Austin - Texas - page 172

Sat, 8am-4pm Sun) is coowned by the disgraced seven-time Tour de France winner. It rents
high-performance bikes as well as commuter bikes, and offers free guided bike rides
(check the website for a schedule).
Looking for something a little more casual? The cool thing about Bicycle Sportshop (
512-477-3472; www.bicyclesportshop.com ; 517 S Lamar Blvd; per 2hr from $16; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm
Sat, 11am-5pm Sun) is its proximity to Zilker Park, Barton Springs and the Lady Bird Lake
bike paths, all of which are within a few blocks. Rentals range from $16 for a two-hour
cruise on a standard bike to $60 for a full day on a top-end full-suspension model. On
weekends and holidays, advance reservations are advised.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Getting around Austin is easy enough, but the main consideration for drivers - other than
rush-hour gridlock and what people from other towns consider crazy drivers - is where to
leave your car when you're not in it.
Downtown, the best deal is at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage (1201 San Jacinto Blvd) . It's free
for the first two hours, and only $1 per half hour after that, maxing out at $8. Other down-
town garages and lots are fairly abundant. They usually charge $1 to $2 per hour, with a
daily maximum of $8 to $10.
The state-operated parking garage at 4th and San Antonio Sts is free after 6pm, and fills
up quickly. Other downtown garages and parking lots typically charge a flat fee of around
$6 or so after dark. People also park for free under I-35 at the east end of 6th St, but you
can't depend on it being available (or legal).
Parking meters usually cost 25¢ for 15 to 20 minutes, but gone are the days of free
downtown street parking on nights and weekends. Downtown meters now run 8am to 6pm
Monday to Wednesday, 8am to midnight Thursday and Friday, and 11am to midnight
Sunday (although outside of downtown metering still stops after 6pm and on Sunday).
Elsewhere around Austin, you can find free on-street parking, but pay careful attention to
posted permit parking and time limits.
Day or night, finding a spot around the UT campus can take a while. Free visitor park-
ing is available outside the LBJ Library, but from there it's a long, hot walk across campus
to the UT Tower and other sights. Parking spots on Guadalupe St are both timed and
metered. Otherwise, your best bet is to search for free parking in the residential streets
west of Guadalupe St.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT