11 Mar Getting Around During SXSW

Getting around during SXSW madness can be a literal pain. Streets are closed downtown, bus stops are clothed (clever CapMetro), and parking is a nightmare. 

From Pam LeBlanc at Fit City for Austin360:  At the SXcycles booth at the southwest corner of Red River and Cesar Chavez streets, festival goers can borrow, for free, a folding Tern bicycle. ​The lot will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m. March 8-16. Bikes will be available on a first come, first served basis. In order to borrow one, you’ll have to pre-authorize a $250 deposit. Bikes must be returned by 2 a.m. or a $100 late fee will be charged daily until the bike is returned. Check it out. 

Here are five ways to share a ride with someone. 

Getaround allows you to rent a car from someone who isn't using theirs. Peer to peer car sharing. Easy to sign up and request a car, although finding one that isn't being used this week might be a challenge. I personally list my car on @Getaround and find it is a great way to make some extra cash when I am not using my vehicle. Who knows how long the city will let the service exist?

If history tells us anything, the city will promptly try to shut it down as it has with ElectricCab of Austin (they finally won!) and most recently SideCar. From TechCrunch: SideCar is offering free rides for SXSW as it aims to make Austin among its primary expansion markets. The company is currently engaging in a lawsuit against Austin’s Department of Transportation, arguing that it is a technology company, not at transportation company, and should be allowed to offer its regular services. @SideCarATX is not alone in it's innovative solutions to a ride-matching app. 

From Stacey H. on Gigaom: RideScout, formerly known as GoingMyWay, has launched an app that hooks people up via their Facebook accounts with rides. But the real value in RideScout comes from its ability to integrate other transit information, from bus schedules to other ride-sharing services into its application. So instead of a random stranger, you can also choose to grab a cab or a bus. @Ridescout

Uber, everyone's private driver, is similar in that, like a cab service, you can request a car at your location and someone comes with their private vehicle to pick you up and take you where you want to go. From TechCrunch: Uber has made its UBERx service (lower price, with hybrid and midrange cars for up to 4 people) available for the first time in Austin, Texas for the event. The rides will need to be free in order to prevent violating Austin’s city ordinance. @Uber 

To end on a really fun note, haven't you always wanted a piggy back ride from a lacrosse player wearing a giant pink mustache around their neck? Well now is your chance! In order to dodge the city ordinance during SXSW, Lyft has hired 20 people to give piggyback rides to folks downtown for the festival week. VentureBeat notes that you can use the Lyft app to request a #lyftpiggyback ride. Or when you see someone, you can hail them like you do a cab.

From Movability Austin: Use the online trip planner to find the fastest route from Point A to Point B. Pro-Tip: The CapMetro #3 Route has stops near all Film Fest venues & Capital Metro’s #7 Route passes close to Auditorium Shores and hotels south of the river.) For local registrants and those staying at hotels in Northwest Austin, the MetroRail is another option to get downtown on weekdays and Saturdays during SXSW.

Happy SXSW y'all! Don't worry, it will be over soon. 

Dawnielle Castledine is the editor, curator of content, and community manager for the Austin EcoNetwork. You can follow Dawnielle on twitter at @DawnielleCas, Flickr at DawnielleC, or at her personal website, www.DawnielleCastledine.com.