Cycling in friendly Austin is big — and getting bigger every year.
Austin may not be tops if you’re measuring the number of daily commuters on bikes, but by any other measure — cool bike shops, gregarious attitude — it’s one of the best places to pedal. It’s a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community and consistently lands in top-ten lists in national magazines.
The city’s All Ages and Abilities (AAA) network includes 215 miles of bike lanes, 100 of which have been built since 2018, and it’s on track to top 400 miles by 2025. A favorite? The two sections of the Walnut Creek Trail, which connect parks and shaded forests. Mountain bikers can zigzag beneath the limestone cliffs of the Barton Creek Greenbelt, tackle the IMBA Epic Goodwater Loop, or find flow in Texas Hill Country (Reimers Ranch Park, Revellie Peak Ranch).
Central Texas gravel throws everything at you — finely-crushed hardpack, loose rock, sand — but the area around Lockhart is some of the best, and you can finish your rides with classic barbecue from Black’s, Kreuz, or Smitty’s.
True to form, Austin has lively bike events all year round: The Armadillo Classic takes riders through Hill Country and the Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge. The 100-mile Great Austin to Shiner Pedal (GASP for short) finishes with plenty of namesake brews. And the Livestrong Classic — with options from 20 to 100 miles — is the only ride that starts and ends right in downtown.