Porchman Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Anyone seen crews working on this lately? I haven't notice any additions in the last few months. Even if the bridges are going to take awhile I wish they'd complete the other sections. I can live without the bollards and traffic control if they'd complete the E-W section between Yale and Waverly.They're working on that section now. The forms are in place at Yale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrabbit Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I do like that I'm seeing lots of people on it every day, maybe even more than on Heights Blvd. I forget what street, maybe just north of 13th, but there's one family always out there in lawn chairs with the kids playing. I think that's what we need more of, neighbors out seeing and talking to other neighbors. I'm trying to do it.Well, I am going out on a limb, but I think you're talking about our family! We're at 13th ... yes, our kids would be outside 24 hours a day, if they could. We eat dinner outside nearly every night, too. (haha) We were skeptical at first, but we're truly thrilled with the trail now! We've met so many people - more every week. I am, however, hopeful that the city will maybe put in more stop signs. 13th can be pretty scary, and we've seen people race across the intersection without really checking for traffic. Really praying that there isn't a disaster in the future. (and since our kids are always outside, that would be a double-disaster to witness)--janis,etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Well, I am going out on a limb, but I think you're talking about our family! We're at 13th ... yes, our kids would be outside 24 hours a day, if they could. We eat dinner outside nearly every night, too. (haha) We were skeptical at first, but we're truly thrilled with the trail now! We've met so many people - more every week. I am, however, hopeful that the city will maybe put in more stop signs. 13th can be pretty scary, and we've seen people race across the intersection without really checking for traffic. Really praying that there isn't a disaster in the future. (and since our kids are always outside, that would be a double-disaster to witness)--janis,etcThat's great, and we'll probably see you outside soon! We'll be pushing around a stroller with a crazy little redhead girl who will probably be trying to work her way out of the stroller at all times. She does what she wants, but she's cute so it's ok most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverJK Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 anyone know when they are going to get these bridges done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeightsGuy Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Been a while since I posted to this thread, but boy am I happy I was proven wrong and this is finally coming together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 If you knew the history of how long it took to get started, I think it was hard not to be skeptical. I was a little skeptical, too.But I must say that, while the project hasn't proceeded on a super-expedited basis or anything (is December still the projected completion date?), it seems to have been progressing steadily since it got going, and more quickly than I anticipated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanith27 Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 During the groundbreaking they said completion was August, although there was a general acceptance that this would be done well before that. The next phase of the trail, which will take this on towards UHD, is supposed to start in the fall. Not sure if that is still the plan what with money being tight and all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 anyone know when they are going to get these bridges done?Studewood will be closed tonight between 8 pm and 5 am, presumably to pour concrete on the overpass over the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Studewood will be closed tonight between 8 pm and 5 am, presumably to pour concrete on the overpass over the street.I was wondering if that was why. Hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverJK Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 i saw that as well, but the railroad bridge still needs to be taken care of.... i guess they'll do that next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heightsite Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 They were indeed pouring concrete on the bridge that crosses over Studewood last night. Very impressive sight! The guard rails look really low and I wonder if there are plans to make them a bit taller for safety reasons or put fencing over the top. The tressel over the bayou is in need of major work after several fires and general neglect. Now that folks will be able to access the tressel in both directions, I hope they make improvements before someone gets hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porchman Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Walked the trail today from W 14 to the tressle. Took some pics of the progress. They extended the trail west of Nicholson to Lawrence Park, near N. Shepherd. This may come in handy for the drug dealers (discussed in This thread). They have not completed a large part of the section between Nicholson and Yale. One matter with which they are dealing is reconfiguration of the drainage at the bottom of the north-south streets in that area. I was also surprised that they are putting a large part of this segment on the side of the old rail bed, not on the bed itself. Based on these insets at the street intersections, it appears they do intend to put in posts to block cars from driving onto the trails. They did not include these insets along Nicholson. The stretch below White Oak, adjacent to the Freeland Historic District offers a great view of the CBD skyline. They have pulled up the old ties from the tressle, but that's it. They also have poured the concrete on the stretch over the knob between the tressle and the bridge over Studemont. The public art projects are being installed. (The artist, Miguel, has a magnified view of his artistic abilties...among other things). