How to Get Around San Antonio Without Car
How to get around San Antonio
San Antonio is best known for the Alamo (don't you forget it!) and the Riverwalk – but how do you get from point A to point B, or around the rest of the city, for that matter? There's a lot to see and do in San Antonio, but the urban fabric around its best-known destinations can feel like a bit of a mystery.
Fortunately for visitors, San Antonio is easy to navigate – you just need to get familiar with its highways, public transit networks, and bike-share offerings. Here's the down low on getting around San Antonio.
Car and motorcycle
Downtown San Antonio is bordered by I-35, I-10 and I-37, with concentric rings of highways around the center. I-35 connects Austin and San Antonio, and I-10 connects San Antonio with Houston to the east and El Paso to the west. To get to the Hill Country, take I-10 north to Fredericksburg and Kerrville, or US 281, which is the northbound continuation of I-37, to Johnson City.
When visiting downtown, you'll definitely want to ditch your car, but street parking is hard to find. There is plenty of public parking lots downtown, including with most of the major hotels; the lots generally cost $3 per hour or $5 to $10 for 24 hours.
One alternative is to park on the street for free in the residential King William District or Southtown, then take the 11 VIA bus (dubbed "the Culture Route").
You can also park for free at VIA Ellis Alley Park & Ride, then pay $2.60 round-trip to ride downtown. If you're headed to the Alamo, it's a 15-minute walk from the parking at Market Square. Centrally located Riverbend Garage is a little more expensive but puts you right in the heart of things.
Public transit
San Antonio's public transport network, VIA Metropolitan Transit, operates numerous regular bus routes. VIA passes, bus schedules and route maps are available at VIA's downtown information center.
Local VIA bus fares are $1.30 (15¢ for a transfer), and exact change is required. VIA express buses, which use interstate highways and include buses to theme parks, cost $2.60. Discount fares are available for children, seniors and the mobility-impaired. Otherwise, a $2.75 pass allows a full day of unlimited rides on all VIA buses.
There are three VIA routes that link top attractions: Route 11 (major museums, the Pearl District, Southtown), Route 40 (the Alamo and the missions) and Route 301 (the Alamo, Tobin Center and Market Square).
Taxi and ride-share
Taxi stands are found at major downtown hotels, the Greyhound and Amtrak stations and the airport. Otherwise, you'll probably need to telephone for one. The fixed start rates are $2.50 ($3.50 between 9pm and 5am), then $2.45 for each additional mile. Fares to downtown start at about $29. Car services such as Uber, Lyft, and the new GetMe, which is headquartered in Austin, also operate in San Antonio.
Bicycle
Citywide, San Antonio is becoming more bike-friendly, but cycling between downtown attractions on busy urban streets with your kids might not be a relaxing experience. Check the Visit San Antonio website for route maps for five separate routes between top sights in and around downtown. There are numerous B-Cycle bike-share stations scattered across downtown. You'll also find them beside most major tourist attractions.
Downtown you cannot ride a bike on the River Walk and must ride on surrounding streets. Once you get out of downtown, however, you can ride your bike on long stretches of the River Walk. Beyond Lexington Ave, follow the River Walk north to the Pearl Brewery complex and the Brackenridge Park area's attractions (the Museum Reach).
South of downtown, from Nueva St, you can cycle to the historic missions (the Mission Reach), with a walk-your-bike section near the Blue Star Brewing Company. Before setting out, confirm the cycling start points with the visitor center and obey current signage so you don't get a ticket.
Accessible transportation in San Antonio
All buses and trollies that are part of the VIA Metropolitan Transit network are wheelchair accessible. Passengers with disabilities can pick up a VIA Reduced Fare ID at VIA Information Centers to receive a discount fare – that said, the process is a hassle if you're just visiting, and it may not be a big enough return for time invested if you're staying for a short period of time.
The Riverwalk is generally accessible for those with mobility limitations, and the city offers maps with information on ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms throughout the city's three major tourist districts.
Keep in mind that you may have a more difficult time passing through when the Riverwalk is crowded, especially during San Antonio events like Fiesta.
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Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/how-to-get-around-san-antonio
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