Trail News
Memorial Park has limited access this weekend
Although the Houston Parks & Recreation Dept has stated that the Memorial Park Mountain Biking Trails are open, this information has NOT trickled-down to the police, nor the trail riders. When confronted tonight, the sergeant in charge called his commander who confirmed that the trails were indeed open to bikers. Unfortunately, the sergeant failed to disseminate this information to his junior officers. Some trail riders heard the sergeant report that the trails are open, but they also failed to disseminate the information.
Bikes are NOT allowed on closed roads, nor are they allowed near the tents at the parking lots. These tents block the paved hike and bike paths, so there is no continuous path through the park.
Our Recommendation:
1. The best way to deal with the plethora of police and trail riders is to avoid both. Postpone your ride until after Monday. Better yet, join GHORBA for a work party and ride at Double Lake Recreational Area 9 AM Sunday Feb 25 Entry into DL is FREE for work party participants.
Map & Directions (turn left after the gate).
2. If you can’t wait until Monday, consider the following:
Treat Memorial Park as two trail systems: the East Side (aka – green trail or “Cambodia”) and the West Side (aka – yellow, orange, red, blue and purple trails, or “Ho Chi Minh”). Between these two trails systems (aka – “no man’s land”) lies the trail riders and police – an area to avoid. Or try the Triangle which will be trouble free.
Enter the East Side from the East to avoid the police that will be stationed at the eastern gated entrance to the fruit loop. Once you exit the trail at the eastern gated entrance to the fruit loop, immediately travel onto Memorial drive and ride towards the West Side trails. Ride as far west as possible before crossing Memorial Drive and riding to the railroad tracks located west of the trails. Enter the trails from the railroad tracks, ride the entire West Side trails, then leave the way you entered.
If you are seen in the area between the two trail systems, you will likely be the target of heated discussions. The police, and especially the trail riders, will not have much patience for riders in the “no man’s land.” If confronted, exercise patience and leave the area ASAP. Trying to discuss bikers’ right to ride the trails will probably be a waste of time.
Clay & Brian
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