Although all of the programs are good and you can have membership in all of them concurrently, really consider your level of car renting to determine which works best for you and your lifestyle and kind of travel.
downtown transportation tips
Perhaps you don’t need a car the whole time you are in Houston, especially when you’re staying in downtown. In fact, the downtown area offers a few new and exciting options for those who want to get around with ease and convenience without breaking the bank. Especially if you have time to explore the city, the following options can be perfect and somewhat unique.
Downtown Houston has on-street metered parking available during the day on most streets. The meters accept cash and credit cards and also work through the Parkmobile pay-by-phone program. Parkmobile makes using Houston’s meters easy and cash free. Drivers sign up for the program at www.parkmobile.com, and once registered, they pay for parking through a mobile app, the website or even by cell phone by calling (877) 727-5758. Parkmobile transactions are transmitted real-time to parking enforcement officers via their handheld devices. After parking, drivers enter the zone number on the meter and the amount of desired time, and a digital receipt is sent to their mobile device. A small 35-cent fee is issued per transaction, but users get the added perk of receiving a reminder text 15 minutes prior to meter expiration. Hourly prices vary depending on location, and meters are free on Sunday and after 6 p.m. other days.
The Six in the City program in Downtown Houston is perfect if you’re late for a meeting, want to go somewhere new for lunch with coworkers or are in town for a convention. With Six in the City, you are guaranteed a $6 taxicab ride anywhere in the downtown area. The fare applies to any trip, from pickup to drop-off, anywhere within the Downtown District, which is bounded by I-45, I-10 and U.S. 59. The Six in the City program has doubled the amount of cab stands in downtown and has increased the ease of hailing a cab when you need it for easy and affordable short trips.
Downtown Houston is leading the way in alternative modes of transportation with the new Houston B-cycle, a bike-sharing program that gives Houstonians and visitors an easy, efficient, functional and practical way to use bikes all over the city. The public bike-sharing system is for people making short trips in and around Downtown Houston and the surrounding urban areas. Houston B-cycle members pick up a bike at any B-station and return it to any B-station when they’re done. Memberships with unlimited bike access (by day, week or year) are purchased online or at any B-station, then members use a credit card or B-card to unlock a bike in seconds. To return a bike, just roll it into a dock and walk away, and the onboard B-cycle trip computer lets members track online all their miles ridden, calories burned and carbon emissions avoided. Visit www.HoustonBcycle.com for more information.
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