A rack on the front of a bus carrying a bike or three is now a common sight around Texas, but it hasn’t always been that way.
In the early ’90s, Austin’s Capital Metro began looking into adding bike racks to buses at the urging of BikeTexas and others in the local bicycling community. It didn’t take long for Capital Metro to see the wisdom in giving people that extra option for a last mile connection, and the first bike rack to grace the front of a Texas bus arrived.
One by one, other cities took note. BikeTexas often worked directly with transit agencies and stakeholders to get bike racks added to bus fleets across Texas. Result: the majority of buses in the state can accommodate bicycles. Some systems have taken the next step– San Antonio’s Primo service and El Paso’s new Brio buses carry bikes inside instead of out front. All the commuter train systems in Texas take bikes inside, too.
Combining a bicycle and transit trip in Texas couldn’t be easier. Feeling uneasy about trying transit for the first time? Not to worry– we’ve put together a handy rider’s guide just for you.
Photos, top to bottom:
Celebrating the first bike rack on a bus in Texas;
Houston Chronicle article from 2007, when bike racks were installed on Houston buses;
John-Michael Cortez of Austin’s Capital Metro showing a new user how to use the three-place bike rack at Austin BikeFest.
