The gist
On Oct. 18, the H-GAC hosted a public forum at Bay Area Community Center where community members could share feedback on improving public safety on the area’s trails.
The feedback will be considered as county officials develop the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Plan, which will serve as a roadmap to guide short- and long-term priorities for pedestrian and cyclist mobility in the area.
The plan is part of Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s Revive2Thrive initiative, which aims to revitalize existing communities while avoiding gentrification.
In their own words
Since 2018, the council has tracked 233 bicycle- and pedestrian-related crashes, resulting in 20 fatalities and 36 serious injuries, according to a study created by the council.
“They need to separate bike lanes from car lanes. It’s just too crazy; the two can’t exist together,” said resident Dave Rahn, who cycles regularly in Clear Lake.
Garcia said in addition to improving safety, the plan will create greater connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the area.
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“A bike experience should be just that: It should be an experience,” Garcia said. “You should be able to find things that you never thought about. You should be able to go to work, as I use it to go to work. You should be able to use it as a daily commute or have fun as a recreational opportunity.”
One more thing
While additional public meetings to gather community feedback have not yet been scheduled, H-GAC staff confirmed there will be additional meetings in the first half of 2024.
In the meantime, interested parties can browse an interactive map of the area trails and share their feedback through a community survey.
