The 19th annual Tour de Houston kicked off at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
More than 3,000 cyclists participated in the event, according to City of Houston officials. The multi-route event includes 10-, 20-, and 45-mile routes that cut through Houston’s core neighborhoods.
“We’re meeting other bike riders, and I enjoy that more than anything,” Tour de Houston participant Ricky Williams said.
Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire was in attendance.
“Public Works has helped us because we have so many road repairs taking place, so we kind of routed around,” Whitmire said.
Cycling safety was on the minds of some cyclists. In 2024, there were 852 cyclists and pedestrians killed in crashes on Texas roads, accounting for more than 20% of all traffic fatalities, according to TxDOT. The agency said there were 6,095 crashes involving pedestrians and 2,761 crashes involving bicyclists.
In 2025, the City of Houston removed protected bike lanes in Midtown.
Mayor Whitmire said his administration is focused on safety.
“We do everything that we can to support biking in the city of Houston. Connecting the south side of the Buffalo Bayou to the north side. We want everyone to be safe. We do not want to disrupt our mobility,” Whitmire said.