Texas Medical Center by Bicycle and a final Evening ride

 Wednesday, October 19.

I actually went by Bill Coats Bridge the other day, but its a cool bridge.

I drove to Hermann Park and grabbed a bike.   I visited B Cycle Stations South of Brays Bayou last Saturday, so today I just had to mop it up.   I have been joking that riding a bike in Houston is like playing Frogger.   The real game can be played in the Medical Center, at any Metro Station!   Try to cross lanes of traffic, only to find there is a train in your way, and there is no median of safety between the train and the car lanes!   But, none of the 257 ambulances in that area were for me!

A few blocks South East of the Metro, in the part of TMC where patients don't venture, is something called the Commons.   A food court with water wall on the outside!

Thursday evening, I was back in Hermann Park for a group ride through the Museum District.   It was a short ride, four stations.   We went past most of the more popular museums.

Our group consisted of about 7 young people (I'll guess around 20-30 yrs old) and me, who will turn 70 in November.   During introductions, one young man, after 3 weeks of riding, has four points.   I was feeling smug, until I realized it's not the age that makes a difference, it's the time!   I am fully retired and have made myself available up to three times a week.   I can take public transportation to Downtown and TMC and I have not been worried about getting to work on time.   So, time definitely makes a difference!  Which doesn't explain the first two gentlemen who finished this treasure hunt in two weeks!   My bike helmet is off to them.

So, anyways, I finished!   Mary tells me I get all sorts of SWAG, including the right to name a bike.  I don't do flashy nicknames, and my dog Cocoa really doesn't resonate with anyone but me, so I think I will ask for "DAN, THE MAN".    Many, in and out of my circle, seem surprised I did the Tour de Bicycle    Even more question WHY I did this biking exercise.   I'll tell you.   It was there, and I thought I just might be able to do it.  I saw interesting parts of Houston, previously unexplored by Nagel eyes.

Here is a thought for all of us.   I saw a number of people trying to figure out how to check out a bike, while those of us on this scavenger hunt would pull out our phone, or the cute little key fob, and be on our way in seconds.    Could we establish a volunteer group who would hang out at a couple of busy stations, like Centennial Park, or by the Zoo Train, with brochures, and a friendly offer of help?   If the first ride is frustrating, there may not be a second ride.   We might even suggest a couple of routes.   Give me a B Cycle T-Shirt, and a clipboard, and people will assume I know what I'm doing.

Here is one more thing before I change subjects:   Any time I had trouble with the station technology, I called the service desk.    Even if Daisy (also known to me as Angel) couldn't answer the phone, if I left a message and/or emailed her, my station problems were resolved very quickly.  The staff tell me that many of my fellow riders would yell at Daisy if things didn't go well.   Not nice at all.   It's not like we are on bikes that cost $20 and hour, a monthly pass is what?, $15?    Daisy kept me from getting stranded in some pretty isolated areas.   I met her last week, she is just as sweet as she sounds.

On to my exciting news!

I went riding in Alief (Southwest Houston) yesterday.   My ultimate goal was Der Wienerschnitzel on Hwy 6, but I'll tell you I was riding to see how the Brays Bayou Extension is doing.   Without crossing any construction barriers, I was able to ride 1.3 miles East from Arch Bishop Fiorenza Park, on eight foot wide concrete trail, with underpasses at Eldridge and Synott!   Serious work is being done all the way past Wilcrest.   It is very possible that Summer of next year, I will get an opportunity to ride from South of Addicks Dam, all the way East to the Ship Channel!  There is a great spot where Broadway meets Harrisburg Blvd, to look out across the ship channel and see ocean-going vessels up close and personal! 

Looking East from Synott Rd in Southwest Houston

Restrooms Along Brays Bayou Trail

For those of us who have been saying that we won’t live long enough to see the Brays Bayou Greenways Trail completed, let’s get our affairs in order, because the contractor is about to break ground!   Survey stakes marking the center of the pathway are going in now.  Brays Trail will be extended West from Braeburn Glen Park to Arthur Storey Park (west of Beltway 8) and then will continue West through Alief all the way to Eldridge Parkway.   The trail already meanders through ArchBishop Fiorenza Park and continues across Hwy 6 to the headwaters of Brays (not to be confused with the headwaters of the Nile, but that is another story!).   

One of the agencies that operate the trail got ahead of itself..   There has been, for several years now, a sign on Brays Trail, at South Gessner, pointing to Arthur Storey Park.    OK, so sign painting is a little less intensive than bull dozing and pouring concrete.    Along that line, let me offer a tour of restrooms to be found along the trail, including that part that has yet to be constructed.

I am a 69 year old, fat diabetic on a bicycle.   I make it a point to know where the closest restroom is, at all times.

