Texas - Where to live in San Antonio?

I am moving in August to San Antonio from St. Louis to do an internship at Baptist Medical Center. It will be for only a year, so that gives me 12 months of cycling that I plan on doing while in Texas. I'm currently trying to figure out the best areas to live (apartment of course). Any recommendations on areas to consider looking at? How is the cycling around the medical center area? Also, I do not like to have to drive somewhere to ride so I'm wanting a cycling friendly area...obviously.

Thanks

The Northwest side, around Bandera Rd and Loop 1604, allows easy access to both road and MTB riding. There are several new apartment complexes that have gone up and there are two bike stores in Helotes. One of the stores, Roger Soler's, has group rides a couple of times a week. Access to the Medical Center is not bad, although I am not sure I would ride my bike there.

Unfortunately, TXDOT has come and ruined all the roads near Helotes for riding. Last year it was a wonderful place to ride, and now it's been chipsealed with small boulders.

Chip seal, 2 lane without shoulder = $48,000 per mile. Hot mix = $140,000 per mile (2 lanes). But most hot mix sealed roads have a shoulder, so its $280,000 per mile. A quarter million bucks+ per mile. Go figure.

You can look forward to more and more seal coat (chip seal) on anything except the major state highways. This will hold particularly true for the metro areas (higher traffic) of Texas on state maintained roads. Don't be expecting too many hot mix sealed roads anytime soon.

The above courtesy of my friend at TxDOT.

I would try to find an apartment near the Univ. of Texas at SA which is near 1604 & I-10. Bandera road is a very busy road but it does have shoulders from a little ways inside 1604 and then going out past 1604. There's also a good bit of traffic along 1604 but its doable or you could head out Babcock Rd to some good riding. There a some fairly nice roads going out of Helotes such as Scenic Loop Rd going up to Boerne.

Yes, Bandera is a very busy road...I use to dread driving a car on it!! Even Helotes has grown so much in the 10+ yrs I've lived in SA. And I have to say, I am NOT impressed with SA drivers......please be very careful if you bike here.