As Austin’s newest homeowner or tenant, you are going to need all the tips and tricks when it comes to moving from point A to B. Our beautiful city has a number of options available for you. Austin has experienced exponential growth over the past ten years. With the increase in population, the animal that is traffic congestion has grown in size.
With this transportation guide, you can easily get around with or without having a car.
Public Transit
With regards to payments, you can pay cash or use the CapMetro App to buy daily weekly, or monthly passes. You can also buy tickets online or in grocery shops. We highly recommend using the app that gives users up-to-date traffic information.
Capital Metro also offers express service. For as little as $1.25 for one ride, you can move from one side of the city to the other. There are two express buses that you should look out for; Route 801 and Route 803.
For the night owls and those suffering from insomnia, Capital Metro still has you sorted out. You can use the Night Owl (pun intended) and E-bus services which are available as from Midnight to around 4 in the morning.
Bicycling
Who said you can’t lose a few calories while going to work? Cycling to and fro work and other destinations has become quite the transportation method. The City’s Public Works Department, guided by the 2014 Austin Bicycle Plan, has installed and maintained a complete bike network. You can now bike to work safely and comfortably, without the fear and anxiety of an accident.
If you don’t have your own bike, you can also choose to rent one for a few hours and make that short trip across town. There are a number of rental companies in the Downtown area. Some of the more common options available to you are: Austin B-cycle, Austin tri-cyclist, Austin Bike Tours & Rental and Streamline Cycles.
Other parties have recognized the good work of the Public Works Department. The city was granted a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community Badge by the League of American Bicyclists.
Rail
Movement via train is also available in Austin. You can move around using Austin’s only commuter rail line, the Capital MetroRail. Dubbed the Red Line, the track spans 32 miles starting from Downtown Austin all the way to Leander to the north. On the weekends, you can also catch the train to Lakeline.
Ride Sharing and Pedicabs
The use of "ridesharing" such as Uber or Lyft is one of the more common transportation options all over the country. This is also the case in Austin. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting a ride to your office in the Downtown area. At a competitive price, you can get the services of Uber, Lyft and also Ride Austin.
They are a fast option but compared against the other transportation alternatives on this list, it is more costly.
Pedicabs are to be found mainly in Central Downtown, Rainey Street, and the South Austin Areas. The Pedicabs culture has grown over the years, with the city council coming to officially recognize the transportation business. Pedicab drivers are registered and licensed by the city. Ride-sharing companies are typically hit by price surges. Getting a pedicab at such a time might be a cheaper option.
