All around Midtown you’ll find people on bikes. And not just during the “Critical Mass” events that take over streets each month and make it impossible to drive a car.
Some riders are leisurely moving from here to there; others are giving their competitive gear a workout. The commonality is the love of the ride.
The exploration on two wheels paves the way to a sensory experience like no other. Thanks to plenty of sights and sidewalks, Midtown has become a haven for bike riding. Enthusiasts are flocking to bike-sharing stations around the city to rent a bike to shop, commute to work, joy ride or visit friends.
The Isabella at Midtown and Access to Bike Sharing
While cycling is popular for wellness and adventure, there’s another bonus to getting around on two wheels: no worries about parking or traffic. Houston BCycle, lauded as having the “best cycles in Houston,” provides 34 bike stations with 255 bikes around the city.
“Last year, Houstonians and visitors took 113,252 trips on BCycles. This represents a 14 percent increase in trips over the previous year,” said BCycle executive director Carter Stern.
BCycle plans to expand and be one of the largest bike-share programs in the country, Stern said.
“We are in the process of adding 71 stations and 600 bikes, more than tripling the size of the Houston BCycle program over the course of the next 12 months,” he said.
“This expansion will add density to our current system and bring the program to new neighborhoods, including four in Midtown.”
BCycle makes it easy to ride by offering three payment options: a $3 walk-up pass for a 30-minute trip, a $9 monthly membership or a $99 annual membership. Monthly and annual memberships allow for 60-minute sessions at each bike checkout, and members can enjoy an unlimited number of rides. (The key: be sure to return the bike within the 60-minute session or you’ll incur additional charges.)
While The Isabella at Midtown is a popular place to live for many reasons (beautiful home design, great floorplans and high-end finishes), those who prefer to get around on foot or bike will love living here. The Isabella at Midtown’s Bike Score is 78 (considered “very bikeable”), which means that homeowners are in proximity to restaurants, bars, entertainment and retail. This prime location makes it easy to hop on a bike and be where the action is in mere minutes.
Riding High
Cycling through Midtown is an ideal way to efficiently navigate the area. Here, you’ll find tips on interesting riding trips around town, including things to see and places to stop for coffee or a bite to eat. Check out the bike-sharing stations around the city and be a part of what The Isabella at Midtown residents are sure to discover: Midtown is a great place for cycling, whether you’re riding for fun or to get somewhere quickly and hassle-free.
Photos by Morris Malakoff, courtesy of Houston BCycle.
