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BIKE RENTALS

• Liquid:  A peer-to-peer online service.  You rent bikes from other users who are making theirs available.
  
  
• Bicycle Sport Shop: 1426 Toomey Rd. (477-3472) / 10947 Research Blvd. (345-7460)
  
  
• Barton Springs Bike Rentals: 1529 Barton Springs Rd (480-0200)
  
  
• University Cyclery: 2901 N. Lamar Blvd. (474-6696)
  
  
• Waterloo Cycles: 2815 Fruth (right off 29th & Guadalupe) (47-CYCLE)
  

BUSES

Taking your bike on the bus. Most city buses have bike racks on the front which hold multiple bikes. This can greatly increase your mobility. Now you don't have to worry about getting a flat tire, getting caught in the rain, or running out of energy -- if any of that happens, just take the bus home (and take your bike with you)!

Most of the city buses have bike racks on front.  The schedule booklet clearly indicates which of the few routes don't serve cyclists.  You can also check on bike rack availability for your route by calling Capital Metro at 474-1200.

Also, note that even if your bus accepts bikes, if the rack on the front is already filled with bikes, you'll have to wait for the next bus. (Fortunately, the racks are rarely full.)

Bus fares. Buses are free if you're a UT student or if it's an Ozone Action day (see below). Otherwise it's $1 for a single-ride, or $2 for a 24-hour pass.

Ozone Action Days. On days when the amount of ground-level ozone is particularly high, they're declared "Ozone Action Days" (OADs) and you can ride the bus for free. Also, as James Burnside notes, "The City does not run its lawn crews [on OADs] and advises all city employees to fill city vehicles late in the afternoon. Other than that it's business as usual. (sigh)"

You can check whether today is an OAD at the TNRCC website. Also, you can get on Capital Metro's mailing list or the Clean Air Force's mailing list and they'll let you know when it's an OAD.

HIKE & BIKE TRAILS

Austin has several miles of hike & bike trails.

• The main trail is the Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail, a 10-mile loop next to the river in Central Austin.  (Formerly called the "Town Lake Trail".)
  
• The City's webiste has a list of all the trails in the city.
• See below for info on mountain bike trails.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

BicycleAustin.info generally doesn't cover mountain biking issues, but here are a couple of resources we have:

* Here's a link to the Austin Ridge Riders web site.

* Here's Jim Summers' review of some local (Austin) trails.

TAXICAB RATES

We include taxi rates because many of our visitors are committed to not owning a car (or are working toward that goal). Taxis can fill in the gaps when you can't ride because you're not feeling well or the weather is poor. Taking a taxi infrequently is a LOT cheaper than owning and maintaining a car, and if being able to rely on a taxi on occasion enables you to live otherwise car-free, then so much the better.

The City of Austin regulates taxicab rates. These rates apply to all taxicab companies and all drivers. The current meter rate (as of Nov. 2012) is $2.50 for the first 1/6th mile, $2.40 for each additional mile, 48¢ per minute waiting time, plus $1 per person for trips from 9pm to 4am (KXAN), and $1 extra for trips to/from the airport.   Besides the nightly surcharge, there is no additional charge for extra passengers.  As many as four passengers may ride for the price of one.

452-9999 American Yellow Checker Cab
478-2222 Austin Cab
472-1111 Yellow Checker Cab

CAR SHARING

Car2Go has a fleet of cars all over the city that you can rent by the minute.  Use an app or their website to find a car close to you, press your access card against the card reader on the windshield to unlock it, then get in and go.  Current rates are $35 to sign up and 38¢ per minute (max $14/hr or $73/day), plus tax.