Since Metro put bike racks on their buses, I have yet to see a bike on one except mine. Granted, I've only ridden a couple of times just to check it out since I live so close to work. Anyone else seen differently? I do believe it's a great (and greatly underused) resource especially for those living in the burbs and needing to get closer to downtown.

Here in Kingwood, we pay the Metro tax, but only have park and ride service. I try not to go in the direction of town more than I have to, so haven't seen buses with racks. I'm rarely on the road when the P&R buses run and avoid that route if I am out and about, not because of the buses, but the traffic.

Yes, its a good idea. My son may be attending grad school at U of H a year from now. Taking a P&R bus to the city, they riding a bike to the campus may be the only way he can afford getting there. But, I'm guessing most who ride P&R buses are close enough to work when they arrive, there's no need to take the bike along. The racks, however, at the P&R lot are more full than 6 months ago.

We live inside the loop and I hardly ever saw the racks being utilized. But the last couple of months, I've seen a bike on those racks every single day.

Here in Kingwood, we pay the Metro tax, but only have park and ride service. I try not to go in the direction of town more than I have to, so haven't seen buses with racks. I'm rarely on the road when the P&R buses run and avoid that route if I am out and about, not because of the buses, but the traffic.

Yes, its a good idea. My son may be attending grad school at U of H a year from now. Taking a P&R bus to the city, they riding a bike to the campus may be the only way he can afford getting there. But, I'm guessing most who ride P&R buses are close enough to work when they arrive, there's no need to take the bike along. The racks, however, at the P&R lot are more full than 6 months ago.

I've put my bike in the luggage compartment of the P&R busses and then ridden to my old office downtown. It's really easy and convenient.

i live in the montrose area...i usually notice a bike on them maybe every other day.

One of the problems with the bus system in Houston is it remains a spoke type system. If you live somewhere like Kingwood, its take the P&R downtown, then transfer to another bus, or was that way the last time I explored the possibility of using buses to travel around the city. With a bike, that means you may have to move your bike from one bus to another several times. Though, in some situations, it may be best to ride the bike to a stop farther out. The transfer stations Metro built help some, but the system leaves a lot to be desired.

I see them used quite often, though I have yet to use one myself though I am sure one day I will have mechanics on one of my rides and bail out and use metro. Could have really used one last night on our Wednesday midnight ride had two riders with unrepairable break downs, but no metro at 2:30 am. :mad:

Looked at the schedules for park and ride. I need to go in to Daniel Boone and check out some stuff I need for my Nishiki Cresta, also to just do the pilgrammage. I'm going to take the bike on the P&R bus, then from the last stop, ride to Boone. It will save my at least half the gas cost over taking my F150.

Looked at the schedules for park and ride. I need to go in to Daniel Boone and check out some stuff I need for my Nishiki Cresta, also to just do the pilgrammage. I'm going to take the bike on the P&R bus, then from the last stop, ride to Boone. It will save my at least half the gas cost over taking my F150.

Make sure you remind the driver when you're getting off the bus that you need to get your bike out of the compartment, so he/she doesn't drive off.

I ride the P&R from Katy to St. Thomas. I don't need my bike because it drops me off right in front of the college. One thing I wish is that I could ride the P&R from Katy to Downtown and then transfer to one of the P&R buses that runs southbound. However, METRO won't let you ride a P&R bus that is on its return trip that early in the morning. This would help with getting to my station for work so I wouldn't have to use my Silverado.

-Nate

last time i rode from downtown i noticed that one of the large longdistance busses had a baggage compartment, uner the coach, marked bicycles.
i can get across town and back for $4. one into town, one to the other side of town, and then two all the way back. that's half of what it would cost in a car.
i am just getting the basics of schedules and how the busses flow thru town.
plan on going south and doing the jump to galveston.

just not sure about how to bring the stringer of fish back. in a cooler perhaps.

last time i rode from downtown i noticed that one of the large longdistance busses had a baggage compartment, uner the coach, marked bicycles.
i can get across town and back for $4. one into town, one to the other side of town, and then two all the way back. that's half of what it would cost in a car.
i am just getting the basics of schedules and how the busses flow thru town.
plan on going south and doing the jump to galveston.

just not sure about how to bring the stringer of fish back. in a cooler perhaps.

Fillet those fish and put them in a cooler before you make the return journey. No sense in carrying extra weight.

I've been looking at the schedules and how my son can get from Kingwood to University of Houston if he goes to grad school in '09. Looks as though he has two options, take the P&R to the last drop and ride a bike to school or transfer to a local and go to the school. At his age, I was riding 24 miles a day, 6 to school, 12 to my girlfriend's home (later my wife) and 6 back to my home. But, I fear for him on a bike. The fear isn't because cycling in Houston is unsafe, its the kid who is unsafe...lives in another world and doesn't pay attention to what's going on. Either way, with the student discount, at current rates, it looks like less than $30 per month to commute by bus.

Since Metro put bike racks on their buses, I have yet to see a bike on one except mine. Granted, I've only ridden a couple of times just to check it out since I live so close to work. Anyone else seen differently? I do believe it's a great (and greatly underused) resource especially for those living in the burbs and needing to get closer to downtown.

