The new bike path to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a dream come true for cyclists who want to pedal to the annual spectacle at NRG Stadium that starts next week.

Driving the news: Construction of a mile-long off-street path along Almeda Road from Old Spanish Trail to Holly Hall Street is nearly complete.

Why it matters: The new path closes a major gap in Houston's bike network by connecting to paths along Almeda Road to the north and an east-west path along Holly Hall to the west, which dead-ends at NRG Park.

• To the north of the new path, it's easy enough to pedal to and from Hermann Park, the Brays Bayou Greenway and destinations in the Texas Medical Center.

What they're saying: "It is relatively low-cost infrastructure that can have enormous, immediate benefits," Commissioner Rodney Ellis said last year. "Bikeways are one of the most equitable forms for transit we can provide simply because you don't have to be wealthy to walk or ride a bike."

Yes, but: As of Monday, construction was still blocking a portion of the path at Old Spanish Trail.

• Another trouble spot — Holly Hall at Cambridge Street — is also still under construction.

💭 Jay's thought bubble: Be sure to check out this map of bike parking before you head out, so you know where to go.

• However, good luck maneuvering around obstructions near the bike racks — or finding space if they're already occupied. I was able to slip my bike into a rack Monday when picking up our press passes, but it sure seemed like a feat with all the mopeds hanging around.

The bottom line: Once construction is complete, the new path will be one more link in Houston's ever-growing bike network.

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Texas kids need to step up their fruit and veggie intake.

Driving the news: About half of kids in Texas did not eat a daily vegetable in the prior week, the CDC reported last week.

Yes, but: Kids in Texas are better about eating their fruit, with around 70% of children getting at least one fruit in their daily diets.

Of note: About 69% drank a sugar-sweetened beverage at least once in the prior week.

Why it matters: While this data is only a snapshot in time, it offers a glimpse at the quality of kids' diets — which impacts their growth and development — at a time of increased interest in addressing childhood nutrition, as well as concerns about the pending loss of pandemic-era food benefits, Axios' Tina Reed reports.

Details: Researchers examined more than 18,000 responses from parents to the 2021 National Survey of Children's Health regarding what their kids between the ages of 1 and 5 consumed in the previous week.

• Nationally, just under half (49.1%) said their child did not eat a daily vegetable, and 32.1% said their child didn't consume a daily fruit.
• Meanwhile, 57.1% indicated their child had consumed a sugar-sweetened beverage at least once in the prior week.

Between the lines: There were a number of differences by race and ethnicity. For instance, the percentage of those who did not consume a daily fruit or vegetable was greatest among non-Hispanic Black children.

🐆 Prairie View A&M University has a new interim president after former president Ruth Simmons announced she would step down. Dr. Michael McFrazier, dean of the College of Education, will step in until a permanent president is hired. (KPRC)

🗳 Furniture mogul Jim McIngvale launched a new website for voters to track issues they had during November's general election. (Chron)

☕️ A Starbucks location in the Texas Medical Center became Houston's third such coffee shop to unionize. (Houston Public Media)

While Chicago may have won the title in the Axios Local pizza bracket, our readers were pretty upset when we lost to Dallas.

What they're saying: "Can't believe we lost to Dallas … they can't touch our food scene, even if pizza isn't our strongest culinary category," Reed G. said.

Here are some of the pizza recs we got from our readers:

• Reed G. recommended Crisp in the Heights. "A little more artisan than Pink's/Frank's, but delicious."
• Maddie D. said Dallas can't compete with a family-run New York-style pizzeria like Romano's Pizza.
• Dwight S. recommended Pizaro's New York- and Detroit-style pizza.

The bottom line: It's pizza time.

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It's time to rally for the Houston Zoo.

What's happening: USA Today is highlighting the country's top 10 everything, and Houston is up for best zoo.

Why you should vote: The Houston Zoo is a top destination for family trips, romantic dates and animal enthusiasts alike.

• It will open up the Galápagos Islands exhibit in April, the first of its kind showcasing the islands' wildlife.
• The zoo also is home to Shasta VII, the latest iteration of the University of Houston's live cougar mascot.

How it works: Voting is open through 11am on March 6.

• The top 10 zoos will be announced March 17.