At about 600 square miles, with chronic heat and humidity for most of the year, it’s no wonder that Houston is a car-centric town. But in recent years the city has undergone a bike-riding transformation, particularly inside the loop.
Houston has more than 300 miles of interconnected bikeways that include bike lanes on city streets, hike and bike trails along the bayous, and throughout many city parks. The local nonprofit organization BikeHouston holds a yearly moonlight ride, and the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association likes to get in on the fun with events of their own. There’s also Critical Mass, a loose-knit group of cyclists who meet downtown on the last Friday of every month for a massive ride through the streets. The extremely popular event can attract 2,000 riders or more, although such cycling enthusiasm is not always to the benefit of automobile drivers in their path.
Beyond organized rides and city trails, more and more Houstonians are using bikes to get around town on a daily basis. The city passed an ordinance requiring car drivers to give riders on two wheels more than three feet of space on roads without dedicated cycling lanes, and is building more bicycle-friendly pathways throughout the area.
Don’t have a cool ride to call your own? No problem. Last year, Houston B-cycle launched a bike sharing program downtown where residents and visitors alike can borrow bright red bikes for 60 minutes, with a 24-hour, weekly or annual membership that can be purchased online or at the bike stations. The B-cycle campaign started with three stations and 22 bikes, but has expanded to more than twenty stations with some 300 bicycles, with more growth in sight. There are now stations downtown, along the East End, in the Museum District and at certain stops on the city’s METRORail line. Bicycles can be borrowed and returned at any B-cycle station and paid for with a credit card, which makes for convenient riding for anyone visiting the city.
Just remember that in Houston, cyclists are subject to the same rules as cars. That means no riding on business-district sidewalks, having to stop at traffic signals and – if you’re under eighteen – riding with a helmet on.
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Things To Do In Atascocita
Clay Mound Sporting
56% Off Clay-Shooting Course
Facility with two sporting-clays courses and a five-stand setup; more than 40 Promatic machines that can be controlled wirelessly
Clay Mound Sporting
Up to 51% Off BYOB Clay Pottery Workshop
Martin Galleries
Kingwood
$150 $75
Stephanne Martin leads clay workshops and teaches students how to sculpt creative, practical items while sipping on BYOB beverages
Up to 38% Off at Houston Dinner Theater
Houston Dinner Theater
Huffman
$60 $39
Customers choose any show on the dinner theater's lineup, including a celebrity murder mystery and performances by a hypnotist or magician
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At each of its 31 area locations, the YMCA of Greater Houston pursues a mission to bring health, wellness, and personal growth to communities. Kids leap into activities ranging from swim lessons and youth sports to a teen Youth & Government program that stirs up confidence and leadership abilities in students, preparing them for mudslinging student-council campaigns.
Zumba, ballroom dance, and Les Mills group exercise classes shake up adult workout routines, as complimentary childcare frees up parents to pursue fitness goals. Meanwhile, adult sport leagues such as basketball and racquetball result in friendly competition and hyper-literate team names inspired by obscure philosophers.
16401 1st St
Splendora,
TX
US
A piece of metal and a ball of clay. They may seem completely different at first glance, but for Stephanne and John Martin those two basic materials represent the same thing: creative possibility. Stephanne has worked with clay for more than 20 years, and she sculpts and fires everything from functional dishes to abstract sculptures. For his part, John has spent nearly three decades turning steel and aluminum into furniture and fine art works—including metal saltwater gamefish, which are made out of plaster in real life.
The two artists formed Martin Galleries in 1997. In the studio, they work with clients to create commissioned sculptures along with masterpieces completely out of their own imaginations. They also host lighthearted educational sessions, including Corks 'n Clay classes in which people can throw clay on the wheel with one hand, sip wine with the other, and sculpt intricate designs into the clay with their teeth.
2731 Whispering Fern Ct
Kingwood,
TX
US
When the sun finally sets, Glow in the Park gives the green light to runners and walkers, setting them loose during 5K races that raise money for local non-profit organizations. Equipped with, and indeed wearing, an arsenal of glow-in-the-dark goodies, participants beam through the darkness, their bodies blank canvases for multitudes of bright colors. They wade through crests of foam, burst through plumes of neon powder, and splash through puddles of glowing water sprayed by volunteers or radioactive fire hydrants. At the finish line, groups gather in a glowing mass to show off their new neon and dance to the beats of a live DJ.
25840 Farm-To-Market Road 1485
New Caney,
TX
US
Facing the unknown can be as scary as it is invigorating. The course organizers at Mud Challenger pepper their 4- to 6-mile courses with a devious array of obstacles, many of which remain unknown to racers until they encounter them live in the mud-filled field of play. To this end, the only real guarantee at any given Mud Challenger is that participants will get a little muddy, and get as rowdy as they please at a post-race party complete with food, beer, music, and the chance to make many, many mud angels.
15145 Highway 321
Cleveland,
TX
US
The Mud Dogs 5K/10K series challenges both average runners and dedicated athletes with a classic combination of mud and obstacles. Mud Dogs courses are not for the faint of heart. Participants can expect to face all kinds of challenges, from vertical walls and rope swings to tunnels and net crawls. Racers are greeted at the finish line by soil-kissed faces of their fellow Mud Dogs, as well as the cool liquid embrace of wash-off stations.
13580 Highway 59
Splendora,
TX
US
Renee and Jeff Battenberg, a 7th-degree and 6th-degree tae kwon do black belt, respectively, head up the coaching team at Battenberg's Black Belt Academy. The academy teaches tae kwon do, and tai chi to kids, teens, and adults. Fitness kickboxing courses utilize workout bags and shadow boxing to provide a dynamic non-contact workout. Their women's self-defense seminar teaches effective combat techniques in only two hours.
2910 Mills Branch Dr
Kingwood,
TX
US