violet8907

Hey y'all!
I'm interested in commuting to school and work by bike. I live in Spring Branch area, work in downtown and will have access to showers. I know the area pretty well and open to suggestions to make the commute easier. It is 16 miles by car taking Beltway 8 West and I-10 East arriving at Main and Congress. I was thinking I could take Westview( From Beltway 8) all the way down to 610 and take the heights bike trails till I reach downtown area. I currently am studying in Europe and I haven't been able to test that theory out. In Europe my main method of transportation is a bike which has inspired me to do so in Houston. I'm up for the challenge. I would love to hear from anyone who lives in Houston.
Happy biking.
Violet

RonH

Welcome to Bike Forums. Check with the folks in the Commuting forum (farther down the main BF page) for great tips and advice about bike commuting.

10 Wheels

Hello violet8907,

Welcome to Bike Forums From a Texas road rider.

I ride South of Houston.

Tried for 20 miles starting at 5:30 AM

Had to shut it down at 14 miles because of the 97% Humidly.

Winter is the best riding down here.

10 Wheels

Local Group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/62074084734/

violet8907

Thanks for the tips. Hopefully I can survive the humidity.

texbiker

Welcome to BF. I ride to the northeast in Kingwood. Humidity can be a problem but you said you have access to showers. Consider the humidity a pre-soak. This link has maps of the various Houston Bikeways.
Maps
It is not the very latest but will give ideas. The Heights bike trail is a good one to get into downtown.

bkj

howdy from an everyday Houston commuter. Westview east to 610 is a good option. 610 southbound between 290 & I10 has lots of construction & I don't know how that affects the connection along W 12th st where there is (was?) a bike lane along the 610 service road. Once you get east of 610 the next issue is getting to the west end of the Heights trail at Shepherd. There is trail construction there to connect the Heights trail to the TC Jester trail & you may have to go through neighborhoods to Nicholson or something like that. It's all doable.

Another option is to go south on N Post Oak Rd from Westview, move over to N Post Oak Lane at Oakford, continue south past The Houstonian, turn east on Woodway and take the trail through Memorial Park and along Buffalo Bayou all the way into downtown.

violet8907

Thanks texbiker and bkj! Extremely helpful. I might consider taking N Post Oak, seems like I would have less construction to deal with.

linnefaulk

Welcome, Violet.