Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan

Energy Corridor DistrictBicycle Master Plan

Promoting programs that encourage and support bicycling.

2010Walter P. MooreBicycle Solutions

Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan Page i

CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1

About the Energy Corridor District ................................................................................................. 1

About this Plan .............................................................................................................................. 1

Coordination With Other Plans and Programs ............................................................................... 4

Purpose, Principles, Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................ 6

Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 6

Principles ...................................................................................................................................... 6

Goals ............................................................................................................................................ 7

Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 7

Bicycle Routes and Facilities ............................................................................................................. 9

Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................ 9

2010 Bicycle Counts ................................................................................................................... 13

System Needs ............................................................................................................................ 16

Bikeway Options ......................................................................................................................... 18

Proposed Bikeways, Parking and Amenities ............................................................................... 24

Livable Center Study Draft Recommendations ............................................................................ 31

Education, Promotion and Outreach ............................................................................................... 42

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 42

Elements of programs ................................................................................................................. 43

Existing programs ....................................................................................................................... 47

Available programs ...................................................................................................................... 64

Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 73

Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 76

References ..................................................................................................................................... 77

Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan Page ii

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1: Energy Corridor District Location within Houston

FIGURE 2: Energy Corridor Boundaries

FIGURE 3: Livable Center Architectural Model (June 2010)

FIGURE 4: City of Houston Existing and Proposed Bikeways (May 2009)

FIGURE 5: Existing Energy Corridor District Transit and Hike & Bike Routes

FIGURE 6: Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Locations (May 2010)

FIGURE 7: Land Use and Major Attractors

FIGURE 8: Shared Use Path

FIGURE 9: Signed Shoulder Bike Route

FIGURE 10: Bicycle Lane (“Bike Lane”)

FIGURE 11: Signed Shared Roadway

FIGURE 12: Proposed Routes

FIGURE 13: Livable Center Proposed Bicycle Connections

FIGURE 14: Pulteney Bridge, Bath, England (spans the River Avon)

FIGURE 15: Trailville Drive Endpoints – Potential Buffalo Bayou Crossing

FIGURE 16: Pipeline Easement West of SH 6

FIGURE 17: Neighborhood Access Point: Fleetwood Place Drive

FIGURE 18: Commuter Bicycle Facility at BP Westlake Parking Garage

FIGURE 19: LAB Scan (Shoulder-Check) Drill

FIGURE 20: Energy Corridor Website- Mobility and Public Safety Page

FIGURE 21: Houston Bikeway Program Website

FIGURE 22: LAB Online Traffic Skills 101 Course

FIGURE 23: San Francisco MTA Poster Campaigns

FIGURE 24: San Francisco MTA Shared Lane Marking Educational Poster

Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan Page 1

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT THE ENERGY CORRIDOR DISTRICT

The Energy Corridor District (ECD or District) is a municipal management district in West Houston,

Texas that works with public and private organizations at the local, regional, state, and national

levels to attract and relocate companies to the Energy Corridor and support their success. Created

in 2001 by the Texas State Legislature, the District encompasses 1,500 acres along both sides of

Interstate 10 from Tully to west of Memorial Brook and along North Eldridge Parkway from Interstate

10 to south of Briar Forest. Figure 1 shows the general location of the district and Figure 2 shows

the district’s boundaries.

The Energy Corridor District collaborates with public agencies and has leveraged its financial

resources to design and implement several key projects.

ABOUT THIS PLAN

Bicycling and walking are integral components of an efficient transportation network, along with

public transit and the use of private motor vehicles. Therefore it is important that appropriate bicycle

and pedestrian accommodations be made available to the public.

The District has identified transportation as an important success factor, and wishes to provide the

most comprehensive transportation network by accommodating non-motorized travel modes in

addition to automobiles and transit. This Bicycle Master Plan evaluates existing conditions,

addresses the needs of bicyclists in order to create a network so that they can use to safely travel

to, through, within and from the Energy Corridor, and proposes programs to encourage and support

bicycling.


Figure 1: Energy Corridor District Location Within Houston


Figure 2: Energy Corridor District Boundaries


COORDINATION WITH OTHER PLANS AND PROGRAMS

Houston Bikeway Program

As a part of the City of Houston, the Energy Corridor District wishes to coordinate its plans with the

City’s Bikeway Program. The City of Houston Bikeway Program offers a 345-mile interconnected

bikeway network that spans the city. The network includes bike lanes, bike routes, shared lanes,

bayou trails, rail-trails and other urban multi-use paths. Bicycle commuters can use combinations of

trails, bike lanes, transit, and shared roadways to travel between their homes and work places.

West Houston Trails Master Plan

The Energy Corridor District is within the area addressed by the West Houston Trails Master Plan

(WHTMP), which proposes a 100+ mile interconnected trail system connecting City of Houston

bikeways with trails within parks, utility corridors, and along creeks and bayous. The WHTMP effort

includes Energy Corridor and National Park Service officials. Community volunteers from super

neighborhoods and municipal utility districts met for over two years to develop the criteria and plans.

Public and private parties are motivated to complete plans and construct trails.

The West Houston Trails Master Plan process has provided several opportunities for community

input, including a Saturday Stakeholder workshop in October 2008 at ConocoPhillips and a

community input meeting held on September 9, 2009 at Maurice L. Wolfe Elementary School.

Through these community meetings the WHTMP planning team identified and incorporated the

community’s perceived needs. A web site was created to gather personal comments and answer

survey questions.

The Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan has adopted the WHTMP goals, and will be

submitted to the WHTMP subcommittees for consideration of indicated WHTMP needs that lie

within the Energy Corridor District, and proposed links to ensure that the completed system has

sufficient continuity and connectivity.

Energy Corridor District Livable Center Plan

The Houston-Galveston Area Council, the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), has

identified several areas around greater Houston where improved connectivity for walking, bicycling,

and transit could enable more commute and other trips to be made without the use of a private


auto. H-GAC’s description says “Livable Centers are walkable, mixed-use places that provide

multimodal transportation options, improve environmental quality and promote economic

development.” The program funds planning studies and implementation projects.

A Livable Center Planning Study is underway for the Energy Corridor area with a particular focus on

the Addicks Park and Ride Lot, located on the north side of IH10 (Katy Freeway) just east of State

Highway 6. This study, funded by the Energy Corridor District and H-GAC and led by LRK

Architects, is creating a land development concept and feasibility analysis for the area roughly

bounded by Addicks Dam, Grisby Road, SH 6 and Westlake Park Boulevard, with the development

concept centered on the Park and Ride lot and the BP-owned parcel across the Katy Freeway. It

would replace the existing surface parking with structured parking, and proposes a novel

pedestrian/bicycle/transit bridge to join the areas across the freeway, as seen in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Energy Corridor Livable Center Architectural Model (June 2010)

The draft Livable Center Planning Study identifies many significant bicycle connectivity improvement

opportunities. Because the Study’s recommendations have not been finalized at this writing, its

draft recommendations are discussed and illustrated in the section titled Livable Center Study Draft

Recommendations.


PURPOSE, PRINCIPLES, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan is to evaluate existing and proposed

bicycle facilities and usage in the Energy Corridor so that gaps can be identified and addressed by

public and private entities to complete an on-street and off road bicycle network.

PRINCIPLES

The Plan’s principles include the six “Es” developed by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB):

Equality: The equal legal status and equal treatment of cyclists in traffic law. All US states must

adopt fair, equitable and uniform traffic laws that are “vehicle-neutral” to the greatest extent possible. Cyclists’ ability to access all destinations must be protected. State and local laws that discriminate against cyclists, or restrict their right to travel safely, must be repealed.

Engineering: Roadways and separate facilities must conform to state and national standards and allow for safe, legal and efficient traffic movements. Construction and maintenance of roads must equitably serve all users. Separate facilities must be maintained at a level not less than that applied to the public roadway. Trip-endpoint and waypoint facilities such as parking must serve bicyclists.

Encouragement: Promotion of cycling as a healthy and environmentally sound method of

transport and recreation. Encouragement is done via promotional campaigns, incentives for those choosing bicycling rather than another form of transport and promotion of cycling as a healthy activity. The encouragement of bicycling should be inclusive of all types of cyclists.

Education: Cycling training should be based on the principle that “cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” This type of cycling is based on the same sound, proven traffic principles governing all drivers, and is the safest, most efficient way for all cyclists to operate. By making them highly visible and their actions predictable to other road users.

Enforcement: police and the courts in the enforcements of traffic laws and in the investigation of crashes that involve bicyclists, which reach the threshold for the state or jurisdiction in question, must give Cyclists equal treatment. Cyclists must be viewed as fully equal to other parties in the determination of culpability in crashes, the economic value of injuries or death, and non-economic losses that are commonly awarded to crash victims

Evaluation: Evaluation of the other five Es (Equality, Engineering, Enforcement, Education and

Encouragement) Evaluation must involve measurement, analysis and research using rigorous, statistically sound methodologies.


GOALS

The Plan’s goals include:

Identify locations of future public trails and connecting routes

Provide outdoor recreation opportunities on trails through parks and conservation areas

Provide opportunities for bicycling and walking to be used for work commutes, school

commutes and other local trips

Increase conservation through reduced use of cars, fuel and roadways

Increase opportunities for health and fitness

Promote safety through proper design and construction of trails and roadways and

education supporting safe use of bicycles

Provide connections to transit and on-road bikeways

OBJECTIVES

The Plan will achieve its Goals by pursuing the objectives listed in Table 1.1. Time frames for the

Plan’s objectives depend on the support of federal, state, county and local agencies’ capital

improvement plans. Projects identified in this Plan will be submitted to the appropriate authorities for

approval, implementation and coordination.


Table 1.1: Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan Objectives

# Objective Timeframe

1 Maintain existing bike lanes/sharrows and where feasible replace them with shared-use paths within the same ROW

Ongoing

2 Expand the network of bike lanes/sharrows to thoroughfares where ROW is constrained and prevents near term construction of shared-use paths

Ongoing

3 Continually identify contacts within Energy Corridor District companies to lead bicycle education initiatives

Ongoing

4 Promote National Bike Month and Annual Bike to Work Day Events Annually

5 Coordinate plans and improvements with Katy ISD to make Addicks Howell a Safe Route to School, to serve the K-12 Wolfe International Baccalaureate School

Planning: 2010 Implementation: Before school opens

6 Coordinate with Harris County Precinct 3 the continual improvement and expansion of the Precincts trail system along Buffalo Bayou and within Barker and Addicks Reservoirs

Ongoing

7 Partner with Harris County Precinct 3 to accelerate the construction of the N. Terry Hershey Trail Extension In 2010

8 Partner with METRO and other interested vendors to provide a bike station at the Addicks Park & Ride Lot

Open with N. Terry Hershey Trail Expansion Project

9 Coordinate with downtown, Uptown Houston and Texas Medical Center officials to encourage cycling to the Addicks Park & Ride Lot as part of the regional transit system

When Bike Station opens

10 Coordinate with Harris County Flood Control District to provide multi-functional uses along drainageways for recreation and transportation purposes

Ongoing

11 Coordinate with West Houston Trails Master Plan to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections to the Energy Corridor District

In 2010

12 Develop east-west shared-use trails to connect the Barker Dam Trail to the Eldridge Parkway shared-use trails By 2015

13 Develop a north-south shared-use path spine on Eldridge Parkway connecting Bear Creek Park to Brays Bayou

By 2015

14 Coordinate with TxDOT to expand the width of sidewalks along IH 10 to meet the criteria of shared-use paths

By 2020

15 Coordinate with METRO, the City of Houston and TxDOT to make SH 6 a “Full Transportation” corridor accommodating pedestrians, cyclists and transit patrons

By 2020


BICYCLE ROUTES AND FACILITIES

EXISTING CONDITIONS

The Energy Corridor District has an established workplace-based cycling culture, described in the

Education, Promotion and Outreach section. This section focuses on existing infrastructure.

