This Friday, in honor of “National Bike to Work Day,” Chipotle Mexican Grill on Congress (located downtown) will host a FREE food event for guests who ride their bicycles to the restaurant during the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. All guests need to do is show up on their bike and the restaurant will give them a burrito, order of tacos, salad or burrito bowl for free. No strings attached.

Enjoy!

This edition has user-friendly enhancements to provide way-finding for all levels of bicyclists. Roadways are color-coded into high, medium, and low comfort categories, street grades are coded as mild, medium, and steep, and separated paths are clearly marked. Another key feature is a safe riding guide that explains common traffic maneuvers, signaling, and basic traffic law.

As always when the Statesman publishes any article relating to bicycling, whether it has to do with a cycling death, Lance Armstrong, new bike lanes, etc., the crazies come out of the woodwork and leave ignorant comments about how “90% of cyclists ignore the traffic law” and veiled threats about cyclists deserving to be hit by cars.  It’s pretty sad to read these comments from what is supposed to be a progressive/green city.  I digress, but my point is, don’t read the comments unless you want to be agitated!

Anywho, you can check out the new map, which really is quite handy for helping you figure out safe routes for errands and your work commute, from the city’s website here.  It’s pretty detailed and hard to read on a computer though, so you may want to pick one up at a local bike shop, where they sell for $2.

• Whole Foods and REI are teaming up that day to offer free breakfast foods from 7AM to 9AM at either Whole Foods location if you ride your bike to work that day. Plus you can get complimentary minor adjustments made to your bike while you’re there.  Check out more info here.
• Stop by Luke’s Locker between 7AM and 9AM and between 4Pm and 7PM for free food and drinks. Check out info about that event here.
• Wheatsville Co-Op will have free food from 7-9AM. Find more info here.

Look for updates as I  find out about more spots to grab free food on May 20th.

Austin City Council approved a deal Thursday with the Texas Department of Transportation to build 10 miles of new bicycle lanes.

The city and the state are each cutting a check for $569,500, for a total project cost of about $1,139,000, according to city staff.

The state money came from the federally-funded Transportation Enhancement Program, officials said.

Read more: City of Austin building $1.1M in bike lanes | Austin Business Journal

 

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Given the 19.7 percent increase in Austin workers over those 10 years of survey numbers, the actual number of people driving alone or carpooling increased from about 309,000 to almost 356,500. The people driving by themselves made up all of that increase and then some (total carpoolers decreased).

- Today, from 11:30 to 1:30 at the City Hall plaza, the city is throwing a kick-off party with live music, food from Pita Pit, and all the info you need about riding your bike.

- Bike to Work Week is May 17 -21. If you haven’t already, try out a bike commute this week–it can help you wake up, get in shape, and be kind to the environment all at once. Here’s a helpful booklet with suggestions on how to be safe and make the most of your two-wheeled commute.

- Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 21, and several businesses will be providing free breakfast and afternoon snacks to bicyclists. Free food!

- Need a helmet for your new commute? These local bike shops are offering a 20% discount on all helmets during Bike Month!

- And if you’re up for some friendly competition, consider signing up for the Austin Commuter Challenge. Teams or individuals earn points by making trips by bike, regardless of distance. Any trip you would normally spend in the car counts as a point: biking to work, to the store, to the pool, etc. Sign up on the website or at the kick-off party today at City Hall. Today is the last day to sign up, so get on over there and get to biking!