Downtown used to be a bit of a frightening place to bike, but those days are (mostly) in the past due to the marked bike lanes that have popped up in the area. Downtown bike lanes can take you from Discovery Green to spots like Buffalo Bayou, Sam Houston Park, Buffalo Bayou Park, and the White Oak Bayou Greenway. Street biking is also a lot of fun downtown, but just make sure you follow all traffic laws and stay alert to your surroundings.

The Greater East End includes neighborhoods like East Downtown, Eastwood, and Second Ward, and some of the most bikeable streets in the city—although you might find yourself chased by a stray dog from time to time. Thankfully, they usually don’t bite. Bike lanes in the area have been increasing over the past couple of years, but one of the best spots to bike here is the Harrisburg Hike and Bike Trail, a 5-mile trail and on-street bikeway that in a previous life was a train track that cut through the neighborhood.

The White Oak Bayou trail extends 17 miles through the city, one of the longest continuous bike trails in Houston. Located between Rice Military and the Heights, the trail runs alongside White Oak Bayou and offers some of the best views you can find of Houston’s downtown skyline. There are several bridges along the path, so you’ll get a good workout on the trail.

The Heights is growing, and so are the trails. This idyllic historic neighborhood offers much in the way of views for cyclists window shopping for houses, and its bike trails will help you see the community from the safety of a dedicated path. The crown jewel of paths in the area is the MKT Trail, also known as the Heights Hike and Bike Trail, which spans 4.6 miles and takes you along White Oak Bayou through cool stopping points like M-K-T Heights and Donovan Park (for the kiddos).

As the holy grail of Houston bike trails, Buffalo Bayou Hike and Bike Trail has quite a lot to offer. The 15-mile route, located just outside downtown, follows a picturesque stretch of Buffalo Bayou across the city. Perfect for both short and long rides, the trail offers a great view—and people watching as you cycle—and treats like the Waugh Drive Bridge, which houses an estimated colony of 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats.

As one of the largest urban parks in Texas, Memorial Park has a lot to offer pedestrians, including a staggering 30 miles of trails. But if you’re a biker, and especially a mountain biker, you’ll want to forgo the pedestrian trails and cycle your way over to the Color Trails, which offer the best mountain biking you can find in Houston through its six tracks: the Green Ridge Trail (1.7 miles), the Triangle (0.8 miles), the Yellow Trail (0.8 miles), the Orange Trail (0.8 miles), the Blue Trail (1 mile), and the Purple Trail (1.8 miles).

Extending 14 miles through Houston’s central and southern areas, Brays Bayou Greenway Trail is quieter than trails like Buffalo Bayou and White Oak, but it’s packed full of views for a lazy day of cycling. The course also connects to the Medical Center, which has ample lanes for those looking for a bit of urban exploration to end or start their ride.

The Museum District offers some of the most bike-friendly streets in Houston, complete with a host of bike lanes along streets lined with oak trees, parks, and beautiful structures. The area is also home to Hermann Park, easily one of the most picturesque spots in Houston to bike through, offering the opportunity to visit the Japanese Garden, the McGovern Centennial Gardens, and Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Located in Memorial just outside the beltway, the Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail provides cyclists access to 10 miles of beautifully wooded trails. The track is heavily shaded and has a mixture of gravel and paved paths, meaning it’s a great trail to take if you’re looking for a reprieve from the Texas heat. The track, which provides a breezy route along the banks of Buffalo Bayou, conveniently connects to the George Bush Park Hike and Bike Trails to the far west.

The Spring Creek Greenway, which travels all the way from Humble to Spring, is the longest urban forested corridor in the nation. Spanning 40 miles (about the same distance as the length of Rhode Island), the greenway provides bikers access to the Spring Creek Nature Trail, a 14-mile natural surface trail that charts a course alongside the meandering and tranquil creek. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature during your ride, this is one of the best spots in the Houston area.

This historic, 4-mile stretch of trail travels through Houston’s historic Third Ward neighborhood and passes through stops like Texas Southern University. The western end of the trail cuts through the Brays Bayou Greenway Trail, making it a great connector if you’re trying to jump between routes. Since the eastern portion of the Columbia Tap ends in EaDo, it’s also a great way to get from Third Ward to Shell Energy Stadium or Minute Maid Park for a game.