Austin's Cycling Culture

Austin, Texas is no Portland, Oregon or Davis, California and you better believe we’ve got the trucks to prove it! Yet, despite the heat from both drivers and Mother Nature, Austin possesses a vibrant and diverse cycling scene that has exploded in the last few years. From the growing number of fashion “fixie” kids to business bike commuters, Austin’s cycling community continues to flourish as gas prices soar and individuals begin to consider cycling as a mode of transportation instead of just as recreation. However, as bike messenger and Cat 1 road racer John Trujillo is quick to point out, “Riding your bike doesn’t have to be viewed as a sacrifice. It can be one of the most enriching things someone can do and it doesn’t take very much to get on a bike.”

To aid the growing numbers of cyclists taking to the streets, the Austin Cycling Association (ACA) has more widely publicized the Road I class for adults. Taught by League of American Bicyclist’s certified instructors, the course is designed for individuals interested in riding, but are uneasy in traffic, unsure of how to fix small mechanical problems, and/or uncomfortable manoeuvring a bicycle. The course currently costs USD $65, and the ACA is also partnering with the Yellow Bike Project, a local bike co-op, to certify many of their volunteers who will then be able to teach the course as well.

The ACA also offers many group rides and events, and a multitude of other less traditional events pepper the Austin cycling calendar including; roller racing; a love inspired courier service, and multi-stage Alleycats races.

Most recently, Rapha Continental (the North American group of the London-based cycling clothing company) visited Austin to sponsor the Rapha Roller Races as part of Rapha’s International Roller Racing Series. The city of Austin could have powered its lights with the efforts of the riders as they spun their way into roller racing history. Roller Racing has been around since the early 1940s and has taken various shapes and names, including a recent revitalization of the race format in the Rollapaluza in 1999.

The Sunday following the Rapha Roller Races featured another bicycle event that was more about love than speed. Pink: a (love) courier service is the love child of artist Jaclyn Pryor. Commissioned by First Night Austin to create a performance piece to welcome in the 2007 New Year, the idea of Pink evolved from the desire to create a community event that would build on itself. Jaclyn’s previous performance piece, BREAD, involved fresh baked bread deliveries to various homes where recipients would be invited to join in the bread making and deliveries. With Pink, participants were asked to write love notes that would be rolled into small glass bottles for delivery by bicycle couriers dressed in shades of pink.

As for courier activities, former bike messenger and wrench at East Side Pedal Pushers, Brian Davies, is responsible for organizing a slew of Alleycat races. Welcoming all types of bicyclists to his races, he believes, “People have a misconception that we aren’t all in this together. We are all doing the same thing, just with a different take. We like the freedom, the nature, the affordability, and all the other things that bikes have over cars, buses, taxis, etc. So why don’t we all just get along? We don’t need to be hatin’ on each other.” One of his premier events is the Giro d’Ghetto (Tour of the City), whose name is a play on the Giro d’Italia. Set up as a multi-stage Alleycat, the race includes a hill climb, time trial, and criterium style racing, with choice bicycle recommendations from the race director – because who really wants to climb a 10 per cent grade on a track bike?

Urban event information can be found on websites such as Megan Rucker’s onechick.com or Jason Abels’ atxbs.com. While the atxbs.com site presents itself with a bit of salty language, the site is dedicated to “local bike rides for regular AND irregular people,” with solid content and well-discussed controversial issues. Both sites highlight the bike-in movies, critical masses, and full moon cruises that also make up the Austin cycling scene.

The City of Austin Bicycle and Pedestrian Program has also stepped up to the plate to improve the city’s infrastructure and make bicycling more feasible. Since the adoption of a Proposed Bicycle Plan in 1972, Austin has been inching towards a more bike-friendly, car-lite society. Fast forward to 2008 with hormonal gas prices and vehicles that devour gas like it’s 1999, and Austin is at a tipping point. As Lane Wimberley – a long time cyclist and member of the Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) – said, “The Austin bicycle culture is wonderfully diverse. It has grown considerably over the past ten years, until finally the local political establishment has begun to take note of a growing grass-roots advocacy. It seems the only thing remaining to elevate Austin to the level of Portland, San Francisco, or Seattle is a hard commitment from city leaders to implement the policies and infrastructure. I think they are now realizing the potential benefits for quality of life in Austin.”

Ya hear that, Portland? We’re coming after you, and then we’re going after Copenhagen (or so Justin Litchfield, a local triathlete, suggested). I’m with Justin, but first things first. Let’s get some people on bicycles.

In a twenty-plus page document released by the Street Smarts Task Force earlier this year, the city outlines the vision and mission, which is to “transform Austin in a world class bicycling city,” and “to create and promote the best environment for the friendly coexistence of bicycle riders and other transportation users in Austin.” Exciting projects buried in the document include “assessing the feasibility of bicycle boulevards,” bike boxes, and an increase in safe and convenient bicycle parking and multi-modal transportation. The Task Force also recommended the development of educational programs to promote the use of cycling along with safe methods for cycling, which will “increase confidence which translates into a greater number of individuals choosing to use a bicycle.”

What is that saying? If you build it, they will come? Well, Austin, they are en route, maybe a little wobbly, but they are coming. I salute every single person who has been growing the cycling infrastructure in this city I have fallen in love with. So my question to every Austin citizen who rides now: How are you going to help your friend, family, neighbour who decides they are going to ride to work, to the grocery store, or to the park?
It’s about 90 degrees (32 for you Celsius folk) and I’m sitting in my driveway with a cold one, staring as the sunset lights the city skyline on fire. A girl just whizzed by on a cruiser and it makes me smile because three more just followed. I think I’m going to throw on a sundress and go for a ride.

Bike+Austin

The idea for bike+austin evolved from several discussions with various bicycle riding friends and the amazing bikeportland.org website, created by the equally amazing Jonathan Maus. The unifying thought was the lack of connectivity between the many groups of cyclists in town. While in its infancy, bike+austin has grown into an eclectic mix of riders. It’s for anyone and everyone who celebrates the two wheeled wonder and wants to start some positive dialogue by connecting to groups like the League of Bicycle Voters, the Bicycle Advisory Council, or other groups that fit their style.

The goal? Unite. Inform. Inspire.

The purpose of bike+austin is to unite new and experienced Austin cyclists by connecting existing facets of the Austin cycling community including advocacy, transportation, racing, and recreation. Bike+austin also strives to inspire the general public to view cycling and cyclists as a valuable part of the transportation ecosystem. Look for the launch of the website with the Cute Commute Calendar in late October! For more information please e-mail bikeaustin@gmail.com

About the Author

Marsha “Princess Hungry” Ungchusri is a road racing, fixed gear loving, Xtracycle commuting geek who prefers sundresses to spandex and cute boys who have mad bike handling skills [more...]