Texas - TC Jester MUP closure, Columbia Tap MUP

I was riding on the TC Jester bike path a week ago and noticed the signs on the path saying that there was going to be maintenance going on from 1/5/09 through 1/26/09. Has anyone been by the path lately - is it really closed off completely for the next few weeks?

Also - I had the opportunity to ride the new Columbia Tap bike trail on Saturday. It was just completed a few months ago and runs north/south from Walker (east of George R. Brown) all the way to 288 (about 7-8 miles in total length). My initial thought is that it is nice for the residents near downtown (east of 59) and in Third Ward to have a path going to and from GRB, Minute Maid Park, and the Toyota Center. The entire path is at-grade and there are stop signs every 300 feet, so I probably won't be using it for training anytime soon.

It remains to be seen how actively the city will maintain the path. There were a couple of big fallen trees in the path when I was riding it, and the neighborhoods it runs through are predominantly low-income minority neighborhoods. Hopefully the City of Houston won't let it fade due to neglect. Also - I don't think the southern-most portion is finished yet. I came across one segment (not sure if it was at 288 or not) where the bridge was structurally there but was unfinished - good thing I did not blindly just decide to cross. :eek:

I commute every morning on Columbia Tap from downtown to the Medical Center. There's a few trees down since Ike, but only one completely obscures the pavement. I've been meaning to call 311 to get that one cleared, but meh, I'm always in a hurry to get to work or home when I pass it, and its easy enough to just ride into the grass at that spot.

You're talking about McGregor. The portion from McGregor to 288 is not yet complete, and the bridge has looked like that for a while. Does not seem to be a priority. It doesn't really matter to me, because you can just turn right at McGregor and either hook up with the Brays Bayou trail or go wherever you're going (work, for me ;) )

Also I mapped Columbia Tap on Bikely. http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Columbia-Tap-Rail-To-Trail

Okay, I've been lazy-bike commuting for the past month or so (ride to the train, lock'er'up and take the train :P ) but since you mentioned it I rode home on Columbia Tap today...there's been some construction! The part that passed under 59 used to be 4 nasty curbs that you had to walk your bike over, but now its all smooth pavement! Improvements like this have been made at other intersections too. Also, the bridge at McGregor is actually a little bit further along than it was.

Rode the White Oak MUP today and there is no construction.

That is great news. The TC Jester Path is my favorite training path because it's entirely paved, pretty wide, not too busy, only has about 2-3 intersections, and I can bike to it (5 miles) easily from my house.

What do people think about the Memorial Park bike path for training purposes? That is also a short bike ride from where I live, but it seems like the path is not that long (TC Jester is about 4 miles from beginning to end) and I imagine that it gets super crowded at times. I will make a point to check it out sometime very soon, though.

IMO Memorial Park is not worth the trouble if you are training on your road bike, however, it has some great mountain bike trails. I think for the money the White Oak MUP is a better training ride.

IMO Memorial Park is not worth the trouble if you are training on your road bike, however, it has some great mountain bike trails. I think for the money the White Oak MUP is a better training ride.
Depends on how much you can tolerate the same loop. There are a lot of people who train on Picnic Circle. Pacelines, TT bikes, the whole deal.

Memorial is crowded, plus it is used by commuters, joggers, and kids so you have to be on the look out for slower moving traffic. There are good bike lanes along Briar Forest though.

-Nate

Memorial is crowded, plus it is used by commuters, joggers, and kids so you have to be on the look out for slower moving traffic. There are good bike lanes along Briar Forest though.

-Nate
The joggers (lots and lots of them) all jog on the side of Memorial with the dirt path while the paved side is usually empty with an occasional cyclist. Regardless, Picnic Circle does not have any of those problems. You just have to be able to tolerate the same scenery on a loop that's a little more than a mile long. ;) Its best after sundown when car traffic is blocked out.

Also - I had the opportunity to ride the new Columbia Tap bike trail on Saturday. It was just completed a few months ago and runs north/south from Walker (east of George R. Brown) all the way to 288 (about 7-8 miles in total length). My initial thought is that it is nice for the residents near downtown (east of 59) and in Third Ward to have a path going to and from GRB, Minute Maid Park, and the Toyota Center. The entire path is at-grade and there are stop signs every 300 feet, so I probably won't be using it for training anytime soon.

It remains to be seen how actively the city will maintain the path. There were a couple of big fallen trees in the path when I was riding it, and the neighborhoods it runs through are predominantly low-income minority neighborhoods. Hopefully the City of Houston won't let it fade due to neglect. Also - I don't think the southern-most portion is finished yet. I came across one segment (not sure if it was at 288 or not) where the bridge was structurally there but was unfinished - good thing I did not blindly just decide to cross. :eek:
Construction has resumed on that bridge.

Aaron,
I submitted a 311 request at https://webintake.houstontx.gov/web_intake/Controller regarding the tree that was blocking the Columbia Tap MUP and they cleared it away within a couple days! I was surprised that they moved so quickly once the issue had been reported.

That's terrific news! The City of Houston has a lot of upcoming MUPs that are breaking ground this year; hopefully this is indicative of how well they will actively maintain them.

That's terrific news! The City of Houston has a lot of upcoming MUPs that are breaking ground this year; hopefully this is indicative of how well they will actively maintain them.

The new one in thre in the heights seems to be making way also though that bridge where it ends is pretty scary looking.