As mentioned before, the Energy Corridor District is within the City of Houston (COH) limits, so its

streets and paths are included in the City’s bikeway program. There are already several bikeways

within the Energy Corridor District; Figure 4 shows the existing City of Houston Bikeways as they

appear in the most recent Houston Bikeway Program map (May 2009). These include:

Bike lanes along Briar Forest from Barker Reserve in the west to Tanglewilde in the east;

Bike lanes on N. Dairy Ashford north of IH 10;

Bike lanes on Enclave Parkway from Eldridge in the north to Briar Forest in the south;

A shared lane / signed route on Enclave south of Briar Forest, extending to La Quinta on

Enclave and on neighborhood streets to south of Richmond;

A shared lane / signed route to the south of the District that connects the Enclave route to

the east along neighborhood streets including Whittington and Waldemar;

Shared-use paths connecting the Enclave route north to the Buffalo Bayou route and IH-10,

and connecting the Dairy Ashford bike lanes to neighborhoods to the east along the south

side of Addicks Dam; and

Trails along Buffalo Bayou, up Langham Creek, and around Barker Reservoir.

Several bikeways are not shown on the City’s map, including:

Shared use paths along both sides of Eldridge from Enclave north to the Buffalo Bayou

trails, and north under IH 10 connecting to the Dairy Ashford Bike Lanes;

Shared use path along the IH 10 south frontage road from Addicks-Howell to Langham

Creek;

A short multi-use trail loop along SH 6 under IH 10.


Bike lanes along N. Dairy Ashford cover the entire distance between IH 10 and N. Eldridge Parkway.

In addition to these bikeways, the Energy Corridor District is served by several METRO bus routes,

some of which serve the Addicks Park & Ride Lot that is located just north of IH 10, creating

opportunities for multimodal trips where commuters use their bicycles to either start or finish transit

trips. All bike routes are shown in Figure 5 along with existing bus routes in the area and public

bicycle parking locations.


Figure 4: City of Houston Existing Bikeways (May 2009)


Figure 5: Existing Energy Corridor District Transit Routes and Selected Bikeways


2010 BICYCLE COUNTS

As part of a nationwide effort to gather data on non-motorized travel patterns, bicyclists and

pedestrians were counted over a 48 hour period (Wednesday and Thursday, May 19-20, 2010) at

the three Energy Corridor locations shown below. Cameras recorded travelers passing through

various areas at each location. Software processed the captured video, identifying and tabulating

moving shapes.

Figure 6: Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Locations (May 2010)

The count locations are described in detail and the results (pedestrian and bicycle) tabulated in a

memo dated June 30, 2010 from Walter P Moore to Clark Martinson, included as an Appendix. This

section summarizes only the bicycle results.

Terry Hershey Trail at Memorial Drive (west side of creek)

Here the Addicks Dam outflow (the extension of

South Mayde Creek from Addicks Reservoir)

runs north-south and passes under Memorial

Drive; further north it passes under IH 10. There

are trails on both sides of the creek at Memorial

Drive; both cross under the street and connect

to it on the south side.


Along the south side of Memorial Drive a narrow sidewalk crosses the creek behind a guardrail. The

east-side trail continues north and crosses under IH 10, beyond which it is planned to connect to

the Addicks Dam south perimeter trail.

The following table summarizes the 48-hour counts at the three sites indicated by black lines in the

detail figure above. The bicycle pattern was steady use between 6 am and noon with a significant

peak between 5 pm and 8 pm.

Day Crossing Bridge (on sidewalk)

Entering/Exiting Trail (from street)

On Trail (west undercrossing)

Total

Wednesday 5/19 50 43 254 347

Thursday 5/20 82 76 379 537

Total 132 119 633 884

Terry Hershey Trail at Eldridge Parkway

Here Buffalo Bayou runs east-west and passes

under Eldridge Parkway. West of Eldridge the trail

runs along both sides of the Bayou. It crosses

under Eldridge on the north side and continues to

the east. Both sides of Eldridge have wide

sidewalks that function as shared-use paths. The

east-side path has a separate bridge across the

Bayou and loops down away from Eldridge to

intersect with the north-side Trail.

The following table summarizes the 48-hour counts at the two sites indicated by black lines in the

detail figure above. The bicycle pattern was steady use between 7 am and 1 pm with a significant

peak between 5 pm and 8 pm.

Day Crossing Bridge

(east side of Eldridge) On Trail Total

Wednesday 5/19 102 647 749

Thursday 5/20 115 636 751

Total 217 1283 1500


Dairy Ashford Road at WB IH 10 Frontage Road

This is a major signalized intersection on the north

side of IH 10. Counts were done at this location

because some users of the trail along the south

edge of Addicks Dam may cross under IH 10 on

Dairy Ashford.

The following table summarizes the 48-hour

counts at the four sites indicated by black lines in

the detail figure above. Few bicyclists traversed

this location. Of those that did, most traveled

along Dairy Ashford and crossed the west

(frontage road) leg.

Day E-W across

north leg (Dairy Ashford)

N-S across east leg

(Frontage Rd)

E-W across south leg

(Dairy Ashford)

N-S across west leg

(Frontage Rd) Total

Wednesday 5/19 2 2 0 12 16

Thursday 5/20 3 2 0 8 13

Total 5 4 0 20 29


SYSTEM NEEDS

In order to understand the needs of the Energy Corridor District bikeway system, this section

explores its current and potential users (bicyclists) and their origins and destinations.

While the Energy Corridor District is mainly comprised of offices and commercial and retail

development, it is surrounded by residential neighborhoods to the south and east. These residents,

combined with those people that work in the District, create a large number of potential users

traveling to, from, or through the area.

There are several bicycle attractors in or near the Energy Corridor District. Barker Dam and

Reservoir to the west and Addicks Dam and Reservoir to the north attract recreational riders and are

used as part of commuting routes. They are connected directly or indirectly to the Terry Hershey

Buffalo Bayou trail, which connects all the way to Beltway 8 in the east and Fry Road in the west,

with access to many adjacent neighborhoods. On the commercial side, the District is home to

several large corporate campuses including Shell, CITGO, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil Chemical,

and BP (WestLake Campus). Figure 7 shows these workplace locations and the land use within the

Energy Corridor District.

The existing bikeway network has fairly good connectivity to the east but not to the west, north and

south. Eldridge Parkway, SH 6 and IH 10 are the District’s backbones for motor vehicle travel, and

should also be spines within the bikeway network, in addition to key shared use paths. Spur routes

should connect these corridors to the neighborhoods and parks just outside the Energy Corridor

District.

As noted in the Introduction, the West Houston Trails Master Plan process included several

opportunities for community input, including a Saturday Stakeholder workshop in October 2008 at

ConocoPhillips and a Community Input meeting on September 9, 2009, held at Maurice L. Wolfe

Elementary School. Through these community meetings the WHTMP plan identified and

incorporated the community’s perceived needs. This bikeway master plan incorporates the indicated

needs that lie within the Energy Corridor District and proposes other links to ensure that the

completed system has sufficient continuity and connectivity.


Figure 7: Land Use and Major Attractors


BIKEWAY OPTIONS

The term bikeway means a street with features to facilitate bicycle travel, or a shared-use path for

the exclusive use of bicycles and other non-motorized traffic. On-street bikeway features include

lane and shoulder widths, markings, signage, traffic and speed controls, and accommodations at

traffic signals.

Bikeway design guides generally define four types of bikeways: shared use paths, signed shoulder

bike routes, bicycle (“bike”) lanes, and signed shared roadways. The following sections describe

each type and its advantages and disadvantages, as outlined in the Houston-Galveston Area

Council’s (H-GAC) Building Better Bikeways planning guide.

Shared Use Path

A Shared Use Path (Figure 8) is a path for the exclusive use of non-motorized travelers, separated

from motorized traffic. Shared use paths are designed to be used by all types of non-motorized

users including bicycles, pedestrians, rollerbladers, wheelchair users and joggers. Shared use paths

may be adjacent to roadways behind an impact barrier, separated from the roadway by a landscape

buffer, or on independent alignments such as those along Buffalo Bayou or in Barker Reservoir.

Shared use paths – especially those on independent alignments – can provide a comfortable

experience for less experienced riders who are not accustomed to operating around motor traffic.

They can serve as bicycle commuter “freeways” covering long distances with no or few stops or

interruptions, and also attract recreational riders. Because paths are separated from roadways, they

often require considerable right of way and may have limited access, which is a possible barrier to

their implementation and use.

Signed Shoulder Bike Route

Signed shoulder bike routes (Figure 9) are located within the shoulder – the portion of the roadway

adjacent to the travel lanes, designated for emergency use by motor traffic. In Texas and many other

states, roadway shoulders can legally be used by bicyclists and may be signed as bike routes.

Striped shoulders are similar to Bike Lanes except for treatments at intersections, on- and off-

ramps, major driveways, and the rules governing parking.


Bicycle Lane or Bike Lane

Bicycle lanes, or “Bike lanes” (Figure 10) are striped on-street lanes for the exclusive use of

bicyclists. Between intersections they are typically located at the right edge of the roadway, to the

left of on-street parking if present. On intersection approaches with right turn only lanes, a bike lane

may be placed between those lanes and the rightmost through lane. At intersections where many

bicyclists turn left, left turn bike lanes are sometimes used.

Signed Shared Roadway

A Signed Shared Roadway (Figure 11) is an on-street bikeway that shares the travel lane with

vehicular traffic. Signed shared roadways typically feature outside through travel lanes at least 14

feet wide, a width determined to enable cars and trucks to pass bicycles within the lane with

adequate clearance and without either party having to change their line of travel.

Signed Shared Roadways typically incorporate bicycle route guide signage. They may also be

optionally marked with Shared Lane Markings (“Sharrows”), a new marking introduced in the 2009

U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Sharrows combine a bicycle icon with

two chevron lines, indicated that the lane is for use by both motorized vehicles and bicycles, and

indicating to bicyclists how far into the lane they should ride to avoid edge hazards and the driver’s

side door zone along parked cars and trucks. While signed shared roadways require relatively minor

modifications to existing roadways and are thus cost effective, some less experienced cyclists find

sharing a lane uncomfortable compared with travel in a striped bike lane. Wide shared lanes may

also encourage motorists to speed, which is also potentially uncomfortable for cyclists.

Bicycle lanes and shared outside lanes adjacent to parallel parked cars should incorporate door

zone buffer width so bicyclists can travel safely outside the ‘door zone’ where drivers or left-side

passengers may inadvertently open their doors. If a bike lane is located next to parallel parking, at

least three feet of clearance should be provided between the fender line of parked vehicles and the

right side of the (minimum 4-foot) bicycle travel space.

Recently several U.S. cities have experimented with placing bicycle travel areas at curbside and

situating parked cars on the street to the left, with a passenger-side door zone buffer at least three

feet wide. Such “parking-buffered on-street bike path” designs have been implemented in New York


City and Portland, Oregon. These designs are not currently included in the U.S. Manual on Uniform

Traffic Control Devices. They have been shown to reduce bicycle crashes caused by car doors, and

they separate cyclists from moving traffic between intersections, which may make less experienced

cyclists feel safer. However, these configurations increase potential conflicts with turning traffic at

intersections by placing a bicycle through movement on the curb side of a motor vehicle turning

movement, unless the bicycle through and vehicular turning movements are assigned separate

signal phases.

Figure 8: Shared Use Path


Figure 9: Signed Shoulder Bike Route


Figure 10: Bicycle Lane (“Bike Lane”)


Figure 11: Signed Shared Roadway


PROPOSED BIKEWAYS, PARKING AND AMENITIES

Based on the existing bikeway system, trip generators, and attractors, the bikeway network shown

in Figure 12 is proposed. The proposed network creates more east-west connectivity with routes

along Buffalo Bayou, Memorial Drive, IH 10, Park Row, and Addicks Dam. More north-south

connectivity is proposed along SH 6, Addicks Howell Road, Langham Creek and Eldridge Parkway.

These routes will connect bicyclists within the Energy Corridor District to existing routes and to

METRO bus lines that serve all of Houston. Encouraging multimodal trips that combine a bicycle trip

(on the home and/or work end) with a bus ride increases the area within which cycling to work is a

viable option. The proposed bike station at the Addicks Park and Ride would provide storage for

home-end or work-end bicycles whose owners use METRO’s express buses between the Energy

Corridor District and downtown, Uptown Houston, and the Texas Medical Center.

