Houston by eBike

The Bayou City offers a bike route for every type of rider, whether you’re looking to take in the sights, get to work, or get a workout.

Houston by eBike

The Bayou City offers a bike route for every type of rider, whether you’re looking to take in the sights, get to work, or get a workout.

Situated in southeast Texas on a coastal plain leading to the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is a bustling international city rich in Southern hospitality and eclectic culture.

America’s fourth largest city offers a wide range of attractions and activities for locals and travelers of all ages, and one of the best ways to check them all out is on an eBike. Offering riders an opportunity to go farther and skip any traffic or parking hassles, an eBike is a fun way to get you to your destination faster than most riders could cycle and burn a few calories in the meantime. The Bayou City has embraced the booming interest in eBikes with the addition of Bosch-powered electric BCycles to the city’s bike share fleet as well as over 160 miles and counting of Bayou Greenways, trails, bike lanes, and shared routes. 

Doogie Roux, a proud Cajun-Texan and micromobility consultant, shares his tips for how to best explore Houston on an eBike. "I quickly realized the benefits of an eBike when accommodating the wide range of abilities in diverse populations. I want everyone to experience the world on a bike as I have with less limitations and hindrances. The use of eBikes supports just that. With a little boost, everyone can go farther and experience all that this great city has to offer!”

Where to get or rent an eBike: Visitors to Houston and anyone else can rent an eBike from any station via Houston BCycle, the city's premier bike share program. Users can ride from station to station across multiple Houston neighborhoods, checking out attractions along the way. Upon arriving at the station, simply press the button on the battery located at the rear of the electric bike to ensure a proper charge level for your ride. With over 120 BCycle stations in the Houston area, you can identify BCycle stations from anywhere in the city by downloading the BCycle app and looking for the lightning bolt at a station to indicate a docked eBike is ready for use.

Below is Doogie’s curated list of the most popular and centrally located BCycle stations, along with nearby attractions, points of interest, and more for riders to check-out:

Sabine Bridge, Fonde Recreation Center, Eleanor Tinsley Park, Spotts Park, Jackson Hill, Lost Lake:

These stations are all situated around the Buffalo Bayou Loop and offer riders some of the best sites in Houston, including iconic skyline views and access to the Bayou Greenway network. Make a stop at the Sabine Bridge Promenade for a photo with one of the best backdrops in the city. Then visit The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, a decommissioned underground reservoir built in 1926 that currently features the art installation Time No Longer by Anri Sala . Also nearby is the Waugh Drive Bridge, home to one of the city’s best kept secrets – the Waugh Drive Bat Colony. Catch the bat emergence spectacle around sunset.  

 

Main & Dallas, Crawford Island, Market Square:

Centrally located in the heart of the city, these stations have proximity to bike lanes, trails, parks, and all that Downtown Houston has to offer. For your caffeine fix plus the latest and throwbacks in streetwear, visit the Tipping Point. It’s the city’s first and only creative lifestyle destination. You can also visit the newly opened Day 6 Coffee. From there you can stop at Frank’s for a slice, whole pies, and more, or La Calle for tacos. There’s also a wide range of flavors at the various food halls throughout downtown: Finn Hall, Underground Hall, Bravery Chef Hall. When you’re ready to wind down, see if you can find The Secret Garden for some of the city’s best cocktails then visit Margaux’s Oyster Bar nearby. Downtown is home to a vibrant art scene with plenty of must see murals such as the recently completed eBike mural by Donkeeboy & Donkeemom at GreenStreet, an upscale, urban mixed-use destination in downtown with dining, restaurants, fitness, and entertainment options, including Life Time Athletic and House of Blues. After all of that you can catch a social ride from Market Square Park any day of the week in the evening time or Critical Mass on the last Friday of every month starting from Guadalupe Park.    

 

Hermann Park Lake Plaza, Centennial Gardens, Hermann Park Rice U METRORail, Health Museum:

Located near Hermann Park and its Marvin Taylor Exercise Trail, these stations put riders in the heart of some of Houston’s premier green spaces. Stop for a bite at Lucille’s, known for its legendary “well refined southern cuisine” after a ride on the trails and a refreshing walk through the vibrant Centennial Gardens. Then visit the Health Museum to see all things health, medical science, and the human body.

