Bicycle Interstates Using Utility ROWs

[jeremy2788]

I think that it would be awesome, for shade they can build spaced out rest stops with pavilions and possibly vending machines for people to get drinks like they would on an actual interstate.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

I think so as well. I'm still trying to conceptualize how they will deal with the shade though. Is anyone familiar enough with electric infrastructure to know the likely reason that Centerpoint insists on no trees? Is it possible that the height of trees as opposed to simply the presence of the trees themselves is the issue, and that relatively short trees could work?

Extremely excited to see this hopefully get off the ground!

It's governed by the National Electric Safety Code, which dictates the height of lines above any objects. Higher voltages require higher clearance. To say nothing of the difficulty of getting trucks in there to do work on the lines. For reference, the 8/14/03 blackout of the northeast was due to sagging lines (high temperatures, heavy loads causing lines to heat up) contacting trees.

[KerrTown]

It might be too late to build major boulevards along entire lengths of bayous (like Braeswood), but building bicycle paths along them are still feasible. Some riverside paths could become part of these "Bicycle Interstates".

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by DSL_PWR

Wonder who's paying for it?

Same people that are going to pay for a useless wall that anybody can go under

[LocalPlanner]

The Westchase District has put a trail in the Centerpoint easement along the Westpark Tollway. The head of the District happens to be State Rep. Jim Murphy, who was probably the key legislator to get the new statute in place.

[LizzySWW]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Same people that are going to pay for a useless wall that anybody can go under

The US/Mexico border wall has nothing to do with bike trails in Houston. The Politics Forum is the place to post political leanings. Perhaps you're a new member & didn't know.


Bike Trail funding info

The cost to complete Bayou Greenways 2020 will be $220 million. In the November 2012 election, thanks in part to the “Parks By You!” campaign, Houston voters overwhelmingly approved a major bond referendum providing $166 million in parks funding, $100 million of which is set aside for Bayou Greenways 2020.

Houston Parks Board is responsible for raising the remaining $120 million from private funds, federal and state grants and other sources. As of Feb. 2016, more than $90 million had been raised, including a historic $50 million donation from the Kinder Foundation. Houston Parks Board: Explore the Bayou Greenways

We've heard the good points about the trails, but on the flip side, $200,000,000 is a lot to spend on something that only benefits a small minority of the population. (covering my head from the stones about to be thrown )

1) just 12% of the US population bikes for fun at least twice a week
2) only .04% of Houstonians bike to work


sources:
https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/acs-25.pdf Page 8
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/03/...ke-it-a-habit/

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by LizzySWW

The US/Mexico border wall has nothing to do with bike trails in Houston. The Politics Forum is the place to post political leanings. Perhaps you're a new member & didn't know.


Bike Trail funding info


We've heard the good points about the trails, but on the flip side, $200,000,000 is a lot to spend on something that only benefits a small minority of the population. (covering my head from the stones about to be thrown )

1) just 12% of the US population bikes for fun at least twice a week
2) only .04% of Houstonians bike to work


sources:
https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/acs-25.pdf Page 8
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/03/...ke-it-a-habit/

On the flip side, it isn't safe to bicycle in car-dominated metros. There are few places for bicycle trails since the local government concentrates on arterial road building. The hot, triple-digit temperature summer climate may play a factor, since an A/C private automobile is preferable to the bus and/or bicycle. Those two reasons may have inhibited bicycle use (and public transportation usage).