Location Transport

Is Houston a Walkible city?Do you need to rent a car to get around?Is Public Transport any good?any downtown?

Thinking of going to Houston and would like to know if this city is a walking city like New York,Chicago,San Francisco,San Diego or must you rent a car to get around like you do in Orlando,Los Angeles? Is The Public Transport any good?and does Houston have a downtown area where Tourist can stay and walk around? Thanks

Public Comments

1. You need a car in Houston. It has no mass transit system.
2. I hear it is dangerous in a lot of the city even in a vehicle?
3. if your in Downtown houston, you have Metro rail that will take you to no where, otherwise, you do need a car. We're spread out all over the place. Metro buses have such strange schedules it's hard to figure what bus to take where. It's nuts.
4. First of all Bobbie Barker we do have mass transit. The bus system is called Metro and it goes through the greater Houston area. Houston is a very large city and there are not a lot of sidewalks, so a car would be a very wise move. You can stay downtown and no you would not need a car then, but downtown is sorta messed right now because of Ike. The public transportation sucks. The bus stops are not adequately covered and many offer no where for you to sit and wait for the bus. The Metro rail only goes through downtown and the Medical Center, so if you stayed downtown, you can ride the rail.
5. definitely not walkable. houston's huge and spread out. the only public transportation we have is the bus and one sorry train line and neither will get you but so far. plus the bus sucks and has crappy service(i know i ride it daily, unfortunately). i say rent a car. downtown is cool depending on what you are looking to do. as much as i love my city when i think about other major cities ive gone to and toured, i cant really see what someone would tour in houston but of course thats because i live here. there's plenty for a visitor. have fun and be safe. some are still on edge after hurricane ike.
6. Houston is the least walkable city that I have ever lived in, more similar to LA. You definately will want to rent a car. You can walk around Downtown but if you really want to see anything you will need the car. Houston is spread out over 600 square miles and we live in our cars!
7. streak- nailed it but there is a tolerable bus system ( except in Pasadena) and alot of cabs- have fun
8. I'm born and raised here in Houston, next week 40 years. Houston is not really a walkable city. You will need to ride the Metro bus which costs about a dollar, or the lite rail train to get around downtown. You can walk around downtown, but not after dark, cause "the freaks come out at night"! Seriously, there are some weird folks downtown, especially at night. I hope you enjoy your visit! The Houston Zoo is near downtown and is fun.
9. It has a Metro transit system (busses) & Light rail , but that's only downtown. I don't have a car so I spend a LOT on Q cards & cabs. "Walkable cities" would be like Denver, Portland, Anchorage, SF, Philadelpha or Pittsburg.
10. Houston is really NOT a walkable city. If you are going to stay downtown and most of what you are going to visit is in Downtown (Minute Maid Park or Toyota Center), Midtown (museum district) and the Medical Center you can get away with using the Metro Rail Red Line. But there is no good transportation from downtown to Uptown (the Galleria Shopping district). Houston Public Transportation website: http://www.ridemetro.org/
11. No. Houston is not at all like any of those cities you named. It's terrible, and you need a car. Those cities you named are great for everything.