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanith27 Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 I cycled most of the trail yesterday and was dissappointed to see the graffiti artists had already spray painted their sense of 'humor' on the trail by the train trestle (your last pic, Porch, good thing you didn't show all of it). Whoever Geno's mom is, she is not friends with the taggers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_in_TX Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 My wife and I are going to grab some bagels at the Hot Bagel shop then head up to the heights (so starting near Shepherd and Grey). Any advice on what route to take? Where's safest to ride, things to see, etc?(19 days until closing!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 The Nicholson trail, of course. Its brand new and a lot of fun. Not officially completed, I don't think, but getting close. Here, have a giant PDF http://documents.publicworks.houstontx.gov/document-center/houston-bikeway-program/bikeway-network-map/download.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunsets Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 If you start at Shepherd and Gray, I would then go north on Waugh to get into the Heights. If you're OK with traffic, take the lane - you'll be fine. Otherwise, the sidewalk on the east side goes all the way across. Once you get to Washington, you have a nice bike lane on Heights Blvd and that will take you all the way up to 20th street. Heights has a lot of nice houses to stare at as you cycle past. Turn west down 19th st and see the shops. Cricket's is a good stop for ice cream. Off of Heights, turn east on 8th street, cross Studewood, and then you can meander through the Woodland Heights. Bayland st is really fun to bike - and shady! Antidote coffee shop on 7th(?) and Studewood is a nice stop for refreshment and Kaboom used bookstore is there too. Buchanan's Native Plants on 11th and Oxford (I think it's Oxford) is a nice place to visit, too - their grounds are very fun to wander. The Nicholson trail listed above is great. Also, if you turn west on 11th from Shepherd, you can pick up the White Oak bike trail on TC Jester (I think Nicholoson will eventually meet up with it????) Have fun! Cycling in the Heights is pretty easy, once you get across the bayou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 If you start at Shepherd and Gray, I would then go north on Waugh to get into the Heights. If you're OK with traffic, take the lane - you'll be fine. Otherwise, the sidewalk on the east side goes all the way across. Once you get to Washington, you have a nice bike lane on Heights Blvd and that will take you all the way up to 20th street. Heights has a lot of nice houses to stare at as you cycle past. Turn west down 19th st and see the shops. Cricket's is a good stop for ice cream. Yes, Cricket's is a good stop. Beware of the mean old lady in the antique store next door. She will come out and yell at you if you leave your bike on the sidewalk or in front of her store.Off of Heights, turn east on 8th street, cross Studewood, and then you can meander through the Woodland Heights. Bayland st is really fun to bike - and shady! Antidote coffee shop on 7th(?) and Studewood is a nice stop for refreshment and Kaboom used bookstore is there too. Buchanan's Native Plants on 11th and Oxford (I think it's Oxford) is a nice place to visit, too - their grounds are very fun to wander. The Nicholson trail listed above is great. Also, if you turn west on 11th from Shepherd, you can pick up the White Oak bike trail on TC Jester (I think Nicholoson will eventually meet up with it????) Have fun! Cycling in the Heights is pretty easy, once you get across the bayou.I agree with everything sunsets posted here, and wish you great joy of your ride. The Houston Bicycle Club has a couple of weekend rides, the EZ Ride and the Houston Sans Car, which sound very much like what you are describing.I would suggest looking carefully at the big bikeways map kylejack suggested. There are a lot of places where bike routes parallel a heavily traveled street one or two streets over where there is little traffic. It's the kind of thing you don't really notice when driving a car but if you seek them out you can happily ride in greatly reduced traffic. I also suggest doing what the clubs do and start early in the morning. You will have a LOT less traffic and it will be somewhat cooler. If you don't want to ride on Waugh, take W. Dallas into the western part of downtown (past the Beth Israel Cemetery and Founder's Cemetery), cross the bayou near Sesquicentennial Park at the Wortham Center, and take either Washington or the Eleanor Tinsley Park bike path back over to Heights. Washington is a straighter shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott08 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 From Shepherd and West Gray, you could go north on Shepherd, cross Allen Parkway and when you get to Memorial jump the curb and ride the paved and/or dirt path along the bayou heading east. There's a pedestrian bridge that crosses Memorial at Jackson Hill, go over that and down JH to Washington. Cross Washington, jog over to Leverkuhn and head north to Center. East on Center to Heights Blvd and take the path north. I'm okay riding busy streets in a group, but when I'm by myself I prefer to take the paths less travelled. I ride from my house in Norhill to Memorial Park at least a couple times a week and have a backroad path that