Following the bayou almost to the ship channel, Mason Park offers restrooms in the community center.   The park itself is a very nice place to play and relax with friends and family.   Several miles upstream is MacGregor Park.   It also has a community center, but I have never found it open.   There are clean porta-potties in the parking lot.   There is also a B-Cycle station there.

Hermann Park has a number of restrooms, but the one closest to the Brays Trail is on Almeda on the East edge of the park.    Cross the Bill Coats bridge, take the Columbia Tap trail South to Dixie.   A very pleasant detour.

I have not found another public restroom for some distance, but many of us believe there is a city ordinance requiring all cyclists to stop at 3 Brothers Bakery, 3036 South Braeswood and buy a Hamantaschen, a delicious cookie shaped like a three-cornered hat.Everything else is good, but very filling!   Once you buy a cookie, you can use the restroom without guilt!

West of 610 Loop, construction is wrapping up on the South Rice and Chimney Rock bridges.  I estimate that the trail will be whole again this Spring.

Stein Family Park is a hidden gem, across the bayou next to United African Seventh Day Adventist Church on Brays Bayou Drive.   Clean restroom, about 20 parking spaces.   

Braeburn Glen Park, at the current Western end of Brays Bayou Trail. I think there are restrooms by the tennis courts

Now, assuming you are adventuresque, or don’t mind driving, Arthur Storey Park is one of the more used parks in Southwest Houston, located just South of the Home Depot, on Beltway 8.   Restroom is at the entrance to the park.

All the way West, and a wonderful gem of a park, is ArchBishop Fiorenza Park.   I am talking about the one West of Eldridge Parkway.  Restroom.   Extensive system of trails, in and outside the park.   There is a short stretch of trail on either side of the bayou, just Northeast of the park.   

I don't claim these are the only restrooms along the trail, but, aside from the bakery, all are open to the public. With the exception of Mason Park, I have used all these restrooms.

Archbishop Fiorenza Park

Main area with parking lot

 It was a beautiful, overcast and cool morning, so I headed Northwest from my house, not that easy when you are avoiding main roads.   I did a lot of right-left-right, etc turns from neighborhood to neighborhood and only spent two blocks on Synott (my wife pronounces it snot, go figure) before turning into Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Park, located on West Park, between Hwy 6 and Eldridge Parkway.  This is one of many nice parks in Alief.

One of my e-maps shows the Southern trails to be future, but all trails exist and are asphalt and fairly smooth.    There are two man-made hills here, my 7 speed Schwinn and I avoided them, but I guess you can get a workout if you want one.    There are also exercise stations along the trail, Dan was doing well just to pedal!   Maybe next time!

Archbishop Fiorenza Park is part of Brays Bayou.  It and several other parks West of Beltway 8 have been built to give Brays Bayou a place to rest during flood events so that my friends down stream don't get flooded so often.   Brays Bayou crosses under Hwy 6 and flows into the lake that the park was built around.   A trail branches off from the park, goes under the highway and follows Brays Bayou West for some distances.   I will take this trail some other time.

At a scenic spot on the back end of the park, I found this swinging bench.   I tried to get a selfie, but I guess I am too old for selfies!   It's rather comfy!

The parking lot, playground, and clean restroom are on Westpark Dr, just West of Eldridge Parkway.   This might be a good place to park and ride, if you want to continue on to McClendon Park and even farther.   Bring your own water.   Both water stations I saw were out-of-service.

This might be a good time to discuss who runs this park.   Harris County Precint 3  is responsible for parks all over West Harris County.  Because of gerrymandering, Precint 3 is also responsible for Brays Bayou Greenway Trail from Gessner to the railroad tracks west of Stella Link    Other agencies who also control parts of these trails include Precinct  1, which has a small sliver just west of Gessner, and a good bit of trail east of the railroad tracks. The City of Houston (Keegans Bayou) and probably other groups I have not seen.

Steve Radack, commissioner of Precinct 3, has more constituents (population) than the governors of about 10 states.   He has almost total control of the budget for roads, bridges and parks in our precinct.   See www.pct3.com     An interesting fact is that our state constitution established that each county (I have visited all 254) is governed by 4 county commissioners and a county judge, regardless of size or population.   Loving County has about 100 residents, Harris County about 4.7 million!  Go figure.

   Commissioner Steve Radack has been in office for three decades.    His name is on park signs and county structures all over West Harris County.   At www.pct3.com, I found parks, dog parks, trails, community centers and two senior centers.   All carry his name.  An older park, just across the street from "Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Park" is "Bishop Joseph Fiorenza Park", and the sign was cast of concrete,   I guess, long before Steve Radack was elected, because his name is not there!The park page on the pct3 site shows this as phase I with the bigger park as phase II.  A sign that I wonder about are the numerous signs that warn of alligators!   Maybe why they say no swimming.

