Harris County replaces trail speed limits with broader safety message for all park users

“We shouldn’t have to resort to speed limits to have safe trails,” stated Joe Cutrufo, government director of BikeHouston.

Though the affect of the trade relating to decreasing incidents is hard to quantify — no person tracks accidents alongside the county trail device brought about by way of conflicts or collisions — bicyclists, pedestrians, runners and officers agree the broader message is a greater method.

“That way, no one feels like it is someone else’s responsibility,” stated Shawn Davidson, 33, who runs 3 or 4 days every week alongside the Quail Trail, the backbone of the Terry Hershey device.

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When Precinct three Commissioner Tom Ramsey took place of job in January, the problem of the speed limits put in by way of his predecessor, Steve Radack, was once a number of the first he tackled. Ramsey requested county personnel to check the trail use and patterns and take a look at to search out an choice rather then telling cyclists to decelerate.

“The consensus was it was problematic for the bicycle community,” stated Eric Heppen, a technical marketing consultant for Precinct three. “You cannot assume people on a bike have a speedometer.”

Radack on the time stated the indicators had been a reaction to expanding incidents and got here after repeated makes an attempt to inspire more secure driving.

Cutrufo stated it additionally centered cyclists for problems that steadily weren’t their fault, and targeted the message only on bicyclists when unleashed canines and inattentive runners contributed to a couple conflicts.

“A 10 mph speed limit says nothing about how others should act on a trail,” he stated. “When you are too prescriptive about speed, you tend to alienate people.”

Bicyclist speed, on the other hand, was once the main factor, stated Mary Jones, 65, who steadily walks alongside the paths in and round George Bush Park.

“It wasn’t most cyclists, but the ones who wouldn’t slow down made it unsafe for everyone,” Jones stated. “They’d come up and yell like we were doing something wrong being on the trail … Buddy, you were the one who came flying into me.”

Jones stated even if she by no means was once struck, it was once most effective by way of sheer good fortune in some circumstances. For that explanation why, she stated she supported the speed restrict, regardless that she admitted she was once no longer sure 10 mph was once the appropriate legislation.

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The county find out about, which lined a dozen county trails throughout all precincts, discovered maximum conflicts befell the place other users converged, Heppen stated. Loop trails that draw a long way fewer cyclists than walkers didn’t have many problems, and lengthy inaccessible spaces with fewer side road crossings the place cyclists can achieve speed safely most often don’t draw large crowds.

Where the ones long trails intersect, or the place trailheads and entrances draw in runners or dog-walkers, is the place issues stand up. Terry Hershey’s vastly fashionable Quail Trail is dotted with battle issues. The trail, 5 miles of Nine-foot-wide pavement alongside Buffalo Bayou from the Sam Houston Tollway to Eldridge, can draw hundreds of folks on a pleasing day. Popular spots, such because the trail at Dairy Ashford, can draw loads for morning walks and once more see an uptick at lunchtime.

“There’s times it can get busy,” stated Chloe Lee, 36, who trains for races by way of working a collection course alongside the paths from her condominium close to Beltway eight and Westheimer.

Heppen stated this is why it was once a number of the first to obtain the brand new indicators, which come with a QR code so folks can scan with a smartphone and pull up all the park laws, in addition to alert park personnel to issues. The indicators most likely will unfold to all county trails as wanted.

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Crowded stipulations, alongside with a wish to make stronger safety in some spots may result in enhancements, Heppen stated. At key places, comparable to curves or straightaways between main roads, the Terry Hershey trails might be widened by way of a foot or two for quick distances to present runners and bicyclists more space for passing. Exact plans would come from additional find out about, Heppen stated, noting Precinct three personnel are continuing, even if recently-approved redistricting maps for Harris County will transfer Terry Hershey into Precinct four.

In the meantime, biking advocates and others stated the indicators preaching safety already are softening one of the variations between users. During COVID, use of Houston space trails spiked and in lots of puts use stays upper than prior years. As a end result, trails around the area have extra cyclists, canine walkers and pedestrians — and extra conflicts.

“We will have a much more pleasant experience, regardless if you are on wheels or on foot, if we all just take care of each other,” Cutrufo stated.

dug.begley@chron.com