In recent years, Austin has become a haven for cyclists, recently cracking the top 10 on Bicycle Magazine’s 50 Best Bike Cities list. While cycle trails and protected bike lanes can be found throughout the city, Downtown Austin’s business district contains several prime examples of strong infrastructure, bike trails with scenic views, and bridges with dedicated space for bicycle commuters. If you’re looking for a good place to begin a downtown-cycling habit, Neighhborhoods.com has found the most bike-friendly stretches of road to get you started.

Rio Grande Roadway

A 0.8-mile protected stretch, this portion of Rio Grande St. runs from Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. to 24th St. Here you’ll find a two-way bike lane, divided from car traffic by painted lines and flexible upright delineators. Clearly marked and supplemented by sidewalk bike racks, this roadway is a safe and easy spot to begin downtown exploration by bike.

Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail

First devised by former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson (the namesake of Austin’s town lake), the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail counts among Austin’s most popular recreational sites. The 10-mile loop runs along the shores of the lake, with unparalleled waterfront vistas. While much of the bike path is unpaved, it’s easily conquered by sturdy mountain-bike tires. Cyclists who ride this route during the summer are frequently rewarded by a clear sighting of the bats who colonize beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge.

Third Street

Photo courtesy of City of Austin

Designated one of America’s Best New Bikeways by PeopleForBikes, Third Street in downtown Austin provides a superior passage for crosstown cyclists. The route stretches from the Seaholm District to Trinity St., and the protective infrastructure includes a slight elevation from car traffic, a bike-path technique popular in European cycling hubs like Copenhagen. Also, the 3rd Street Cycle Track features special traffic lights for the bike lane, which helps bike riders navigate their way across the car lanes. 

Pfluger Pedestrian and Bike Bridge

Photo by Bryan Rutherford

Spanning the width of Lady Bird Lake, the Pfluger Pedestrian and Bike Bridge serves as a connector between the two sides of the Roy & Ann Butler Trail loop. The structure of the bridge allows it to avoid the pitfalls of crossings like the South Lamar Boulevard Bridge, which features a narrow pedestrian path but no dedicated passage for cyclists. The Pfluger Bridge has no lanes for motorists, ceding all of its space to pedestrian and bicycle use. While cyclists and pedestrians are expected to share the lanes on the Pfluger Bridge, the width allows for easy coexistence between the two groups.