keeps me being in traffic to a minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 If you're starting at the Hot Bagel Shop you're by Shepherd and Welch. My low car traffic route would be to take Welch east to Dunlavy, then Dunlavy north to Allen Parkway. Jog over on the bike path to Waugh, and take Waugh north as it turns into Heights Bl. Go right on White Oak, then the first left onto Harvard that runs parallel to Heights Bl. Not much traffic and some OK old architecture along there. Turn left onto West 19th and find a nice place for lunch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_in_TX Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks all - good advice! I repped everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 From Shepherd and West Gray, you could go north on Shepherd, cross Allen Parkway and when you get to Memorial jump the curb and ride the paved and/or dirt path along the bayou heading east. There's a pedestrian bridge that crosses Memorial at Jackson Hill, go over that and down JH to Washington. Cross Washington, jog over to Leverkuhn and head north to Center. East on Center to Heights Blvd and take the path north. I'm okay riding busy streets in a group, but when I'm by myself I prefer to take the paths less travelled. I ride from my house in Norhill to Memorial Park at least a couple times a week and have a backroad path that keeps me being in traffic to a minimum.Scott, that all sounds good except I would never recommend riding a bicycle on Shepherd at any time of the day or night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I've done that ride a lot, heading up Waugh is the easiest. From Shepherd there are a lot of ways to get to Waugh, I would just go up McDuffie, down hill to cross Allen Pkwy and get on the trail. Head east to Waugh, then north and do what everyone else says. You don't want to cross I-10 on Shepherd or Yale. Yale sucks on a bike, especially under the RR underpass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott08 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Scott, that all sounds good except I would never recommend riding a bicycle on Shepherd at any time of the day or night.It was too hard to explain, but from that area, I'd probably head down McDuffie, ride down Shepherd a few hundred yards to Allen Parkway, then jump on the sidewalk going over the bridge to Memorial. Shepherd is a bit crazy, both bumpy and with very fast traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_in_TX Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 We'll be fine getting from Shepherd to the Heights (we've lived in the Montrose and Grey areas for many years), just wanting to know where to go in the Heights. Hey, I've only been hit on Waugh once (at Allen Parkway). The guy was entirely not paying attention, I stopped at a red light, he stopped with his car against my leg and tire. I was fine, but he could have at least rolled down his window and asked if I was ok....? LOL, he was setting a great example for his kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J008 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 We'll be fine getting from Shepherd to the Heights (we've lived in the Montrose and Grey areas for many years), just wanting to know where to go in the Heights. Hey, I've only been hit on Waugh once (at Allen Parkway). The guy was entirely not paying attention, I stopped at a red light, he stopped with his car against my leg and tire. I was fine, but he could have at least rolled down his window and asked if I was ok....? LOL, he was setting a great example for his kids.For nice houses and pleasant streets I would go down Harvard between White Oak and 18th, and Bayland between Beauchamp and Michaux. As far as places to stop there are plenty of places on White Oak or 19th street, and for the Bayland route I would stop at King Biscuit (Beauchamp@Whiteoak) on one end and Antidote on the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverJK Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I would make it over to El Bolillo on Airline for some pastries. You can take Harvard up to Aurora and It will take you right to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 This might also help you plan a route...http://www.whitelinennightheights.com/map.htmI've never been to this event, but it seems like it's a crawl that covers Heights area bars, restaurants and shops. Whenever I get around to doing a bike tour of the Heights I'll probably use this map as a guide, along with the many helpful suggestions above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_in_TX Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Grrr - the pdf is gone and I seem to be unable to find it any where (Google cache doesn't help b/c it is a PDF). Anyone find a new one?Seems their website moved but their forgot to move their pdf.I did find a cached text html version - but, well, without the lines...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_in_TX Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I posted this in the Nicholson thread, too. COH moved their site but failed to move the pdf map. So sadly unless we find it by luck, the trail will have to wait until we move up there in 3 weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_in_TX Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Hot Bagel shop, up Waugh, White Oak to Onion Creek Farmer's market.Over to Antidote for a coffee.Up Harvard to 20th. Looked for Ma's but only found an empty lot.Locked our bikes up on 19th.Shopped, read the plague by the pumping station. Bought some more Penzy's spices and ice cream at Cricket.3.5 or 4 hour trip. Bushed.I think we're going to like living in the Heights!!! (the part of the trip that stunk was W Alabama to I-10 and back!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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