To increase cyclist comfort and safety, and to encourage new or less experienced riders to

commute to work by bicycle at least occasionally, it is recommended that a majority of the new

bikeways be shared use paths separated from roadways by green space. The only exceptions are:

Roadway Segment Recommendation

North Dairy Ashford Between IH 10 and N. Eldridge Parkway Maintain Bike Lanes or convert to Sharrows

Enclave Parkway Between Briar Forest and N. Eldridge Parkway

Maintain Bike Lanes

Park Row Future Addicks Dam Trail west of Memorial Brook, to Terry Hershey North Trail at Park & Ride Drive

Add Sharrows or Bike Lanes

Memorial Drive Eldridge Parkway to SH 6 Add Sharrows or Bike Lanes

The prioritized list of projects is summarized in the following table. Detailed descriptions follow.


Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan – Prioritized Projects

# Project Notes

1 Bicycle Commuter Education and Promotion

High benefit and low cost for increasing safe use of existing and new facilities

2 Terry Hershey Park N. Trail Extension STEP project by Harris County Precinct 3

3 Barker Cypress Shared-Use Trail TxDOT/ COH Transportation Enhancement project connecting Cullen Park to George Bush Park Shared-Use Trail

4 Patterson/ N. Eldridge Parkway Shared- Use Trail

Connecting Cullen Park & Bear Creek Pioneers Park to Terry Hershey Park N. Trail and Addicks Dam Trail

5 Grisby Shared-Use Trail Connecting Barker Dam Trail to SH 6

6 IH 10 North and South Frontage Roads Shared-Use Paths

Connecting SH 6 to N. Eldridge Parkway and Terry Hershey Park Trails

7 Eldridge Parkway Underpass On south bank of Buffalo Bayou under bridge connecting Terry Hershey Trail to Eldridge Parkway pedestrian bridge

8 Eldridge Parkway Shared-Use Trail Extend the existing Shared-Use Trail in the Energy Corridor District to connect Buffalo Bayou and Brays Bayou

9 Trailville Buffalo Bayou Bicycle/ Pedestrian Bridge

Between SH 6 and Langham Creek connecting Fleetwood subdivision to Terry Hershey Park Trail

10 SH 6 Shared-Use Trail Connecting Cullen Park and Bear Creek Pioneers Park to Park Row

11 Addicks Howell Shared-Use Trail Connecting Terry Hersey Park Trail to Memorial Drive, IH 10 and Energy Corridor Livable Center

12 Turkey Creek Shared-Use Trail Connecting Addicks Dam Trail to IH 10 Frontage

13 N. Dairy Ashford Shared-Use Trail Connecting IH 10 and N. Eldridge Parkway to the Addicks Dam Trail

14 Noble Road Trail Connecting George Bush Park Trail to Barker Dam Trail and Briar Forest bike lanes

15 Addicks Park & Ride Bike Station For home-end or work-end storage of commuter bicycles


1. Bicycle Commuter Education and Promotion – Begin with education and promotion of

commuter bicycling so users will become familiar with the benefits and hazards outlined in

the following section.

2. Terry Hershey Park N. Trail Extension (STEP project by Harris County Precinct 3) - The

highest priority shared-use path to construct is the Terry Hershey Park North Trail

extension. It extends the existing Terry Hershey Park trail under IH 10 to the Addicks Dam

along Langham Creek. The project is extended along the base of the dam connecting to

the Addicks Park & Ride Lot and the bike lanes on N. Dairy Ashford. This is a Harris County

Precinct 3 project using TxDOT STEP funds and a $100,000 contribution from private

sources and the Energy Corridor District.

3. Barker-Cypress Shared-Use Trail – TxDOT/COH Transportation Enhancement project

connecting Cullen Park, the Alkek Velodrome and the West Houston Medical Center to

George Bush Park Shared-Use Trail

4. Patterson/ N. Eldridge Parkway Shared-Use Path (connecting Cullen Park, Bear Creek Park

and Addicks Dam Trail to the Terry Hershey Park N. Trail Extension) - From the N. Dairy

Ashford/N. Eldridge Parkway intersection, extend the N. Eldridge shared-paths to Bear

Creek Park. Use the USACE Addicks Dam maintenance ramps east of N. Eldridge Parkway

to get over the dam. North of the dam, the bikeway would require a boardwalk bridge

structure over the drainage way, under N. Eldridge Parkway onto the spoil bank east of N.

Eldridge Parkway. There will also be a similar connection over the dam using the

maintenance ramps on the eastern side continuing behind ConocoPhillips connecting to the

Addicks Dam Trail behind Shell Oil at Turkey Creek. Both trails connect and continue

northward on the spoil banks to the Bear Creek Park N. Eldridge Parkway / Patterson Road

intersection and extend further to the N. Eldridge Parkway / War Memorial Parkway

signalized intersection in accordance with the West Houston Trails Master Plan. The

Patterson Road intersection would be signalized and improved for pedestrian and bicycle

crossings to a new trial on the north side of Patterson Road that would continue to an

entrance to Bear Creek Park on the abandoned old Eldridge roadway and westward to the


existing Farm & Ranch Club Road entrance to Bear Creek Park, the surface parking lot at

SH 6 and the signalized crossing at SH 6 connecting to the Cullen Park Trail.

5. Grisby Shared-use Path (connecting the Barker Reservoir Dam Trail to SH 6) Starting at the

Barker Dam Trail cross the drainage ditch on the existing culvert and continue eastward

behind Diamond Offshore to the south wide of Grisby Road. Continue eastward in a park

like setting with connections to the IH 10 hotels to the SH 6 Shared-use lanes.

6. IH 10 North and South Frontage Roads Shared-use Paths (connecting SH 6 to N. Eldridge

Parkway) - When the Terry Hershey North Trail connection is made and Harris County

Precinct 3 builds a “pigtail” loop from the Langham Creek underpass to the IH 10 north side

feeder road sidewalk, the sidewalks along the southern and northern IH 10 frontage roads

between Langham Creek and Eldridge Parkway should be widened to meet the criteria of

shared-use paths. The existing shared use trail on the south side of the IH 10 eastbound

frontage road would also be extended to SH 6 and connections made to the Grisby

Shared-use Trail. When the Energy Corridor District Livable Center at Addicks Park & Ride

Lot is implemented, a shared-use trail on the northern side of the westbound IH 10 frontage

Road would be constructed extending the connection from the Terry Hershey North Trail

pigtail to the west and onward to the SH 6 shared-use trails.

7. Eldridge Parkway Underpass (on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou connecting the Terry

Hershey Trail to West Houston Trail under the bridge) - On the south side of Buffalo Bayou

between Memorial Drive and Enclave Parkway, construct 300’ of trail under the Eldridge

Parkway bridge to connect the Terry Hershey trail, the shared-use trail on the west side of

Eldridge Parkway and the new City of Houston West Houston Trail and pedestrian bridge

on the east side of Eldridge Parkway.

8. Eldridge Parkway Shared-use Path (connecting Buffalo and Brays Bayous) - Continue the

extension of the Eldridge Parkway shared-use trails southward from Buffalo Bayou on

Eldridge Parkway to Brays Bayou


9. Trailville Buffalo Bayou Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge (Connecting Fleetwood to the Terry

Hershey Trail on the west side of Langham Creek) - A new hike and bike bridge would

connect neighborhoods north and south of Buffalo Bayou to Terry Hershey Park Trails.

10. SH 6 Shared-use Path (connecting Cullen and Bear Creek Parks to Park Row) This would

be similar to the N. Eldridge parkway shared use path.

11. Addicks Howell Shared-use Path (connecting Terry Hersey Park Trail to Memorial Drive, IH

10 and Energy Corridor Livable Center) - Connect the shared-use lanes proposed along

Memorial northward to Grisby and the IH 10 frontage road along Addicks Howell. These

routes expand mobility to Wolfe Elementary School, restaurants and retail along Grisby, the

businesses within Westlake Park and the future Energy Corridor Livable Center at the

Addicks Park & Ride Lot. Also transform Addicks Howell south of Memorial Drive to be an

exclusive hike and bike trail with several neighborhood pedestrian/bike gateways to

Fleetwood. A new hike and bike bridge would extend over Buffalo Bayou connecting to the

Terry Hershey Trails.

12. Turkey Creek Shared-Use Path (connecting the Addicks Dam Trail to the IH 10 frontage

road) - Build a 540’ trail on the west side of Turkey Creek connecting the Addicks Dam Trail

at N. Dairy Ashford to the sidewalks on the north side of the IH 10 frontage road. This will

provide an alternative to the Dairy-Ashford bike lanes for east west travel destined for the

Terry Hershey and Eldridge Parkway Trails from the Addicks Dam Trail.

13. N. Dairy Ashford Shared-Use Path (between IH 10 and N. Eldridge Parkway) - Replacing

the bike lanes along N. Dairy Ashford between IH 10 and N. Eldridge Parkway with a multi-

use path should be assigned the lowest priority.

14. Noble Road Trail (connecting the George Bush Trail to the Barker Dam Trail and the Briar

Forest bike lanes) - Connect the George Bush Trail within Barker Reservoir to the Briar

Forest bike lanes and the Barker Dam Trail roughly following the old Noble Road alignment .

This will most likely be a natural surface trail and portions could be an all-weather surface

trail where approved by the USACE.


15. Addicks Park & Ride Bike Station – METRO is willing to entertain proposals for the reuse of

the 1980’s Greyhound Bus Depot at the Addicks Park & Ride Lot as a multi-modal

transportation center for the convenience of cyclists and bus transit patrons. When the trails

are built leading to the Addicks Park & Ride Lot, a Bike Station would provide secure

bicycle parking for commuters destined to the Energy Corridor District on the 75

Connector. It would also provide a wayside stop for downtown, Texas Medical Center and

Uptown transit commuters.

These links and parking amenities will improve bicyclist access into the Energy Corridor District from

the north, west and south, where there are many potential commuters. All bikeways should be

designed and constructed in accordance with local and state laws.

It is recommended that implementation begin with education and promotion of commuter bicycling

so users will become familiar with the benefits and hazards outlined later in the report. Education,

promotion and outreach provide the most benefit and affect the most people for the least amount of

money, and can help to ensure that new bikeways are well used.


Figure 12: Proposed Routes


LIVABLE CENTER STUDY DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS

Because the Energy Corridor District Livable Center Planning Study has not been finalized at this

writing; therefore, its draft recommendations are described here rather than in the preceding

Proposed Bikeways, Parking and Amenities section.

The Study’s goals for bicycle and pedestrian connectivity are as follows:

Goal Rationale

1 Provide fine-grained bicycle and pedestrian connectivity to and within all new development parcels

Such connectivity is part of a Livable Center

2 Create a north-south bikeway connecting Addicks Dam to Terry Hershey Trail, comfortable for users of all abilities

a) Would complete the off-street bikeway network west and south of the Energy Corridor

b) Would connect families in the Barker’s Landing and Fleetwood subdivisions, and possibly subdivisions south of Buffalo Bayou, to the Livable Center north of Grisby Road

3 Provide two-way bicycle connectivity along IH 10 frontage roads

It is unreasonable to expect bicyclists to proceed one-way on or along the IH 10 frontage roads to the next interchange in order to turn around and reach destinations on the other side of the freeway

4 Exploit opportunities to maximize bicycle and pedestrian connectivity into and through subdivisions

The “wall of backyards” defining the perimeter of many subdivisions forces bicyclists and pedestrians out onto major streets.

The subdivisions north and south of Buffalo Bayou are currently cut off from each other, forcing north-south bicyclists out onto SH 6 or Eldridge Parkway.

5 Provide fine-grained crossings of IH 10 between SH 6 and Eldridge Parkway.

It is impractical for bicyclists and pedestrians with origins and destinations between SH 6 and Eldridge to travel to and from those major streets for all such trips.

The following Table, Proposed Connectivity Improvements, lists several types of bikeway segments

and other connections deemed to be important for bicycle and pedestrian access to the Livable

Center. Items in the table are keyed to items depicted in Figure 13, each of which is described in

detailed following the figure.