I have seen bikes on them. Most have been Walmart wonders or BSOs. I myself would not entrust my bike to the skillls of a Metro driver unless I can take it inside the bus.

Live near Sharpstown, See bikes on the rack all the time coming and going from the Hip-Hop Mall. One day I wasn't riding my bike and rode the bus instead. (25 Richmond going west). Bus stopped for a woman with a bike. (she looked confused and was struggling while the bus driver watched. I hopped off, grabbed the bike and put it in the rack for her so we could get going again. Since we got off at the same stop I took it off for her again.

Live near Sharpstown, See bikes on the rack all the time coming and going from the Hip-Hop Mall. One day I wasn't riding my bike and rode the bus instead. (25 Richmond going west). Bus stopped for a woman with a bike. (she looked confused and was struggling while the bus driver watched. I hopped off, grabbed the bike and put it in the rack for her so we could get going again. Since we got off at the same stop I took it off for her again.

We'll give you a gold star fro helping the lady.:thumb::thumb: When I read about the bike racks on buses and using the cargo bays on the park and ride buses, it said the drivers were not allowed to assist. The driver was following company policy.

i'ma try to take it more often in school

this summer i took it a handful of times. lock up my bike to the lil handle thing that holds my front tire so i can sleep during a driver change without some piece of **** mother****er lifting my ****.

132 harwin express to wheeler station, bike from wheeler station to UH. not bad.

Since Metro put bike racks on their buses, I have yet to see a bike on one except mine. Granted, I've only ridden a couple of times just to check it out since I live so close to work. Anyone else seen differently? I do believe it's a great (and greatly underused) resource especially for those living in the burbs and needing to get closer to downtown.

I see bicycles on Metro bus racks all the time. In fact, I used the bus rack yesterday, Friday. i bought a Marin Muirwoods bicycle recently from Sun and Ski on fm 1960. I kinda now wish that I had bought something used and cheap from a pawn shop. I didn't realize how hard it is to secure a nice bicycle.

I live a little over 7 miles from my work. I guess I could ride my bike that far, but man that is dangerous. For now I will settle for riding my bike the one mile distance from our house to the nearest bus stop. Then ride the .08 miles from the bus stop to work. I could ride a 2nd bus that would drop me off right in front of the job. I'd rather walk or bike .08 miles. Good exercise.

The recent addition of the metro bus bike racks was one of the main reasons I decided to get another bicycle.

regards, kountzer in NW Houston

Since Metro put bike racks on their buses, I have yet to see a bike on one except mine.

Its kinda like, what's the point? Either take the bus or ride your bike, take your pick.

:lol:

I've actually seen quite a few bikes on buses.

Consider yourself lucky. In Austin, you often have to wait for multiple buses to find one that does not have its bike full.

Its kinda like, what's the point? Either take the bus or ride your bike, take your pick.

:lol:

I've actually seen quite a few bikes on buses.

As I mentioned somewhere else, I just got my bicycle. I am still acquiring needed accessories, like a good lock and bike security plan. Once I get that fixed I plan to ride the bus with the bike to work in the morning. That way I am not all sweaty and smelly at work. Then, I'll commute home on the bicycle in the evenings. Once I get used to it maybe I'll start doing round trips. I plan to ride downtown and check out the festivals. Ride along the bayous like along allen parkway. This is going to be fun! DB

There are some pretty good reason to ride the bus AND take your bike. Taking the Park and Ride to downtown, then using the bike to go to other locations works well. My son may be attending grad school at U of H. Its a 70 mile round trip. He could take the P&R to a central location, then ride his bike to the central campus, saving a lot of gas/oil money, as well as wear and tear on the car. There are a myriad of reasons to combine bus and bike trips.

#82 Westheimer bike racks VERY busy at peak hours. I have encountered buses with full racks often. It's a bummer.

There are some pretty good reason to ride the bus AND take your bike. Taking the Park and Ride to downtown, then using the bike to go to other locations works well. My son may be attending grad school at U of H. Its a 70 mile round trip. He could take the P&R to a central location, then ride his bike to the central campus, saving a lot of gas/oil money, as well as wear and tear on the car. There are a myriad of reasons to combine bus and bike trips.

yea i'm doing the UH thing too. but since alot of my classes are at night, i don't feel like riding through 3rd ward past 10 on tuesday, when my latest class gets out. worked in the summer though.

If the rack is full I'll take my bike on the bus. I have no problem standing and holding onto it. If the bus is so packed there are a lot of people standing then I'll just ride my bike. I usually car pool with my girlfriend into UH and walk her to class. Then ride my bike the 3.35 miles to St. Thomas. In the evening I ride to the Wheeler Station and take the train to downtown and catch my bus tot he P&R. Then its only 3 miles from the P&R to her house.

-Nate

yea i'm doing the UH thing too. but since alot of my classes are at night, i don't feel like riding through 3rd ward past 10 on tuesday, when my latest class gets out. worked in the summer though.

I've done that. Way back when, before the area North of Herman Park started redeveloping, I lived in a house with 7 others and biked from there to UH and back day or night. Third Ward is about the same as then, but the traffic is different. Night riding is a problem not so much because of the folks in Third Ward, but because of the traffic.