Bike / Walk

NO! “Multi-modal transportation” describes the practice of using two or more forms of transportation to get to your destination. You could drive part of your trip to work and bike the rest of it. Over time you could gradually drive less, increasing the distance you ride to work, and eventually bike the entire way. Another option is to use the bus to transport you and the bike part of the way.

Looking to start commuting by bicycle? These two things will make your first ride a pleasure rather than a pain:

1. Start slow. There’s no need to kill yourself when you start. Even if you’re already in good shape, cycling uses different muscles than other exercises, and your body will need time to get used to the new types of stress. Start out nice and easy, enjoy yourself, and progress gradually. Begin with a couple of miles and do them nice and slow. Have fun!
2. Be safe. Cycling can be dangerous, especially if you’re on the roads with all those crazy drivers out there. In the beginning, stay within your comfort zone. Ride during daylight hours, follow traffic laws, always yield the right of way, wear bright colors and reflectors, and wear a helmet.

If you want to take a super comprehensive, short (3-5 hours) class that will prepare you for riding in traffic, teach you how to change a tire, and so much more, check out the Austin Cycling Association Traffic Skills 101 Class. Your safety and well-being are worth every penny!

Before you get hooked and turn into a complete bicycle nut, there are a few essentials that every cyclist, no matter how casual, should have:

• Helmet. Don’t ever ride without one. It can mean the difference between a bad headache and being a vegetable. Make sure it fits well (see this guide for tips on that, along with other equipment needed to get started).
• Water bottle. Get one with a cage that attaches to your bike. Regular bottles don’t fit in this cage, btw. An alternative is a hydration backpack. In central Texas, it doesn’t take much to really get dehydrated, so whether you’re riding 3 miles or 30, it’s a great idea to tote some water along.
• Pump. A portable pump that you attach to the bike is necessary in case you get a flat or a slow leak. Walking your bike back home can turn a short jaunt into an hour-long ordeal. A floor pump is good to have at home for easier pumping, but isn’t at all necessary. Gas station pumps work great unless your valves are incompatible (converters are cheap and easy to come by).
• Repair kit. Eventually, you will get a flat. A simple repair kit includes a patch kit, a spare inner tube, 2 tire levers, and a multi-tool for bikes, all in a small bag that attaches to the bike. However, a kit is useless if you don’t know how to change a tire. It’s a simple skill every cyclist should know.

While cycling is fun, it carries some risks. As you transition into regular bicycle riding, following a few simple guidelines will help keep you safe and outside the reach of the long arm of the law.

Ride with traffic, not against it. Even though it may not feel like it sometimes, the bicycle is a vehicle under Texas law and must be operated as such. Always stay on the right side of the road.

• Obey all traffic laws, regulations, and signals. Cyclists have all the rights and duties that drivers do. Always yield to pedestrians.
• Ride Defensively. Expect the unexpected—particularly at intersections. Don’t assume motorists see you—make eye contact before you make a move. Watch out for parked vehicles pulling into traffic, and always watch for car doors opening in your path.
• Use extra caution making left turns. It is perfectly legal to make a pedestrian left:  continue straight across the intersecting road, obey the traffic signals, turn left at the corner, and proceed as usual. Bicyclists may also dismount and walk in the crosswalks of the two intersecting roads. If traffic control devices specify the method of crossings, those directions must be followed.
• Signal all turns and stops. Hand signals help you communicate with motorists, just like vehicle turn signals do.
• Lights are required at night. Texas law requires that all bicycles on the road between sunset and sunrise must have at least one white headlamp visible at least 500 feet to the front. To the rear, either a red reflector(visible from 50-300 feet) or a red light(visible from 500 feet) is required. A flashing light is recommended due to its higher level of visibility.
• Riding on sidewalks is dangerous! Seriously, sidewalks are for pedestrians. Additionally, on certain streets in Downtown Austin and in University areas, riding on the sidewalk is illegal and may result in a citation. Remember, bicyclists travel at a greater speed and have less ability to maneuver than pedestrians, so crashes with pedestrians (which can be deadly) are more likely to happen on a sidewalk than off. Bicyclists riding on sidewalks often ride facing traffic and enter onto roadways, surprising motorists who do not expect to encounter bicyclists on sidewalks, so they don’t look ahead for bicyclists when turning in and out of driveways or side streets.