Livable Center Plan – Proposed Bicycle Connectivity Improvements

1. Shared use paths

a) Completion of path along foot of Addicks Dam between SH 6 and Eldridge, including spurs to Park Row at Park and Ride Drive, and to the existing IH10 under-crossing west of Eldridge. Currently planned by Harris County.

b) Two-way paths along both of IH 10’s one-way frontage roads (widen existing sidewalks to 12’ for shared use)

c) Additional north-south spurs connecting Addicks Dam trail and IH 10 north frontage road to Park Row, through and along future development parcels

d) Connection between Park Row and Grisby Road on the existing Park and Ride Drive axis. A pedestrian / bicycle / transit bridge over IH 10 would include shops and gathering places.

e) Along Addicks-Howell Road between Grisby Road and Buffalo Bayou / Terry Hershey Trail, including conversion of street south of Memorial, and a gap closure south of it. This would connect the Barkers Landing and Fleetwood neighborhoods to the Livable Center.

f) Along the east side of the channel at the foot of Barker Reservoir, between the west end of Grisby Road and Briar Forest Parkway, accessing the back sides of SH 6 businesses.

g) Along Memorial Drive between Addicks Howell Road and SH 6, extending west between a parcel boundary to the Barker Reservoir trail.

h) Trailville Drive across Buffalo Bayou, with south-side connection to Terry Hershey Trail

i) East-west utility easement corridor midway between IH 10 and Park Row, extending from Park Row just west of SH 6 (current Sam’s Club driveway), to Park Ten Boulevard and potentially west to Barker Cypress Road. This would provide an alternative to Park Row.

2. Neighborhood-perimeter “shortcuts” (walk/bike-only connections)

a) Barker’s Landing subdivision to Grisby Road via Captain’s Walk

b) Barker’s Landing subdivision to Grisby Road via Whitewater Lane

c) Barker’s Landing subdivision to Gracie Lane

d) Fleetwood North to Addicks Howell Road path via Fleetwood Oaks Drive (existing)

e) Fleetwood south subdivision to Addicks Howell Road path via Fleetwood Place Drive

f) Fleetwood south subdivision to Addicks Howell Road path via Crossroads Drive

3. Bike lanes

a) Park Row between Eldridge Parkway and SH 6, possibly west to Barker Cypress

b) Memorial Drive between SH 6 and Eldridge Parkway.

c) SH6 between Buffalo Bayou and Grisby Road.

d) On future bridge connecting Westlake Park Drive over IH 10 to Park Row.

4. Shared roadways

a) New internal streets in development replacing Addicks Park and Ride Lot

b) Park Row west of SH 6 (if bike lanes will not fit)


Figure 13: Livable Center Proposed Bicycle Connections


1. Shared Use Paths

a. Addicks Dam path

The south perimeter of Addicks Dam features an unpaved road (“Addicks Dam Road”) atop the dam

and a paved path on the toe of the dam. However, the paved path currently begins at Dairy Ashford

Road midway between Eldridge Parkway and Dairy Ashford’s signal on the IH 10 westbound

frontage road. A planned Harris County project would add a paved path along the toe of the dam

west to SH 6 and beyond, connecting across or under Eldridge Parkway. This would provide a

bicycle expressway from points east of Addicks Dam. Along with spur connections to Park Row

and the IH 10 westbound frontage road path, this would offer a direct and pleasant alternative to

bicycling on Park Row.

b. Two-way paths along both of IH 10’s one-way frontage roads

IH 10 includes one-way frontage roads – westbound on the north side and eastbound on the south

side. A portion on the south side between SH 6 and Eldridge Parkway currently has an 8-foot-wide

outboard sidewalks set back behind a planting strip or pavers. It is proposed to widen both

frontage road sidewalks to 12 feet, to support shared use by bicyclists and pedestrians. These

paths would connect to internal service streets of future development. Access control should be

employed to minimize the number of driveways crossed by these paths. The provision of internal

service streets can minimize the need for driveways on the frontage road.

c. North-south spurs connecting Park Row to Addicks Dam trail and IH 10 frontage

Frequent path or minor-street connections between Park Row, the Addicks Dam path, and the

IH 10 frontage road path will provide direct access for bicyclists and pedestrians, minimizing out-of-

direction travel. Alignments of these streets should be required in development plans.

d. IH 10 bridge connecting Park Row and Grisby Road

The Livable Center concept includes a bridge over IH 10 as the focal point for development on both

sides of the freeway. The bridge is proposed to be located approximately midway between SH 6

and the T-bridge that connects the Park and Ride lot to the freeway’s express/toll lanes. The

required vertical clearance above freeway features is minimized at that point, which roughly aligns

with the existing Park and Ride Drive.


The Livable Center Study envisions this bridge as a “shopping street” above the freeway, with two

wide sidewalks flanking a narrow street shared by bicycles and local circulator buses, plus service

vehicles at off-hours. Small shops would front on the sidewalks, seamlessly continuing the retail,

hotel and office developments to the north and south. Historical references include the Ponte

Vecchio in Florence, Italy and the Pulteney Bridge in Bath, England.

Figure 14: On the Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon in Bath, England

e. Along Addicks Howell Road between Grisby Road and Buffalo Bayou

With a bridge added across IH 10 at the west side of the Livable Center, a high quality bicycle

connection along the west edges of the Barker’s Landing and Fleetwood subdivisions will be

important in conveying prospective bicycle commuters and nearby residents to Livable Center

destinations. Addicks Howell Road has a narrow existing sidewalk along its west side and a wide

(14’+) drainage swale along its east side. Converting the swale to underground drainage and adding

a path atop it would connect Buffalo Bayou to Grisby Road for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The segment of Addicks Howell Road that connects Memorial Drive southward to SH 6 is not

needed for motor vehicles, which can access SH 6 at the Memorial Drive signal. Converting this

segment to a path, extending the path to the north side of Buffalo Bayou, and bridging the Bayou to

connect to Briarhills Parkway would provide a first-class bicycle commute route and family-friendly

recreational connection between neighborhoods south of Buffalo Bayou, and the Livable Center,

including Addicks Dam via the proposed new IH 10 bridge. Spurs would connect this new path

spine across SH 6 to the Barker Dam path network.


f. Along east side of Barker Reservoir channel (and south side of Grisby)

The Barker Dam features an unpaved road atop the dam and a paved path on the toe of the dam.

A drainage channel lies between the toe of the dam and the back side of commercial uses along SH

6 to the east and Grisby Road to the north. Currently most of those uses on SH 6 are not especially

attractive as neighborhood destinations for Barker’s Landing, Fleetwood, and subdivisions to the

south. A “Complete Street” treatment of the SH 6 corridor could include converting the highway’s

existing shoulders to bike lanes and adding conventional sidewalks. However, a back-side path

connection would provide an alternative for traffic-averse bicyclists, including families, who do not

wish to use the bike lanes along this busy route. Alternatively the back-side connection could be a

bicycle-friendly service street similar to the segment of Grisby Road west of SH 6 that serves the

back side of several hotels.

One or more minor pedestrian-bicycle bridges would connect this east-side path or street to the

main west-of-channel path that runs around the back of Barker Reservoir west to Katy.

g. Along Memorial Drive from Addicks Howell Road to and beyond SH 6

If a path is added along Addicks Howell Road (item 1e above), it would be useful to provide a spur

path to connect it along Memorial Drive to the SH 6 signal, and continue west of SH 6 to connect to

the east-of-channel path or service road (item 1f above). This spur path would cross SH 6 on the

north or south crosswalk alignment.

h. Trailville Drive across Buffalo Bayou

Approximately midway between SH 6 and Eldridge Parkway, Trailville Drive dead-ends near the

north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou, with no house lots at the street ends. Adding a pedestrian-

bicycle bridge and path segments to connect the street across the Bayou and to Terry Hershey Trail

on the south side would create a key north-south bicycle and pedestrian connectivity improvement

for the entire western half of the Energy Corridor – the only alternative to SH 6 and Eldridge between

those roadways. The north segment of Trailville connects to the Memorial Drive / Crossroads Drive

signal via Ivy Wall Drive and Walkwood Drive. The south segment connects to Briarhills Parkway (to

SH 6) and Enclave Parkway (to Eldridge Parkway) via Coachlight Drive. This north-south link would

enable commute and recreational trips from as far south as Briar Forest Drive or beyond, and would

connect north-of-Bayou subdivisions with four schools and the commercial/office areas along

Eldridge near Briar Forest.


a) North of Bayou (near Silvergate Drive)

b) South of Bayou (near Coachlight Drive)

Figure 15: Trailville Drive Endpoints – Potential Buffalo Bayou Crossing

i. Pipeline easement between IH 10 and Park Row west of SH 6

A wide pipeline easement runs east-west midway between IH 10 and Park Row, from Park Row just

west of SH6 (at the current Sam’s Club driveway) to Park Ten Boulevard and potentially west to

Barker Cypress Road. It is clear except for landscaping and one building. Adding a path on this

easement would provide a bicycle/pedestrian alternative to Park Row, and would also creating a

strolling path for lunchtime and after-work use by employees of nearby workplaces. A trail head park

should be developed at the confluence point on Park Row near Sam’s Club.

a) Memorial Brook Blvd facing east

b) West of Memorial Brook Blvd

Figure 16: Pipeline Easement West of SH 6


2. Neighborhood perimeter “shortcuts” (walk/bike-only connections)

The subdivisions between Grisby Road and Buffalo Bayou are mostly disconnected from the

surrounding street network, and subdivisions along the north side of Buffalo Bayou have no

connections to those on the south side, or to the Terry Hershey Trail. This lack of fine-grained

connectivity handicaps bicycle and pedestrian circulation by substantially increasing trip distances

and forcing users to travel on high-traffic streets. However, the Fleetwood North neighborhood has

one best-practice pedestrian access point where a street terminates at the subdivision wall without a

house lot in the way (Figure 17). There are six similar opportunities for significant “shortcuts” like this

around the Barker’s Landing and Fleetwood subdivisions. In addition, two Buffalo Bayou access

points have a fortuitous alignment for a potential north-south connection.

Inside (Fleetwood Place Drive)

Outside (Addicks Howell Road)

Figure 17: Neighborhood Access Point: Fleetwood Place Drive

Shortcut 2(d) exists. Shortcuts 2(a) through 2(c) would be useful immediately as pedestrian and

bicycle commute routes to BP and other workplaces in the Westlake complex. Shortcuts 2(e) and

2(f) would become useful when the Addicks Howell Road path (item 1(e)) was implemented.

a. Barker’s Landing subdivision to Grisby Road via Captain’s Walk

Captain’s Walk is a short dead-end street that meets the north (Grisby Road) wall of the Barker’s

Landing subdivision about 300’ west of Helios Way. If an access point similar to the one shown in

Figure 1.4 was created, residents could walk and bicycle to the BP complex, the Post Office,

restaurants and shops in Leticia Village to the west, and to the proposed bridge over IH 10.


b. Barker’s Landing subdivision to Grisby Road via Whitewater Lane

Whitewater Lane parallels Grisby Road near the northeast corner of the Barker’s Landing

subdivision. The subdivision’s only vacant (unbuilt) house lot is located on the north side of the

street directly opposite BP’s large surface parking lot about 300’ west of Westlake Club Drive. If an

access point similar to the one shown in Figure 17 were created, residents could walk and bicycle to

the BP complex and the ExxonMobil complex without having to use Memorial Drive.

c. Barker’s Landing subdivision to Gracie Lane

The east wall of the Barker’s Landing subdivision runs along Westlake Club Drive (north-south) and

Gracie Lane (east-west). The BP complex’s child care center is located on Gracie Lane near its

corner with Westlake Club Drive. Within the adjacent subdivision, East Fair Harbor Lane parallels

Westlake Club Drive and an unnamed street parallels Gracie Lane, the latter street approaching the

neighborhood wall at the west and east ends of the BP child care center building. If an access point

similar to the one shown in Figure 17 was created, residents could walk and bicycle to the BP

complex without having to use Memorial Drive.

d. Fleetwood North subdivision to Addicks Howell Road (existing)

The access point shown in Figure 17 is located where Fleetwood Oaks Drive meets the

neighborhood wall along Addicks Howell Road.

e. Fleetwood south subdivision to Addicks Howell Road via Fleetwood Place Drive

The west wall of the Fleetwood south subdivision runs along Addicks Howell Road south of

Memorial Drive. If the path described in 1(e) was implemented along Addicks Howell Road, the

neighborhood might want to create an access point similar to the one shown in Figure 17. This

would enable pedestrians and bicyclists to reach the Terry Hershey Trail, the school near Grisby

Road, Leticia Village restaurants and shops, the Post Office, and the proposed bridge over IH 10.

f. Fleetwood North subdivision to Addicks Howell Road via Crossroads Drive

This access point opportunity is similar to 2(e) with the same advantages plus closer proximity to the

Terry Hershey Trail. However, because of its proximity to SH 6, Fleetwood south residents indicated

that a barrier along SH 6 might be needed to make it attractive to the community.


3. Bike lanes

a. Park Row

Especially when it is extended to connect to Dairy Ashford Road, the preferred bicycle

accommodation on Park Row is bike lanes. There are no bike lanes on the existing segments of the

street, and current lane widths typically do not allow for bike lanes even with reductions in travel lane

width. However, the street’s landscaped median is wider than the minimum needed for left turn

pockets with narrow islands, and could potentially be narrowed. In addition, Park Row west of SH 6

has three travel lanes in each direction. It is suggested that a traffic analysis be done to determine

whether the third lane is needed, except perhaps at intersections.

b. Memorial Drive between SH 6 and Eldridge Parkway

Especially if shortcuts 2(a) - 2(f) and the Addicks Howell path [1(e)] are implemented, bike lanes are

the preferred bicycle accommodation for utility bicyclists on Memorial Drive. The street currently has

two travel lanes in each direction, a largely-unused center turn lane, no shoulders or sidewalks, and

drainage swales. It is suggested that a traffic analysis determine whether (a) the center lane can be

eliminated except at intersections, and (b) whether both travel lanes are needed in both directions.

The results could free up width for a sidewalk along at least one side, and for bike lanes, possibly

without the need to bury drainage and take width from either swale.

c. SH 6 between Buffalo Bayou (Briarhills Parkway signal) and Grisby Road

South of its flyover of IH 10, SH 6 has wide shoulders that could easily be converted into bike lanes

with striping modifications at and approaching driveways. However, a “Complete Street” upgrade of

this segment of SH 6 should include a sidewalk (5’ minimum) on both sides.

d. Westlake Park Drive over IH 10

The Livable Center Study identifies the need for an additional bridge over IH 10 independent of its

proposed bridge near Grisby Road. The logical location is at Westlake Park Boulevard, which has a

signal at Memorial Drive. The bridge should incorporate sidewalks and bike lanes.


4. Shared roadways

a. New internal streets in development replacing Addicks Park and Ride lot

All new internal streets created within the redevelopment and new development areas would be

designed to be pedestrian and bicycle friendly, with sidewalks on both sides and either slow traffic

speeds compatible with shared use by bicycles, or bike lanes where applicable.

b. Park Row west of SH 6 (if bike lanes will not fit)

Bike lanes are the preferred bicycle accommodation on Park Row, but on the 3-lane segment west

of SH 6 if all three lanes are needed for capacity this may require narrowing the median – an

expensive change. An interim improvement could be to shift lane width to the outside lane and add

Shared Lane Markings (“sharrows”). This segment currently has three 11-foot lanes each way. An

alternate striping would be 10.5 | 10.0 | 12.5, however 12.5 is less than the 14’ required for safe

passing within the lane, so passing would still use all or part of the adjacent lane.


EDUCATION, PROMOTION AND OUTREACH

INTRODUCTION

Of the six “Es” described at the beginning of this Plan, this chapter covers Education and

Encouragement. Both are especially important for creating and sustaining a transportation bicycling

culture. Some education and encouragement approaches involve a third “E”, Enforcement, because

educated bicyclists know applicable traffic law, and informed police officers and private security staff

understand its details, enforce it accurately, and model it correctly when on bicycles. Some

education uses enforcement channels, for example police-produced videos, handouts for “warning

stops,” and “diversion” classes for bicyclist and motorist violators. This chapter does not cover

crash records or enforcement statistics.

Many education and encouragement approaches enable a fourth “E”, Evaluation, because they

provide opportunities to tabulate and analyze behavior change in bicycling and would-be cyclist

populations. This chapter does not have separate sections for each of these four “Es”; instead, they

are described where relevant in each of the following sections:

Section Description

Introduction Overview (this section)

Elements of programs

A framework for understanding: audiences to be reached; messages (information and calls to action) relevant to each; channels and settings – the ways that messages arrive; and presenters qualified to deliver the messages.

Existing programs Past and present education and encouragement programs within the Energy Corridor District and its commute area, including corporate initiatives, multi-company and agency events, plus websites, email lists, and response forms Lists of certified cycling instructors, bicycle clubs, bicycling groups, and bicycle shops local to the Energy Corridor District

Available programs Applicable education and encouragement programs and resources from elsewhere

Recommendations Recommended programs


ELEMENTS OF PROGRAMS

Before describing the existing and desirable education and encouragement programs and the

resources available to deliver and sustain them, it is useful to define the elements that make up such

programs.

Element Description

Audience The individuals or roles to be reached. For children, this directly or indirectly includes the parents.

Message The information or call-to-action to be communicated. Audiences, and audience members, vary in their readiness to absorb various messages.

Channel The organization, agency or interpersonal context through which the message is delivered. May be formal or informal.

Setting The physical or technology-mediated space in which the message is received. May have constraints based on availability, weather, work and non-work issues.

Presenter Except for self-teaching materials, the person(s) who deliver the message --whether live or recorded, in-person or online – and their roles and applicable training.

The following tables list relevant examples; these are not intended to be exhaustive.

Audiences (examples)

Audience Description

a) Bicycle commuters Employees who bicycle between home and work

b) Prospective bicycle commuters

Employees who may be interested in bicycling between home and work

c) Prospective bike-carpoolers

Employees who may be interested in bicycle commuting, but whose distance is prohibitive for round-trips, at least until they build endurance. Those wishing to bike one way to avoid showering and dressing at work.

d) Work-based recreational bicyclists

Employees who use a work-based bicycle for recreation before work, at lunchtime, or after work.

e) Local non-bicycling employees

Employees living within two miles of their Energy Corridor District workplaces who do not currently use a bicycle for commuting or work-based recreation. Target market for new bicycle commuters and for bicycling programs oriented toward the local community.

f) Carpoolers (current and prospective)

Employees who currently use carpools, or who live within the distance range deemed workable for carpooling.


g) Vanpoolers (current and prospective)

Employees who currently use vanpools, or who live within the service areas of existing or potential vanpools.

h) Transit + bike commuters

Employees who use transit for their commute, combined with a bicycle on the home end, work end, or both. Includes prospective users of the bicycle storage facility proposed for the Addicks Park-and-Ride facility.

i) Motorist employees Employees who identify as motorists (solo commuters)

Messages (examples)

Messages Primary audience(s)

Street cycling safety education Information on types of bicycle facilities (bike lanes, etc.) Short workshops for commuters on safety, lighting, clothing, cargo carrying, etc. Tips on issues and conveniences Group identity-building efforts including news about other commuters and their solutions News about new and improved route segments and intersections Maps and descriptions of suggested routes from key origin areas District bicycling resource website “Bike buddy” mentor program Map of local routes, bicycle shops Maps and descriptions of suggested routes from key origin areas Information about bicycling classes Information about Addicks Park & Ride bike station

Bicycle commuters and prospective bicycle commuters

Information on how to arrange a “bike-carpool” – a partnership between a motorist with a bike rack-equipped vehicle and a bicyclist who lives within easy bike range of the motorist.

Bicycle commuters and motorists

Information about bike racks on vanpool vehicles, locations where bicyclists can meet vanpools, etc.

Bicycle commuters and vanpoolers

Road-sharing (coexistence) promotions Information about bicycle-related markings (such as shared lane markings) and signage

Bicyclists and motorists


Channels (examples)

Channel

Energy Corridor District (ECD) website

Opt-in email list for bike commuting announcements and requests (non-discussion)

Opt-in email list or blog or forums for bicycle commuting discussion

Company wellness programs: Workplace facilities, events and newsletters

Company commute programs: Workplace facilities, events and newsletters

Workplace oriented events (multi-company): Transportation fairs, Wellness fairs

“Push” email from ECD through company programs

Bike shop literature racks (flyers, brochures)

BikeHouston website and electronic channels

New-resident packets distributed at ECD apartments and condominiums

Settings (examples)

Setting Description Need bike?

Workplace / individual Employee’s personal office or desk

No

Workplace / group Conference room or auditorium

Workplace / field Outdoor without a bicycle, e.g. on a facilities tour

Classroom May or may not be at a workplace

Computer – offline Computer, without an internet connection

Computer – online Computer, with an internet connection

Workstand / work area Home or bike shop (for maintenance class)

Yes

Off-street practice area Paved area suitable for bicycle skills practice: parking lot, schoolyard, courtyard, plaza

Access-controlled street or intersection

A public or private street or intersection on which motor vehicles are controlled or limited during practice

Public streets Normal streets with everyday traffic

Path Paved off-street corridor, a.k.a. “paved trail”

Unpaved path Unpaved path, trail, or fire/maintenance road

Some courses use multiple settings – for example, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Traffic

Skills 101 course uses a classroom, an off-street practice area, and public streets. It may use an

access-controlled street or intersection if available.


Presenters (examples)

Presenter Description

League Cycling Instructor (LCI)

Bicycle driver education instructor certified through the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Smart Cycling program. See list of ECD-area LCIs in the Current Programs and Resources section.

Skills Instructor (SI) Bike shop staff or volunteer trained to deliver off-street adult or youth bicycle skills clinics through LAB’s “Bicycling 1-2-3” program

Youth Instructor (YI) Volunteer trained to deliver off-street youth bicycle rodeos through LAB’s “Bicycling 1-2-3” program

Bike Buddy Experienced commuter bicyclist who assists new bike commuters by accompanying and advising them on their route

Commute Convoy leader Experienced commuter bicyclist who assists a group of new commuters by leading and advising them on a route

Bicycle mechanic Professional or amateur trained in bike maintenance

Transportation coordinator Workplace or corporate staff responsible for creating and coordinating employee transportation programs and incentives

Wellness program staff Staff of a corporate or agency wellness program, trained in health and possibly fitness programs and incentives

Facilities staff, Security staff Workplace staff responsible for facilities or security respectively

Police Officer Sworn police officer, sheriff, or deputy

Bicycle Patrol Officer

Sworn police officer or sheriff deputy trained in the operation of a bicycle as an enforcement vehicle, typically through the IPMBA (International Police Mountain Bike Association) program


EXISTING PROGRAMS

This section describes existing education, outreach and incentive programs within the Energy

Corridor District or serving its workers. These include:

Single employer-based programs

Volunteer and non-governmental programs

Agency programs, including Energy Corridor District programs

Other programs and resources

Single employer-based programs

Several of the Energy Corridor District’s large employers provide amenities for their bicyclists, and

some have policies for bicycle use on their campuses. The District interacts with “bicycle resource

persons” employed at several of these firms, most of whom are volunteers whose job description

does not include bicycle promotion. One particular employee, BP’s Keith Mouton, has been

instrumental in fostering a multi-employer commuter bicycling community over the past decade, and

starting some programs now delivered by Energy Corridor District staff.

Shell Information provided by Gregg Nady

Shell operates two facilities in the Energy Corridor District: Woodcreek (WCK) at I-10

& Dairy-Ashford, and Westhollow Research Center at Hwy 6 & Richmond. Both have

shower and changing facilities.

Shell currently has no bicycle commuting programs or incentives. Gregg estimates 10-12 daily

bicycle commuters at WCK and about 5 at Westhollow. He believes bicycle commuting has

increased in recent years with the Bush Park to Terry Hershey Park trail connection (of which Shell

was the main sponsor) and the Langham Creek improvements under IH 10 including safe access on

north side of the freeway.


Citgo Information provided by Leigh Severin, Environmental Analyst

Citgo currently has no bicycling incentive. Car parking is free. Some employees bike

to work a few days a week. The workplace has showers. Respondent believes most

employees do not bike due to time and distance. Citgo’s wellness site has commute

alternatives information.

Bike racks are provided in the parking lot and are currently sufficient for the number of bicycle

commuters. If more employees bicycled to work additional bike racks would be needed.

Leigh Severin coordinated Citgo’s 2009 Bike To Work event, held on May 14, 2009. Citgo formed a

team of 12 riders that rode from their respective homes to Terry Hershey Park Gazebo with Clark

Martinson and several other riders, and then on to Citgo Headquarters. These riders were also part

of the Citgo’s MS 150 team.

Most Bike To Work Day commuters from outside the Energy Corridor District area live in Katy, the

Spring Branch/Memorial Area or Northwest Houston. Most riders stated that they preferred to ride

in the fall and spring when the weather was more tolerable than summer. Some expressed concern

about riding part way in the dark during spring and summer. Many employees work 9-hour days (10

hours including lunch).

Many ride the trails around Citgo during lunch or after work. Some commuters transport bicycles to

work on their cars, which probably indicates that they ride during lunch or after work.


ExxonMobil Information provided by Howard Sears

ExxonMobil has no bicycling incentives other than bike racks in the

parking garage, and clothing lockers and showers in the workplace.

Many vanpool commuters originate in Clear Lake.

ExxonMobil’s campus is located on the Terry Hershey Trail. However, its west gate (at the

intersection of Grisby Road and Amoco Drive) is kept locked, preventing through access to BP’s

WestLake campus.

BP (WestLake campus) Information and photos provided by Keith Mouton

BP’s WestLake campus includes major buildings WL-1, WL-2, WL-3 and WL-4 and

surrounding commercial property bounded by (east) BP Way, (north) I-10, (south)

Memorial Drive and (west) post office on Addicks Howell Road.

BP’s WL Campus Bicycle Safety Procedure provides a plan for the safe operation of bicycles at the

WestLake Campus and identifies the requirements that apply to their use. This procedure

addresses recommendations to meet Element 3 (People, Training, and Behaviors) of BP’s Getting

HSSE Right. HSSE is BP’s Health, Safety, Security and Environment program.

WestLake employees and contractors are required to obey traffic law, follow the WL Campus

Bicycle Safety Procedure, and report all bicycle-involved collisions. Bicycles are prohibited from WL

campus sidewalks per City of Houston ordinance. All bicycles must be parked and locked in

designated bike racks in WL-1, WL-2/3, WL-4 or Enclave Garages. Helmets must be worn while

operating in the garages.


Bike racks in car parking garage

Separate bicycle entrance and circulation

Accessory storage lockers

Work stand and floor pump

Figure 18: Commuter Bicycle Facility at BP WestLake Parking Garage


ConocoPhillips Information provided by Steve Moskowitz, LCI

As shown in Figure 5, the ConocoPhillips campus occupies the

northeast corner of Eldridge Parkway / Dairy Ashford, just south

of Addicks Dam and immediately adjacent to a Shell campus.

Mr. Moskowitz said that a core group of riders commutes by bicycle year round. Approximately 30

employees rode to work on Bike To Work day 2009 and 10 to 15 others rode during the week but

not on the specific day. The company does not currently compile detailed statistics on overall

bicycle commuting but anticipates beginning this in 2010. This will be a self-reporting system to

understand the overall level of activity and to identify trends and opportunities for growth and

improvement.

ConocoPhillips has three important amenities for bicycle commuters:

Covered and secure spots for 40 bicycles

A fitness facility with showers and lockers, open to all employees at no charge

An active bike club, http://www.conocophillipsbikeclub.org, which leverages its annual MS 150 Houston-to-Austin charity ride training efforts into a year-round group

Mr. Moskowitz said that Bike To Work Week (mid-May) is well timed because it comes on the heels

of the MS 150 bike ride to Austin, when interest in bicycling is high but daytime temperatures are not

yet daunting. Participation in the company bike club grows dramatically between January and April

when riders are training for the annual ride. Off-season events and news help to maintain interest

throughout the year. Some small but avid employee groups do lunch time road rides at Bear Creek

Park, two miles from the campus, and another group does occasional mountain bike rides along the

trail along the south side of Buffalo Bayou.

ConocoPhillips has leveraged the interest generated by the Energy Corridor District’s orientation

sessions for new riders interested in commuting, and is evaluating adding its own internal orientation

sessions for 2010.

Because of the company’s campus location, the nearby Addicks Dam Trail and bicycle

accommodations on Dairy Ashford and Eldridge connecting across IH 10 are of considerable value

to its bicycle commuters. ConocoPhillips appreciates that there are several independent efforts


underway to develop hike-and-bike trails within its commute-shed, such as master plans for new

communities to the west, and the Harris County’s development of trails through the large parks in

the western county. Mr. Moskowitz said that the Energy Corridor District had been instrumental in

creating an area-wide strategic plan that prioritizes opportunities for trail linkage. He believes that if

just a few of the high ranking projects in this relatively new effort are implemented, it will have a huge

impact on the ability to safely commute from the largest population centers to the ConocoPhillips

campus.

Volunteer and non-governmental programs

League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Information from LAB website

Bicycle driver education classes for adults, driving-age teens, and youths

are offered nationwide through the Smart Cycling program created by the

League of American Bicyclists (LAB, www.bikeleague.org) and delivered by

nationally certified League Cycling Instructors (LCIs). Smart Cycling was

until recently named BikeEd. It evolved from the Effective Cycling program

created by LAB’s mid-1970’s president, John Forester, author of the

seminal book by that name.

LAB’s core street cycling class for adults and driving-age teens is called Traffic Skills 101 (a.k.a. “TS

101”), formerly “Road One” under the previous “BikeEd” brand. LCIs are free to use other names for

their classes but are encouraged to indicate whether a class satisfies the requirements of TS 101,

because this class is also the pathway to LCI candidacy for students so inclined.

TS 101 includes 4 to 5 classroom hours (presentation and discussion) and 5 to 6 on-bike hours (off-

street practice and on-street rides). LAB’s Group Riding Skills Clinic is a short-format parking-lot

workshop that prepares bicyclists for mass start rides such as Houston’s popular MS 150 event.

Smart Cycling also includes classes and brief seminars for parents and children. LCIs may teach all

LAB classes in their full length, and may also teach short courses that follow LAB’s “Need To Know”

lists for the respective full courses. LCIs and their class facilities are covered by LAB’s insurance

when LCIs teach conforming courses and subset courses.


LAB’s website search feature found many LCIs within 15 miles of the Energy Corridor District office’s

zip code, 77079; these are listed on the next page. The list includes Energy Corridor District

General Manager Clark Martinson, City of Houston Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator Dan Raine,

BikeHouston education contact Peter Wang, and BP WestLake employee (and B.I.K.E. founder)

Keith Mouton, Steve Moskowitz of Conoco Phillips, and Ryan Terry and Tom Tirado of Bicycle World

and Fitness. Several other LCIs within this search result have email addresses that indicate

employment at energy-related companies such as Marathon Oil, FMC Technologies, Parker Drilling

and Aker Solutions.

In September 2009 LAB, in partnership with the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA),

unveiled Bicycling 1-2-3!, Smart Cycling’s new entry-level off-street skills workshops for new adult

and youth bicyclists, designed to be taught by two new basic instructor types certified at 2- or 4-

hour workshops taught by LAB-designated “Master” LCIs. The idea is to qualify bike shop staff and

community volunteers to lead off-street practice that builds skills used in street riding.

Instructor type Description

Skills Instructor (SI)

Bike shop staff or volunteer trained to deliver off-street adult bicycle skills clinics using LAB’s “Bicycling 1-2-3” activity layouts and materials. Certification: 4 hours total. 2-hour “Youth Instructor” workshop plus two additional hours covering training of adults, including adults who have never balanced a bicycle.

Youth Instructor (YI)

Volunteer trained to deliver off-street youth bicycle skills events (a.k.a. bike rodeos) through LAB’s “Bicycling 1-2-3” program Certification: 2-hour workshop on how to set up and conduct an off-street youth skills practice event, a.k.a. a bicycle rodeo, using LAB’s Bicycling 1-2-3! activity layouts and materials.

Skills Instructors and Youth Instructors are only qualified and insured to teach the specific off-street

activities for adults or children as applicable.


League Cycling Instructors near Energy Corridor District zip code, 77079

Lower numbers indicate earlier certification. Consecutive numbers typically indicate certification at the same LCI Seminar.

First name Last name LCI# City Notes David Dick 722 Houston Regina Garcia 725 Houston Peter Wang 1420 Houston BikeHouston education contact Clark Martinson 1421 Houston Energy Corridor District

General Manager Dan Raine 1422 Houston City of Houston

Bicycle Program Coordinator Keith Mouton 1424 Houston B.I.K.E. founder. BP Billy Bealefield 1657 Sugar Land Ryan Terry 1658 Katy Bicycle World and Fitness Chris Egan 1874 Houston FMC Technologies Daveleous Jones 1877 Houston Donna Layton 1878 Richmond John Volek 1879 Richmond Deborah Volek 1880 Richmond Randall Bonnette 1885 Houston FMC Technologies Stephen Moskowitz 1890 Houston Conoco Phillips,

MS 150 training series Mark LeBlanc 1896 Houston The Wellfit Group

(corporate wellness) Rick Hecksel 1899 Houston Marathon Oil Brian Hatt 1901 Houston Tom Tirado 1904 Houston Bicycle World and Fitness Steven Earle 1905 Houston Susan Beavers 2230 Bellaire Sybren Van Der Pol 2232 Houston Tina Whiteford 2234 Houston Conrad Hirsch 2235 Houston Veljko Roskar 2236 Houston William Germann 2401 Katy Kamal Shah 2469 Sugar Land Aker Solutions

(services to oil industry) Ronny Bedford 2471 Houston Parker Drilling Barron Lozano 2472 Houston Greg Allen 2473 Houston Michael Randall 2474 Houston


National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) operates programs to benefit

those affected by Multiple Sclerosis, and funds research aimed at curing the

disease. The organization’s main fundraising programs are large walking and

bicycling events, including two-day “MS 150” bicycle rides held at numerous

locations around the U.S

In the Houston area, BP has been the title sponsor for the annual Houston to Austin BP MS Bike

Tour managed by the NMSS Lone Star chapter. According to the NMSS website “nearly 1,000 BP

Team members and employees participate”. Several other Energy Corridor District firms also field

large MS Ride teams, among them:

ConocoPhillips

ExxonMobil

Mustang Wood Group

Shell

Participation in MS rides is by far the largest company-

supported bicycling activity for Energy Corridor District

firms. As group events, these rides attract thousands of

bicyclists who are not currently comfortable in solo

interactions with motorists, and as a result may not use

their bicycle for utility transportation or be open to

commuting. For this reason, educational activities tied to

preparation for MS rides or building on the experience of

completing such a ride are an essential channel for

delivering street cycling messages and developing traffic

cycling skills relevant to commuting to the Energy Corridor

District.

BP Team, Houston to Austin ride

(MS Society website)

In 2007 the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) launched a partnership with NMSS to deliver Group

Riding Skills Clinic classes – single-session courses combining a short presentation about safe riding

in mass-start cycling events, with structured off-street (parking lot) practice of key handling and

safety skills for riding in large groups of cyclists of widely ranging abilities. These clinics are

conducted by LAB-certified League Cycling Instructors (LCIs), and the opportunity to educate fellow


MS ride participants at Houston-area firms has led several local bicyclists to become certified. LCIs

are qualified to teach the full range of LAB classes and subsets thereof, and so can deliver

commuter-related education at these same companies. Such options range from lunchtime brown-

bag seminars to full Traffic Skills 101 (TS 101) classes.

Layout

Scan Drill in action

Figure 19: LAB Scan (Shoulder-Check) Drill

B.I.K.E. (Bicycling In Kind Environments) Information from Keith Mouton, founder, LCI 1424

Keith Mouton is an employee and Occupational Safety Specialist at BP’s

WestLake campus. He is also a League Cycling Instructor who was

certified in 2005 along with Clark Martinson (Energy Corridor District

General Manager) and Dan Raine (Houston Bicycle-Pedestrian Program

Coordinator). In 2001 he founded the B.I.K.E volunteer organization to

support and promote bicycle commuting in the Energy Corridor District.