Two other places, that Dan thinks SHOULD have Mr. Radack's name on it, are the signs at the toll booths announcing a toll of $1.75, and in front of the empty Astrodome, but now I'm just bellyaching!   Mr. Radack was responsible for a world class soap box derby track, and a permanent home for Houston Area Live Steamers (HALS.org)  in Zube Park.  Mr. Radack is not running again, so I wish him well.

My ride in the park was very nice.   The  trail is patched asphalt and is not near as wide as the more heavily traveled main trail along Braeswood from Gessner to Mason Park, but was scenic and restful.   Next time, I think I will drive there and bike farther west along a part of Brays I have never seen. 

A little farther on Brays Bayou Greenway Trail

I headed out Friday morning.   I would have gotten out earlier, but the dogs demanded a walk before they would let me get on the bike.   Weather Wife predicted rain by 1:00.    Had to turn around after a block because my Covid mask was still in the house.  I stopped a lot to take pictures for the previous post, and that added to my time.    And then the headwind.   Now, the guys with 5% body fat, on the fancy bikes, don't seem bothered by wind; me, I was bothered, but I kept going.

The portion of Brays Bayou Trail between Gessner and Buffalo Speedway is very pleasant.   The bikers, runners and walkers come in all shapes and sizes, and are a very diverse group.   Some are in a hurry, many are out enjoying the view.     Everyone is nice and there are many places to rest.

I have counted 3 of these maintenance stations, so far.    Bicycle tools on cables, and a sturdy air pump.   This is just downright friendly of Harris County, or whoever put them there!





After Buffalo Speedway, the grass turns into concrete and the trail moves into the concrete canyon that is Brays Bayou in the Medical Center.   I saw no more families, and traffic thinned out, which is good because the trail is a little narrow, and just a bit closer to the down-embankment than I like.

 Then, we're opposite Hermann Park, and the trial sweeps left and right, and up and down.   Note - if you want to cross the Bill Coats Bridge, and it is beautiful, as is the other side, better take the higher trail as you go under Cambridge, as that is about your only chance.   There is a lower trail at water level, as you go under Texas 288; I was glad I passed on it, as I could see the water had taken over at one point.

Just past 288 is a new H-E-B.   I may stop there sometime.    The next landmark was what I had been looking for - Columbia Tap Trail crosses the bayou here.   If you turn North, this new trail will take you all the way to BBVA Stadium in EaDo.   This is a Rails-To-Trail.   It's an abandoned rail line and goes right through TSU and the 3rd Ward.   I must try it some day - after I finish Brays!



I stopped here and parked my bike at the corner by New Hope Baptist Church.   Bus Line 4 stops here and will take me back through the medical center and all the way back to Alief, all for $1.25! 

My next goal is MacGregor Park, where Brays Bayou crosses MLK and the Metro Rail.   This may take a while.  I feel like I've made progress.   In early May, I rode 2 miles.   Friday, July 27, I rode 18 (at least) miles)

Your Homework assignment for next time - Why is it Brays Bayou, but Braeswood? 

Brays Bayou Trail for the Beginner

Brays Bayou Bike trail has become part of my life goals.    I started riding just a few months ago when my bathroom scale reached 300 pounds and my doctor complained (always something!) about my blood pressure.    So, I dusted off the $200 7 speed Schwin, aired it up, and headed to the beginning of the Keegans Trail.   That was two miles, one way.   Over the next few weeks, I went a little farther each time, until it was time to push on to Gessner where Keegans Trail joins Brays Bayou trail.   At this point, my goal became going as far down Brays as I could, and then I stumble over to the nearest bus stop where I ride Bus 68 West towards home. 

My first major goal was the Medical Center transit center.  I worked towards this goal since early May, but last week I had a great ride and blew right past it, finally stopping at Almeda, and got onto Bus 4, which took me deep into Alief where I live.    If you have ever wondered whatever happened to AJ Foyt, he drives an articulated omni bus on line 4!

So, my next goal is MacArthur Park, just Southeast of University of Houston.   I'm still researching the best bus route home, but sometimes I turn around in Meyerland and ride on back home.  I did that today, and the map says I accomplished 18 miles!   Compare that to my May 5 entry that says I rode 2 miles!

On the Brays Trail, I see all manner of walker and cyclist.   I see teams in matching T's, families with strollers and even a trailer behind Daddy's bike.   The most intimidating is not the ripped guy with spandex and the graphite bike who blows past me on rocket assist, but rather the little 5 year old on the 16 inch bike, who Daddy reports can ride 10 miles!    Way too much energy!

Dan