How Houston Is Growing its Bike Infrastructure

The famously car-centric city is investing more than ever in bike infrastructure, with ambitious plans to build 1,800 miles of protected bike lanes and trails.

2 minute read

May 3, 2022, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Houston City Park

Trong Nguyen / Shutterstock

“Is Houston becoming more bike-friendly?” asks an article by Dug Begley. According to the article, the city has considerably more bike lanes than it did a decade ago. “What exactly has happened, however, is hard to pinpoint, said BikeHouston executive director Joe Cutrufo.”

The city doesn’t exactly have a reputation for bike friendliness. “Many cities, in the past five or six years, outpaced Houston in creating on-street bicycle lanes, often protected by parking on the street or reflective sticks.” In fact, Houston has often found itself at the bottom of “bike friendliness” lists. “What is unclear, for now, is how Houston will rank in the next couple years because of investments by Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis on local streets, City Hall committing to expanded bike lanes along some routes, and new trails along various bayous developed by the Houston Parks Board and area management districts.”

As the article notes, “Protection, or the sense of protection can be a huge factor in how often and who uses bike lanes. New green lanes along Waugh, Commonwealth, Gray and Austin all feature large concrete curbs that are much harder for cars and trucks to simply leap,” making more people feel safe on Houston streets.

“The city’s bike plan — for 1,800 miles of safe trails and protected lanes — maps out where trails are wanted and where they should be aligned with the recent work.” However, Begley writes, “Of the 1,800 miles planned, less than 400 miles of it is complete. Fewer than 30 miles of protected on-street lanes exist — through that is up from less than 13 miles six years ago, when Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner called for a ‘paradigm shift’ in the city’s transportation system.”

The city’s efforts to improve bike safety are laudable in light of some grim statistics. “The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed annually in Harris County has jumped from 113 in 2015, to 193 last year. The 24 cyclists killed in 2021 were double the total for 2016.”

Sunday, May 1, 2022 in The Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

5 hours ago - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

7 hours ago - Next City