Bellaire considers expansion to bike trails system

BELLAIRE, Texas (FOX 26) - Christy Smith doesn't have a massive front lawn to her home on Evergreen, and she doesn’t want to lose some of it and the trees for a bike path.

"Right now I think the money is better spent on what we can do to minimize. It's Houston, it's going to rain a lot, what can we do to minimize flooding. That's most important to me,” Smith says.

Her home flooded during Harvey, as did those of many of her neighbors. That's why the mom of three took the time to address her concerns to the Bellaire Planning Commission at the last meeting where they recommended the city not build the paths, but it's ultimately up to the city council.

The proposal calls for expanding the existing trail system to the tune of $12.5 million. Depending on the location, it would require some homeowners to sacrifice between six and eight feet of property. They would connect some of the key interest points in the city, and that appeals to Shelly Rice. Well, that and the safety aspect.

"There are a lot of kids I see out in the streets riding bikes and it concerns me because one of my kids was hit crossing Newcastle." He was okay.

Regardless of how this plays out, there’s a lesson here. You have to pay attention. A lot of government activity, the really nitty gritty stuff that actually effects your lives, happens in meetings that are really boring.

By the time they get on your radar, it's almost too late. Bellaire has considered these trails off and on since the 70s. Attorney Wesley Wright says one of the proposed trails goes by his business and another by his home. He says it's not a done deal this time either.

“The residents of the City of Bellaire have to pay attention and they need to show up on August 6 at that council meeting,” Wright says.

We will see. The opposition seems to be growing.