Plan your bicycling trip to Austin Print

Austin Bike-Friendly Facts


  • More than 5000 bike racks
  • City's Master Plan goal: 750 miles of bike lanes.
  • Holds Silver Star status from the  League of American Bicyclists as bicycle-friendly community .
  • Austin's Neighborhood Connectivity Program  constructs bikeways throughout the city to help ease congestion and sustain the vitality of downtown.
  • The bridge at South 1st St. crosses over the Colorado River, offering cyclists easy access into downtown.       
  • Reverse-angle parking along Congress Avenue helps prevent crashes with car doors.
  • Austin mandates helmets for minors 17 and under; no helmet law for adults.  

Historical Facts
 
austin texas skyline
  • Capitol of Texas.
  • Known as the  live music capital of the world with more than 200 live music venues.
  • Population: 850,000
  • Thriving arts community

Points of Interest
 
    mellow johnnys bicycle shop
  • Mellow Johnny's Bicycle Shop  Co-owned by Lance Armstrong, the shop welcomes cyclists of all skill levels and offers a wide range of social rides for women, families, and new cyclists who want to rediscover their childhood pastime. Ira David loves that repairs are done right in front of the customer.   400 Nueces; Austin, TX 78701 (512) 473-0222

  • Republic Square Park and Austin Farmer's Market  

  • Meet and feel the vitality of local farmers. Fresh cheese, pastries, locally grown produce, and music for the kids bring Austin residents together for outdoor fun. Balance your inner self with Yoga in The Park or take in a Movie In The Park during summer months.   422 Guadalupe St; Austin, TX 78701 (512) 974-6700 

  • Lance Armstrong Bikeway  This 6-mile pathway connects the east and west sides of the Colorado River and other bike routes that access downtown; also runs parallel to the Trail at Lady Bird Lake.   Veterans Blvd to E 5th St and Shady, 78702       

    • lady bird lake
  • Trail at Lady Bird Lake Nestled in the heart of the city, this hike-and-bike trail snakes alongside the Colorado River and attracts more than 1.5 million visitors per year. The trail is paved in some areas; other parts have packed granite. Both are fine for thick or thin tires. The Pfluger bridge is popular among pedestrians and bicycle commuters during morning and afternoon rush hour.   Near Downtown Austin, bordered by S Lakeshore Blvd. and S Pleasant Valley Rd.

  • Ann Richards Bridge, aka Congress Avenue Bridge    Named after the 45th governor of Texas, the bridge crosses over Lady Bird Lake. The bike-friendly pathway connects onto S. Congress Avenue which has a designated bike lane. Every night during the summer, more than 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest urban bat colony in North America, emerge from the crevices beneath the bridge. Combined, they consume between 10 to 20-thousand pounds of insects every night. This nightly bat spectacle generates more than $10 million in tourism revenue a year.   Crosses Lady Bird Lake at S Congress Ave.

    • bouldin creek coffeehouse
  • Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse    More than a coffeehouse, this cafĂ© serves a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Right behind the restaurant is a do-it-yourself bike maintenance shed for patrons. Take a tire or other bike parts free of charge.   1900 South First; Austin, TX 78704 (512) 416-1601

  • The Yellow Bike Project  Observe locals volunteer their time teaching riders to build and repair their own bikes. The more time they spend volunteering, the more points they earn toward choosing any incomplete or used bike for their own. All the bike parts are donated. A "women's only" bicycle repair and maintenance workshop is held every Wednesday.  1216 Webberville Rd; Austin, TX 78721 (512) 524-5299

    • austin texas tour de fat parade float
  • Austin Bike Zoo   Austinite Jeremy Rosen combines animals, theater and bicycles to create live performances. With a team of artists, painters, sculptors and puppeteers, Rosen creates "creatures" out of bicycles and recycled material. Actors and performers use these creations as the props and characters for a variety of colorful, kid-friendly events. Visit the Austin Bike Zoo website for event details.

  • Tour de Fat (Hosted by New Belgium Brewing Company)  The Tour de fat parade is a 13-city national tour that celebrates bicycles and raises awareness about environmental sustainability. The New Belgium Brewing Company in Colorado runs the nation-wide event.   (970) 221-0524