B.I.K.E. provides the following resources and activities:

A low-traffic email list, currently with about 250 members, used primarily for route buddy requests but also for route requests, Q&A, and to announce events of interest to bicyclists, such as trail dedications.

A website with a Bike Buddy sign-up form asking where the person resides (nearby cross streets), whether they need a locker, and whether they need a route buddy. Keith matches riders with buddies by proximity, and the buddy follows up with the new commuter, reviews riding rules, bike commuting tips, and hazards specific to their route. He said there were currently about 13 participating Bike Buddies, with home locations distributed throughout the Energy Corridor District’s commute-shed. He also said there was a large increase in Bike Buddy interest during 2007’s period of $4/gallon gasoline.

Keith said B.I.K.E.’s website has not been updated for about three years, and that Bike Buddy matching is now provided via the Energy Corridor District website’s Mobility section, along with Commuter Convoy (corridor-specific bicycle commute group) matching. Within BP, where Keith works, the BP Commute Solutions program, which focuses on carpools and vanpools, now also serves BP bicycle commuters.

“Brown-bag” lunchtime seminars at District workplaces, presenting some of LAB’s Traffic Skills 101 course content in an abbreviated form.

Monthly maintenance skills workshops held on weekday evenings at personal residences in the suburbs, promoted via the email list and led by “Master Wrenches” – bicycle commuters with good maintenance skills. Attendees learn such things as how to change a tube or fix a flat, and how deraillieurs work. These are very popular.

Keith suggests that future maintenance workshops should be held at a bicycle shop, ideally within Energy Corridor District, in part because 50 attendees driving cars to a private residence has considerable traffic and parking impacts.

Staffing information tables at HGAC (Houston-Galveston Area Council) transportation fairs at which Metro (Harris County’s transit agency) and vanpool providers participate.

Participation in health and wellness fairs, where Keith has brought loaner bicycles intended to be borrowed short-term or long-term by individuals who want to begin riding.

Media interviews.

Keith was instrumental in obtaining a quality bicycle commuter destination area within BP’s parking

garage, including a bike rack area with a separate garage entrance and internal circulation, a

workstand for minor repairs, a floor pump, and small lockers for securing valuable accessories such

as lights, batteries, reflective clothing, and panniers.


BikeHouston (www.BikeHouston.org) Information from Peter Wang, LCI 1420

Bike Houston is the Houston metro area’s bicycle advocacy and

education resource. Its education program is based on LAB’s

Smart Cycling program, and uses LCIs.

According to Bike Houston Education contact and LCI Peter

Wang, LAB Traffic Skills 101 classes were held at three bicycle

retailers within the Energy Corridor District’s commute area:

Bicycle World & Fitness (Memorial Drive & Dairy Ashford)

Bike Barn Copperfield (State Highway 6 and FM529)

REI Galleria (Westheimer and Voss).

(According to BikeHouston, Bicycle World & Fitness is within the 30-minute bike commute footprint. Bike Barn and REI are within the 30-minute car commute footprint.)

Between August 2007 and November 2008, LCIs conducted four LAB Road One classes at Bicycle

World and Fitness, reaching 5, 17, 11, and 10 participants respectively. Bike Houston has also

offered Group Riding Skills Clinic classes. As of October 2009 no classes were currently scheduled.


Agency programs

Energy Corridor District (www.energycorridor.org) Information from website

The Energy Corridor District maintains a website that contains information

useful to current and prospective bicycle commuters and recreational

bicyclists.

At this writing, the website’s Mobility and Public Safety page showed the

following resources:

Information about Bike Buddies (ride-along commute partners), Commuter Convoys (groups that commute along the same route), and a sign-up form

Bike to Work Day 2010, and downloadable route maps

Maps of George Bush Park and Terry Hershey Park, including trails

Tips and Commuter Gear Basics

Overcoming Bike Commuting Excuses

News items such as West Houston Trails Master Plan Updates.

Figure 20: Energy Corridor District website – Mobility and Public Safety page


Houston Bicycle Program (www.houstonbikeways.org) From website

The City of Houston has a full time Bicyclist-Pedestrian

Coordinator, Dan Raine, who is a certified League Cycling

Instructor. The City has a full-featured Bicycle Program

including maps and education including video Public Service

Announcements for raising motorist awareness of bicyclists. At

this writing, the website showed the following resources:

Bikeways (projects completed and planned)

Bicycle Parking (partners, standards, and local examples)

Education (videos and course descriptions)

Image Gallery (trail dedications, Bike to Work events)

Signs (Bike Route and arrows)

Maps (Houston Bikeway Network – PDF and interactive GIS, park trails)

News items such as Columbia Tap Rail to Trail Ribbon Cutting.

The Education page includes the Watch For Cyclists program, consisting of ten 20-second public

safety announcement (PSA) -style videos created by HTV (The Municipal Channel). Each clip covers

one tip for motorists operating around bicyclists, including some who are shown operating unsafely

(entering an intersection on the right side of a car that may turn right, riding in the “door zone” along

a car, riding into an intersection from the sidewalk). A “Tip card” is available in English and Spanish.


Figure 21: Houston Bikeways Program Website

The Houston Bikeway Program is also pioneering online delivery of interactive bicycle driver

education courses via its Online Bicycle Education website BikeEd.org, developed in partnership

with the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). This site contains the full classroom content of LAB’s

Traffic Skills 101 course, which usually encompasses four hours of lecture and discussion at an in-

person class. It also has a lookup feature for LAB League Cycling Instructors and for LAB-

sanctioned classes, though neither of these was working properly at the time we visited them,

apparently due to City of Houston website maintenance activity, according to Dan Raine. This site is

intended for nationwide use, so its instructor and class lookup features do not default to the

Houston area even thought the home page acknowledges the City of Houston’s involvement.


Figure 22: LAB Online Traffic Skills 101 Course


Other resources

The following are results of a League of American Bicyclists (LAB) bicycling resources search

(“FindIt!”) within 15 miles of Energy Corridor District zip code 77079.

Bicycle clubs (all based in Houston)

Club Notes Northwest Cycling Club www.northwestcyclingclub.com

350-member club with a broad program of on- and off-road rides and events

Elves & More http://s242835542.onlinehome.us/ EMHomePage.shtm

Youth earn-a-bike program for at-risk kids and their families. Holds annual Elves & More Texas Cycling Classic fundraiser.

Houston Area Tandem Society www.tandem-hats.org

Tandem (2-person bicycle) riding club

Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Assn. www.ghorba.org

10-year-old off-road cycling club. Holds public mountain biking skills clinics, custom group clinics, and private lessons.

Conoco Phillips Bicycle Club MS 150 ride team ExxonMobil Bicycle Club MS 150 ride team BP Bicycle Club MS 150 ride team

Groups

Group City Notes BikeHouston www.BikeHouston.org

Houston See Volunteer and non-governmental programs above.

Independent Bicycle Retail Shops

Houston Katy Bicycle World And Fitness Northwest Cyclery Bike Barn Bicycle World Of West U Off Road Peddler Cycle Spectrum Bikesport Planetary Cycles Sun & Ski Sports Blue Line Bicycle Laboratory Southwest Schwinn Cyclery Cycle Spectrum Spring Valley Bicycle Sugar Land Cycle Spectrum Stress Management

Recumbents The Bike Route

Cyclone Cycles Sun & Ski Sports Cyclone Cycles Sun & Ski Sports David's Cycles Sun & Ski Sports Houston Bicycle Co. West End Bicycles


AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

This section describes education and encouragement programs and resources elsewhere that may

be useful in the Energy Corridor District and its commute area.

A wide range of education and promotion resources have been developed by the City of Houston

Bicycle Program, the Texas Bicycle Coalition, the League of American Bicyclists, and other sources

throughout the U.S. Many are relevant to the Energy Corridor District’s bicycle transportation goals.

The following tables describe programs for the following audiences:

Adults and employees

Motorists and non-bicyclist residents

All roadway users (displayed on vehicles or roadway signs)

Workplace facilities, security, wellness and green-initiatives / environmental staff

Parents and children (possibly relevant in the Energy Corridor District’s interaction with the local community, including families of those who work at Energy Corridor District workplaces)


Education and encouragement programs for adults and employees

Resource Audience Description

Traffic Skills 101 class

Current and prospective adult and older-teen utility cyclists

The core U.S. adult bicycle driving class. 10 hours content. Often offered as a weekday classroom module (3.5-4 hours) followed by an on-bike weekend day

Online Traffic Skills 101 course module

Current and prospective adult and older-teen utility cyclists

The classroom (lecture/presentation) portion of LAB’s Traffic Skills 101 course, described above. Available at http://BikeEd.org, developed by the Houston Bicycle Program.

Brown-bag / lunchtime roundtable

Current and prospective bicycle commuters at a workplace or cluster

60 to 90 minutes. One topic or a few topics. Presentation/discussion or roundtable. Can introduce Bike Buddies and Commute Convoys.

Bike fleet user qualification

Employees who want to use a company’s bike fleet

Around 2 hours: 60-90 min. presentation/discussion, 30-60 min. bike fit and introductory ride

Adult bike skills rodeo: Level 2 Adults and older teens

Bicycle inspection for safety and equipment. Learn “pre-driving” bike handling skills: scanning, signaling, precision starts and stops, lane change negotiation, outside pedal down

Education and encouragement programs for motorists and residents


Houston Bicycle Program (HBP) Watch For Cyclists PSAs

Motorists

A set of ten 20-second videos in Public Service Announcement format, available on the Houston Bicycle Program website’s Education page.

HBP education videos

“To promote the Houston Bikeway Network and deliver a safety and awareness message in the community”

Partnership with the Houston Community College Broadcast and Technology Program. These programs are under development: Program Overview Public Service Announcements 16-mile Video Tour of on- and off-street

bikeways, featuring safety tips

HBP Adult Education Program: Presentations

Area residents “…introduce[s] the bikeway network to Houston area residents”


Education and encouragement programs for adults and employees: videos

Video: Cyclist’s Eye View

Adult and older-teen utility cyclists

Using helmet-mounted cameras, shows actual cycling on local, commercial, and arterial streets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw (part 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIr3mI96FZk&feature=related (part 2)

Video: Enjoy The Ride


LAB’s overview of confident bicycling http://www.bikeleague.org/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=33

Video: Getting There By Bike


Covers safe and confident commuter and utility cycling. Has a good segment from a motorist’s perspective. TRT 20:00. Produced in the mid-1990s by University of California Santa Cruz Bicycle Coordinator Jeanne LePage. http://video.csupomona.edu/JVGrizzell/GettingThereByBike.htm

Video: Trucks and Bicycles Sharing the Road

Professional truck drivers (local and long-haul)

Features a professional long-haul trucker who is also an elite competitive cyclist. TRT 20:00; 10 minutes each for trucker and cyclist perspectives. Produced by the American Trucking Association (ATA).

Video: Night-time and Wet Weather Riding

Commuter and utility cyclists

Excellent short video (TRT 04:32) produced by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Covers riding in rainy and nighttime conditions. http://www.sfbike.org/?wet_weather

Education and encouragement programs for all roadway users


Bus poster (side or “tail card”)

Motorists and bicyclists

Informational poster mounted on the side or rear of a transit bus or shuttle. San Francisco produced a series of messages to educate roadway users about proper operation of bicycles, yielding to pedestrians, passing of trucks by bicyclists.


Education and encouragement programs for workplace facilities, security, wellness and green-initiatives / environmental staff


Workplace bicycle facilities tour [by ECD staff]

Facility, safety and risk managers at major Energy Corridor workplaces

A field trip to visit “best practice” sites such as BP’s parking garage bike area (separate entry and circulation, workstand, floor pump, and accessory lockers), for the target audience. Objective: Encourage discussion among facilities peers, leading to adoption of best practices at other workplaces.

Workplace “best practices” flyer [by ECD staff]

Facility managers at major Energy Corridor workplaces

Photos and concise explanations of “best practice” examples of bicycle access, parking (racks), accessory storage, commuter amenities, clothing lockers, changing facilities, showers, and policies. Include facility manager contact information for of the “best practice” sites. Objective: Encourage adoption of best practices.

