Houston has a bike plan.

Though there's no clear plan to pay for it and ongoing concerns with exactly where the planned trails and lanes will be located, City Council approved the bike plan on Wednesday morning.

Council members Mike Knox, Steve Le, Michael Kubosh and Greg Travis voted against the plan, citing various concerns with the force with which the city will require bike lanes in some neighborhoods and the cost, estimated at up to $550 million.

Travis said he fears the costs will be much greater, and thus far Houston lacks any way to pay for it.

“You start looking at the cost and it becomes exorbitant,” Travis said.

Even those who approved the plan acknowledged the city must respect neighborhoods that don’t want bike lanes along their streets, be willing to amend the plan and find ways to pay for it that do not reduce road spending.

“The last thing we want to do is develop a plan that pits bicyclists against the motorists,” said District J Councilman Mike Laster.

The bike plan, developed over 18 months after dozens of community meetings, aspires to significantly increase Houston’s bike lanes and trails, covering nearly 1,800 miles. The city now has about 500 miles of lanes and trails, though only about half of that provides adequate safety and separation from automobile traffic.

Advocates, who have vocally touted the plan for months, said it is a major step forward in terms of Houston committing to protect cyclists and provide the necessary lanes and trails many riders want.

Officials believe developing convenient, comfortable trails and lanes is crucial to increasing bicycle use – thereby reducing car and truck reliance – and providing safe recreational amenities for Houstonians.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said it was a growing quality of life issue, and the city needs to provide bike options to economically disadvantaged areas where facilities are lacking and people need more exercise options and sometimes safe routes to work.

"We cannot stand still," Turner said. "When it comes to the infrastructure, cycling is a major part."

Though it leaves many questions unanswered, notably exactly how officials will pay for some of the lanes and trails in the plan over the next 20 years, council members said Houston has to start pedaling to get anywhere.

“We have to look to the future,” At-Large Councilman Jack Christie said. “Bayou Greenways started 10 years ago with a plan to finish in 20 years… People came together with a plan and now it’ll be completed four years from now.”

Explore Houston's Bikeways Map

The interactive Bikeways Map shows the city's existing bikeway network and long term vision for bikeways in Houston.Click here for the full version.