Getting Around in Houston

Driving in Houston

Most residents find it necessary to have a car to get around Houston. This allows them greater freedom and often saves time. A number of freeways make getting around by car fairly easy. Roads and signage in Houston are of an excellent standard, and drivers are usually courteous.

There are downsides to driving in Houston. Construction projects are seemingly always taking place and result in delays and road closures. Rush hours last from 7am to 9am in the mornings and 4pm to 7pm in the evenings. During these times, highway traffic almost comes to a standstill, so drivers need to have patience. The average commute time is 30 minutes, which is around average for a city in the US, but the commute time can vary considerably depending on the distance from home to the office, and whether toll roads are used.

The legal driving age in Texas is 15. Learner drivers can begin their classroom preparation at 14, but can only apply for a learner's permit from 15 years old.

Toll Roads

The Sam Houston Tollway is the main tollway around the Houston area, but there are plenty of others too. Some stretches of freeways include high-occupancy toll lanes for vehicles carrying at least two people. The toll fee is calculated using sensors at on-ramps, checkpoints and off-ramps and is worked out based on the distance and type of vehicle. Some tollways accept cash, but it is always cheaper to have a pre-paid electronic tag like the TxTag, the state’s electronic toll tag, or EZ Tag, Houston’s toll tag. Those who wish to avoid toll fees can turn on the 'avoid toll feature' on their chosen map app.

Getting a driving licence in Houston

Newcomers to Texas over the age of 18 can drive on a foreign licence for up to a year or until they become a Texan resident, whichever happens first. Once a driver has officially become a resident in Texas, they will usually be granted a 90-day grace period during which a local licence must be acquired to continue driving.

The US has bilateral agreements with several countries, including France, Germany and South Korea. Nationals of these countries over the age of 18 can surrender their licence from home in exchange for a Texan licence. Bilateral agreements with other countries do not apply to anyone under the age of 18, meaning that under-18s moving to Texas can only exchange their licence if it is from Canada or the US.

Expats from countries without a bilateral agreement (including under-18s from outside the US and Canada) and expats who would like to keep their foreign licence will have to undergo practical and theoretical testing to obtain a local licence.

To apply for a local licence, the following documentation is required:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of residency and lawful presence in the country
• Social security number
• Evidence of insurance and vehicle registration for all vehicles owned

Useful links

• Learn more about applying for a Texas driving licence on the Texas Department of Public Safety website.
• TxTag's website has more information on obtaining the prepaid card and loading it.

METRORail

Houston’s METRORail network is relatively small, consisting of just three lines: green, purple and red. During the day, trains arrive every six to 12 minutes, beginning in the early morning, either 4.30am or 5.30am depending on the day of the week, and ending at midnight during the week or 2.20am on weekends.

Taxis are readily available at designated ranks or along busy streets in the city centre. It's difficult to catch a taxi on the street outside the downtown core, so it may be necessary to book one ahead of time. As destinations in Houston are often quite spread out, travelling by taxi can become expensive. That said, the City of Houston has authorised a flat rate for all trips in the downtown area.

Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are another option for getting around Houston and are accessible via their respective mobile apps. The cab company, Lone Star Cabs, also offers a ride-hailing app known as Curb.

Useful links

• New arrivals looking to book a traditional taxi can download and use Curb.

Cycling in Houston

Due to Houston’s hot climate and the fact that the city is so spread out, bikes are best used for recreational purposes rather than daily commutes. The city has several great cycle paths and several bike trails that run through its parks.

Houston has a bike-share system, Houston BCycle, which has over 150 stations and 1,100 bikes throughout central Houston. These stations are mainly found downtown, in the Museum District and the Med Center. The system has a pay-as-you-go option. Cyclists can also sign up for monthly or annual memberships.

Useful links

• Visit BCycle's website to learn more about securing a membership.