Education and encouragement programs for parents and children


Texas SuperCyclist program

Elementary students

Texas Bicycle Coalition’s statewide curriculum taught by elementary P.E. teachers and youth workers. Complete curriculum at www.biketexas.org

Parent orientation workshop

Parents of elementary age children

Learn proper cycling techniques, laws, child perceptual limitations and readiness factors. View and discuss “A Kid’s Eye View”. LAB calls this “Kids I”; one instructor calls it “Bringing Up Bicyclists”

Youth bike skills rodeo: Level 1

Elementary and pre-school age children and their parents

Bicycle inspection for safety and equipment. Kids: Learn entry-level bike handling skills: (balancing, starting, stopping, steering) Parents: Learn basics of safe cycling, resources

Youth bike skills rodeo: Level 2

Elementary age children

Bicycle inspection for safety and equipment. Kids: Learn “pre-driving” bike handling skills: scanning, signaling, precision starts and stops, lane change negotiation, outside pedal down Parents: Learn basics of safe cycling, resources

Youth learn-to-ride (“Freedom From Training Wheels”)

Pre-school or early elementary age children and their parents

Bicycle inspection for safety and equipment. Kids: Learn to balance and pedal on two wheels Parents: Learn basics of safe cycling, hear about resources


Ideas for promoting the proposed Bike Station at the Addicks Road Park and Ride facility

Concept Audience Details

Advance marketing and pre-opening tours, to build “buzz” and identity

Current and prospective bicycle commuters

Media

Channel: Advance “pre-opening” tours.

Message (bicyclists): Answer questions so they can spread the word. Collect suggestions for success.

Message (media): Understand the rationale and benefits, including reduced I-10 congestion. Understand how transportation bicycling plays a part.

Corporate staff with commute-related roles or influence, including transportation alternatives and Health and Wellness

Channel: Advance “pre-opening” tours.

Message: New commute and fitness option for employees. A way to reduce I-10 congestion so motorist commuters benefit.

Promote to the target bicyclist user

The bike station’s target bicyclist user (a potential bike-to-transit convert)

Channels: Local media, community and residential complex newsletters, websites, email lists (e.g. neighborhood associations), homeowner associations, apartment management companies), real estate agents, leasing agents Message: Information about the bike-to-transit option

Promote new carpools to motorists

Current I-10 car commuters

Channels: Commute Solutions, large employers served by I-10 corridor, possibly toll authority. Message: Matching with a bicyclist who can ride to the facility can create a carpool that can get motorists free use of the express lane

Grand opening

All potential users Local residents (workers and families)

Media

Message (general): Publicize the existence of the facility. Explain how it works and who can benefit. Raise profile of Energy Corridor District, Houston Bicycle Program, BikeHouston, Commute Solutions.

Message (schools): Support “green” education programs by giving school age children an understanding of how the facility will function to enable solo car commutes to be replaced by bike-to-transit/vanpool/carpool trips.


Other ideas for promotion programs

Concept Audience Details

“Bike carpool” (Bicyclist + motorist + vehicle + rack + meeting point)

a) Would-be bicycle commuters who are deterred by total distance

b) Would-be bicycle commuters who wish to bike in one direction only (perhaps to avoid the need to shower and change at work)

Match bicycle commuters with motorist commuters from their general home location whose vehicles have, or can be equipped with, bike racks. (Consider a program of providing racks that fit hitch receivers on SUVs, vans and pickup trucks – or discounts on the purchase of such racks.) The bicyclist would not need to be picked up and dropped off at home; s/he could ride to the home-end meeting point. The bicyclist may choose to rideshare all the way in to work so as to avoid showering and changing at work, then bike all the way home. Objectives: a) Enable longer-distance bicycle commuting than is practical for most cyclists. b) Enable bicycle commuting by those for whom workplace dress code or arrival time is an issue.

Bike lighting promotion with bicycle shops

Bicycle commuters willing to commute in darkness and twilight, who want good lights

Bicycle shops

Arrange with local bicycle retailers to provide discounts on selected mid- to high-end lighting systems. Use the opportunity to build relationships with bike shops for other activities such as maintenance workshops. Objective: Encourage more, and more confident and reliable, multi-season bicycle commuting.

Bus posters (side or tail); see Examples following

Motorists and bicyclists; general public

Inform bicyclists and motorists of expectations regarding safe and legal bicycling, and motor vehicle operation around bicycles Objectives: Increase safe and legal bicycling. Increase safe and courteous motor vehicle operation.


Examples

(The above poster / card is also available in Spanish)

Figure 23: San Francisco MTA Poster Campaigns

Wide format is for bus tails and bumper stickers


San Francisco MTA Shared Lane Marking information

Shared Lane Markings (“Sharrows”) may be

recommended for installation on wide (minimum 14’)

outside lanes on some Energy Corridor District arterial

streets. Sharrows are applied on street segments

where there are no bike lanes or striped shoulders

used for bicycle travel.

For motorists, the markings indicate that bicyclists are

to be expected on these streets, and that bicyclists

may occupy lane positions for their safety -- to deter

unsafe passing, or to proceed safely into and through

intersections.

Shared Lane Marking, parking context (from SF Shared Lane Marking Study)

For bicyclists, the markings indicate the minimum recommended distance to ride left of the parked

cars to avoid “dooring” between intersections. On streets without parking they indicate the

recommended line of travel to avoid right-edge hazards such as debris and drainage grates.

Sharrows are also used at intersections to show where to minimize conflicts with vehicles making

other movements.

The following poster / bumper sticker was created by SF MTA to educate bicyclists and motorists

regarding how bicyclists should position their bicycle relative to sharrows.

Figure 24: San Francisco MTA Shared Lane Marking Educational Poster


Sharrows are standardized in the draft federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD),

also known as the “Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA)”, which is expected to be adopted in late

2009 or in 2010. California standardized them several years ago, for the parking context.

San Francisco MTA maintains a “Sharrow FAQ” on its website, currently at:

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/bsafe/28372.html

This FAQ, with California references replaced, would be useful for education in the Energy Corridor

District and greater Houston as sharrows are deployed.

The Bicycle Commuter Act (Tax Benefit)

Section 211 of the 2008 federal transportation bill, “Transportation Fringe Benefit to Bicycle

Commuters”, also known as the “Bicycle Commuter Act”, creates a $20/month benefit that became

effective January 1, 2009.

According to the wording of the legislation, this benefit is applicable to “reasonable expenses

incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle

improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the

employee's residence and place of employment.”

Employees need not commute year-round to qualify; eligibility is determined on a month to month

basis. During a “qualified bicycle commuting month”:

the employee must bicycle to work at least three times a week

the bicycle must be used for a “substantial portion of the travel” between home and work

the employee may not receive any other commuting incentive such as a transit benefit

during that month

Month-by-month qualification means that an employee could choose to commute by bicycle for

some of the year and use transit for other (perhaps colder, hotter, or rainier) months, while obtaining

a commuter benefit each month for their chosen mode.

Employers that offer commuter incentive programs such as this reduce their FICA expenses by

about 9.5%. Many employers already offer transit / carpool / vanpool benefits, and can simply add

the bicycle commuter benefit to this structure.


RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations address several bicycling-related purposes:

Increasing the modal share and frequency of bicycle commuting commutes from residences

to Energy Corridor District workplaces

Promoting commutes from Energy Corridor District -area residences to the proposed

Addicks Road bike station and from there to workplaces outside the Energy Corridor District

area

Explain and promote the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision to employers and employees

Promoting recreational cycling within and near the Energy Corridor District, because it can

build confidence and help bicyclists become more willing to consider bicycle commuting

Increasing non-commute utility cycling within the Energy Corridor District area, e.g.

shopping and errand-running, because of its role in building confidence

Enhance the effectiveness of the Energy Corridor District and Houston Bicycle Program websites

Recommendation Rationale / Details

Incorporate the Houston Bicycle Program’s educational videos on the ECD site.

Replacing an indirect link with direct information will make it more likely to be viewed.

Consider developing a “template” page on bicycle commuting for inclusion in internal corporate commuting websites

Employees of some companies may get their commute alternatives information more from their company than from outside sources. Replacing an indirect link with direct information will make it more likely to be viewed.

Consider developing a “template” page on bicycle commuting for inclusion in internal corporate health and fitness websites

Employees of some companies may get their health and fitness information from their company and hence be unlikely to browse the ECD website. Corporate health and wellness programs may not realize or emphasize the role that bicycle commuting can play in achieving their goals. Providing and updating template content may increase the penetration of relevant messages.

Encourage ECD employers to prominently link to the ECD website’s bike page. Publicize ECD website’s bike commute information widely.


Bike Buddy and Commute Convoy programs


Consider developing icons (visual identities) for the Bike Buddy and Commute Convoy programs

The icons will help to “brand” these services and may attract more employees to inquire about them.

Consider developing plaques or small signs for Bike Buddies and Commute Convoy leaders to display at the door of their office or cubicle, and simple one-page handouts or postcards explaining the program.

For those volunteers willing to do so, an “office conversation starter” may help them evangelize these programs. Displaying a type of sign “breaks the ice” and creates “pull” (curiosity) for the program. A handout or card makes it more likely that an interested party will follow up with a web visit and sign-up.

Consider adding a moderated bicycle commuter blog or forum to the ECD website.

Unlike a simple email list, a blog or forum is searchable and can be viewed by thread (subject-based discussion). Visible discussion content and Q&A may interest others and help to shift attitudes toward acceptance of bicycle use.

Consider creating a Commute Convoy along Eldridge to Park Row for ECD residents living along and east of Eldridge.

(Suggestion from an employee)

On-site programs


Continue lunchtime introductory sessions (“brown-bags”) at single large employers

Creates awareness of bicycle commuting options and ECD commuter services. Workplace sessions eliminate the need to spend time after work or take time off to attend a session at another company’s facility.

Continue periodic longer commuter classes at workplaces

Provides more in-depth information for bicyclists becoming comfortable with commuting

Work with BikeHouston and the Houston Bicycle Program to offer commuter oriented classes, including periodic LAB Traffic Skills 101 courses, near home locations.

Offering a longer course at a workplace may be a difficult sell for commuters who don’t want to extend their workday. Offering such courses at bicycle shops could help to build a culture of education.


Programs related to Bicycle Plan implementation


Create an informational campaign to educate bicyclists and motorists about the Shared Lane Marking (“Sharrow”) if implemented on Eldridge Parkway and other ECD streets (See San Francisco MTA Shared Lane Marking information in the previous section)

This is a relatively new marking. Most roadway users will not initially understand its meaning (though the bicycle icon may lead to some good guesses) or know how they are expected to operate around it. Existing informational websites and print materials developed by agencies and advocacy groups in other areas, for example by San Francisco’s Metropolitan Transportation Agency (SF MTA), can be largely used verbatim with customization for Texas law and Houston practice.

Create informational pieces and web content about any proposed gap closures or obstacle removals

Some potential bicycle commuters may be waiting for such improved connectivity and hazard removal before deciding to begin riding.


CONCLUSIONS

As the Energy Corridor District continues its efforts to create an environment where people want to

work, live and shop, it is taking a holistic approach to area transportation. This Bicycle Master Plan

supports that approach by addressing bicycling -- a healthy and effective alternative to motor vehicle

use. It proposes a bicycle travel network that addresses both the needs within the District and high-

quality connections to nearby areas and the home locations of employees.

After the Energy Corridor District Livable Center and the West Houston Trails Master Plan are

completed, an Energy Corridor Bicycle Summit should be conducted to combine and coordinate all

projects. Representatives can review all project lists and compile a new ‘action plan’ for projects

within the Energy Corridor.

This report is intended to be used as starting point to understand where bikeways and paths should

be provided, and how education, promotion and outreach can increase the usage of these facilities.


REFERENCES

Building Better Bikeways: A Planning Guide for the Houston-Galveston Region. Houston-Galveston Area Council, Houston, Texas, 2009.

City of Houston e-government Center. http://www.houstonbikeways.org/

Energy Corridor District. http://www.energycorridor.org/home/

League of American Bicyclists. http://www.bikeleague.org/

West Houston Trails. http://www.energycorridor.org/west-houston-trails/default.aspx

TAB ONE Pedestrian and Bicycle Count Summary Letter

Documents

Energy Corridor District Bicycle Master Plan