You, Too, Can Be Seen with a Flashy Taillight

Planet Bike Blinky SuperFlash Rear Bike Light

If you ride a bicycle in traffic, you've probably noticed that many urban drivers aren't bike-friendly. It's not (usually) hostility, it's distraction: they don't shift to attack mode upon seeing a cyclist, they simply don't see us. A wise rider does whatever it takes to be noticed by folks thumbing iPhones or wiping goo off Baby's chin while driving. Flashy jerseys are a passive method; but in enemy territory, by which I mean most urban settings, you'd better take active measures. My first rides in the city where I used to live (Houston) were nerve-wracking, so I dropped into my LBS for something that would attract attention before my rear wheel disappeared under a bumper. My choice? A Planet Bike Blinky SuperFlash Light for rear mounting.

The SuperFlash is a small three-LED light in a plastic housing with padded clamps for either seatpost or seatstay. Installation takes a couple of minutes and a screwdriver. The housing is about three inches high, one inch wide, and one inch thick; shaped like a keyhole. Two LED lights are located on the vertical, with a third, focused by a parabolic mirror, in the center of the round top. A pair of AAA batteries (included) power the light or you can buy one that recharges from a USB plug for about twice the price. Including the batteries, total weight is fifty grams. The light has is a three-position switch: off, steady, and flashing. When flashing, the bottom two LEDS blink at one rate, while the upper LED flashes at a different, faster pattern. Planet Bike says that batteries will last for 50 hours with steady use, and 100 hours flashing. Mine lasted more than two years before I had to replace them. Some users claim that the light can pop out of the mounting on rough surfaces, but mine snaps in place and stays there. It's not certified waterproof, so rainy weather may cause problems. This is a heckuva bright light: I wouldn't be caught dead (well, actually I probably would be) riding in most cities after dark, but I use this for daylight rides on "share-the-road" streets and marked bike "lanes" (the "dirty bike stripe"). I've had almost no close calls from the rear with it working (wonder if I can mount one on the front?), because even in bright light the irregular flash pattern and that super-bright red upper light get a driver's attention. I've seen these on bikes while driving, and even in broad daylight they're noticeable from several hundred feet away. On gray days, I've been known to mount mine on the back of my helmet to get it up level with drivers' eyes.

Overall, it's a fine safety device for urban riders. The eye-catching flash pattern and superbright light should catch the attention of distracted drivers, day or night. The light may be a bit expensive, but so's major surgery.

copyright © 2016-2017 scmrak

A Beginner's Guide to Houston's Terry Hershey Trail, Part 1

OK, so you're not one of the bony types who hang out in the break room at the office hitting up all their co-workers for a pledge to this year's 180-mile BP MS150 between Houston and Austin. You don't own a single item of Spandex®, and your bike weighs about the same as a set of the Encyclopedia Britannica. That doesn't mean you can't get out on your bike and enjoy the fresh air while you get some exercise. If you live or work near Houston's Energy Corridor, you have a great opportunity right at your doorstep: the Terry Hershey Trail.

Managed by Harris County Precinct 3, the paved trail follows the banks of Buffalo Bayou from the foot of the Addicks Dam (at George Bush park) to a terminus at the Sam Houston Tollway (Texas 8), a distance of some 6.5 miles. In 2013, the county added an arm to the trail that provides access to the Addicks Park-n-Ride lot. The main trail is separated  into five more or less equal sections by major north-south streets: from the West, they are Eldridge parkway, Dairy Ashford Road, Kirkwood Road, and Wilcrest Drive.

Section 1 - Bush Park to Eldridge Parkway

The trail runs along the south side of Buffalo Bayou through a lightly wooded area. There are several bridge crossings at small drainages: watch for a "step" of up to an inch where the path meets the concrete pad (the precinct fills these occasionally, but they soon redevelop). At about one mile, a footbridge across the Bayou (see right) leads to the 500-acre Terry Hershey Park on Memorial Drive. That path loops back to meet the main Hershey Trail just west of Eldridge, about a one-mile loop. There are drinking fountains (human and dog) along the loop trail and even a shower to help cool down runners.

The west end of the so-called "anthill," used by fat-tire enthusiasts, parallels the paved trail off to the right (south) through this section. After a rain, be wary of heavy mud coating the trail in spots where the off-road trails veer to the side and uphill.

Parking is available north of the Bayou on the west side of Texas 6. To reach the trailhead, you must cross the Highway 6 bridge on a narrow, one-lane sidewalk. Parking is also available at the park on the north side of Memorial as well as along Memorial Mews south of Memorial. Restrooms, water, and picnic tables are available at the park; only picnic tables can be found at the western end and a water fountain near the zero mile marker.

Section 2 - Eldridge Parkway to Dairy Ashford Road

The trail runs along the north side of the Bayou from the east side of Eldridge to the other end. Eastbound cyclists can reconnect with the main trail by crossing the Bayou on the Eldridge bridge (only wide enough for one bicycle!) and turning left to loop under the roadway. A restroom with drinking fountains sits just east of Eldridge, and you can also connect with a bicycle route that follows Enclave Parkway. This section of the trail is also mostly flat, though there are a few slight inclines and several sharp turns. Parking is available at Dairy Ashford on the south side of the Bayou; to reach the trail you must cross the bridge either on the road surface (not a good idea) or on an open sidewalk. At the west end, some folks park in the Kendall Library lot on the northwest corner of Eldridge and the Bayou (preferably when the library is closed). There are no restroom facilities in this section, nor is there water. Benches and picnic tables can be found all along the paved trail.

There is access to the Robin Trail, a 1.8-mile loop (mostly crushed granite) at the east end of the Dairy Ashford parking lot. The Robin Trail connects with a city bicycle lane on Briar Forest Drive, about half a mile south. If mud's your thing, you can connect with the dirt trails through the woods on the south side of the Bayou by dropping down the banks on the east side of the bridge.

Trail Etiquette

Cyclists must yield the right of way to everyone, even if they're hogging the trail. Watch for loose dogs (in defiance of park rules) and new moms weaving around with strollers while texting. Be safe: announce your presence to pedestrians and other cyclists before passing, and never stop and stand on the trail.

Coming Next: The rest of the trail...

copyright © 2016-2017 scmrak