bike lanes could be included on the new Cambridge Bridge that is under construction near Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center.

Stephen Campagna said that striping that matches current bike lanes on Cambridge can be continued on the bridge approach from Holcombe Blvd. and the bridge crossing Brays Bayou to MacGregor.  He said that a change order will be required but that the cost would probably not be a big issue because striping is the last activity to take place.

Dedicated bike lanes were promised in the early plans for the bridge and were requested by Baylor College of Medicine following the death of one of the institution’s students while biking on the way to school. The current plan called for a 14-foot “shared” lane.

“A dedicated lane lets motorists know that bicyclists will be on the road,” said Ruth SoRelle, representing the Texas Medical Center Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee and Baylor College of Medicine.  She said that representatives from the city had appeared at TMC committee meetings and said dedicated lanes would be included on the bridge.

Woody Speer, president of BikeHouston, measured the lanes on Cambridge after the meeting and reported that the lanes are 44 to 47 inches wide, with an average width of 45.5 inches.

Frank Michel, director of communications for Mayor Bill White, told the group that there were changes that could be made, but others were not possible since the project was under construction.  Michel was instrumental in bringing about the meeting.

The meeting also dealt with access to and from the bridge for pedestrians, joggers and bicycles. One complication is these people get from the Brays Bayou Trail to the bridge.

David Dick, chair of the Houston Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, said the current plan created barriers for cyclists riding the Brays Bayou Trail who need to go on Cambridge. The current plan called for the cyclists to use a narrow walk that crossed a driveway that had tight sight lines.

Dick suggested an opening in the guard rails on the bridge to allow cyclists to turn onto Cambridge.  Campagna said that this was unacceptable and could affect the integrity of the bridge.

Campagna did propose an alternative that would allow cyclists to merge onto bike lanes on the street before the driveway.  His proposal that would require a change order to the plan would put in ramps and a cut in the median on the approach to bridge.  This would allow cyclists to enter Cambridge without having to ride on the narrow walk.

Other points of discussion and action items:

Sidewalk width on South MacGregor, north side of bridge -- The appropriate width for the handicap ramps was discussed since the ramps will need to handle both bike and pedestrian flow.  The overall top concrete area was 60 inches wide, but the drawing showed a smaller ramp of an undeterminable width.   We estimated we need 60 inches of true ramp width, but we weren't certain.

Sidewalk width on South MacGregor, north side of bridge – Public Works will check on the possibility of increasing the width of the planned sidewalk.  Speer suggested width should be 10 feet to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.  Public Works will need to review ownership of right of way before determining width of sidewalks.

East/West trail under bridge on the south side – Reconstructed trails along Brays Bayou meet on the east and west side of the bridge.  A request was made to ease the turning radii so that a smoother transition can be made for cyclist wanting to change direction east/west or west/east.

Others attending the meeting included Rita Balchus of the Houston Bikeway Program of Public Works, Alvin Wright of the Public Works Directors Office and Frank Simoneaux of Public Works Neighborhood Programs.