 

Eastwood Park, Navigation Esplanade, Guadalupe Park, 8th Wonder Brewery, Mason Park:

These stations are in and around Houston’s historic East End and put riders in the thick of the city’s rich Hispanic community. Stop in at El Tiempo for sizzling fajitas or visit The Original Ninfa's, a legendary hot-spot for Mexican fare. Also nearby is Villas Arcos - home of the Bacon Super TacoTM, Dona Maria - fresh tortillas daily, Acadian Cost - thoughtfully prepared Gulf-Coast seafood and a blend of authentic flavors, and Champ Burger - the best homestyle burgers around. After fueling up, you can see a rich collection of murals throughout the neighborhood, visit a variety of parks, and hop onto the various trails that connect to the Bayou Greenways. At the end of the day, cool off with a cocktail from Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive or take a splash at El Segundo Swim Club. On Sundays, you can visit the East End Farmers Market for local goods and flavors.    

 

Emancipation Park, Project Row Houses, TSU, UH, and MacGregor Park:

Stop here to immerse yourself in the African American history and vibrant present-day culture of Houston’s 3rd Ward. There’s plenty of green space for a picnic, sports, or a family outing in Houston’s oldest park, Emancipation Park. While there, you can cross the street to indulge in homemade vegan, gluten-free and non-vegan baked goods at Crumbville or go around the corner to experience the healthy flavors at Soul Food Vegan. To burn those calories, you can catch the Columbia Tap trail to connect to more Bayou Greenways or join 3rd Ward Tours for a music-themed bike ride with sounds from Zydeco to R&B and local DJs such as Soul Control.

For those looking to check out one of the city’s many premier bike shops to make a purchase, get a repair, or just do some maintenance and ask questions. Visit West End Bikes near Memorial Park for a broad range of eBike options as well as all things dirt, MTB, and shred related. Just down the street and around the corner is Urban Bicycle Gallery, with knowledgeable staff and plenty of options for everyone. Visit 3rd Ward Bike Shop for a wide range of used bikes and parts to get almost anyone rolling, or nearby Fixed Up Bike Shop for everything fixed gear, single-speed, BMX and more. 

Other shops for riders of all levels and styles include: Blue Line Bike Lab in the Heights, host of the Wednesday Night Bike Fight, a ride all about clipping in and going fast; Houston Bicycle Company, one of Houston’s oldest shops in Montrose; Shama Cycles for all things fast and aero, Bicycle Speed Shop to make fast bikes faster, and finally Bike Barn with multiple locations and a wide range of options.

Best Bike Routes

The Bayou City offers a bike route for every type of rider, whether you’re looking to pedal around town for food and fun, take in scenic views of the city, or get a good workout.

 

Easy / Family-Friendly Routes

Rice Bike Track (0.3 miles): Ideal for beginners that need space to find their balance and get accustomed to pedaling two wheels. After practice laps here, anyone can tackle Houston on any bike!


Memorial Park Picnic Route (1.3 miles): Offers riders a nice smooth paved road through part of the park which has many picnic tables and space for recreational activities along the side. A BCycle station is in the parking lot entrance as well as near the Memorial Park Running Center, just down the street.


Marvin Taylor Exercise Route (2 miles): Great for families or casual riders, the path sits in the shade of the Park's historic live oaks. A BCycle Station is conveniently situated near Hermann Park Lake Plaza, and riders can easily ride over the Bill Coats Bridge to the park's Urban Forest at Bayou Parkland.

More Challenging Routes

Houston Bikeways: There’s a wide array of dedicated and high comfort bike lanes as well as shared routes throughout the city. You can roll from Hermann Park to the Museum District and Midtown as well as Downtown via the Austin Bike Lane then connect to the Lamar Bike Lane and get to Buffalo Bayou Park or continue to the newly constructed extension of the Buffalo Bayou trail. There’s also the Polk Street Bike Lane in the East End along with Heights Blvd and 19th Street for views of vintage storefronts and victorian style homes.


White Oak Bayou & Heights Hike and Bike Trail (17 miles): With over 17 miles of public green space and hike and bike trails within city limits, White Oak Bayou offers riders a longer loop with great views of the city. These Bayou Greenways connect to the historic Heights neighborhood and then to the Heights MKT trail which gives you access to a long list of local businesses and pop ups.


Brays Bayou (19.6 miles): Brays Bayou begins in northern Fort Bend County and goes east, before continuing past the Texas Medical Center and the University of Houston, then all the way toward the Ship Channel. An eBike will allow riders to conquer the banks of the bayou with ease. Along the way, you can connect to Hermann Park to see the Bill Coats Bridge, the Columbia Tap Trail and roll through 3rd Ward and into downtown, or the Harrisburg Trail to see the East End. This route offers views of Houston’s rural and urban landscapes.

Before planning any travel, please review all COVID-19 travel restrictions relative to the destination and your home state.

For more information on the destination, including booking hotels, information on specific attractions and more, visit www.visithoustontexas.com/

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