We can all agree that this whole beef over ridesharing in Austin is frustrating. But until all sides can agree to terms and get on the same page regarding the regulations, we'll have to find alternate means of transportation. Here are a few options for getting around Austin in the meantime.
Fasten is the latest platform to hit the still starving Austin rideshare market. With a sleek user interface on their app, access to real-time fare information, active promotions, and ride history, as well as a guarantee on no surge pricing, Fasten looks to be one of the more attractive options now available. As a proverbial cherry on top, the service has given a written commitment to safety, with a $1,000,000 personal insurance policy given to riders.
ReDriver allows you to choose whether or not your request is going to be for a delivery or a ride, and then further allows you to choose either the closest nearby car or from a list of nearby vehicles. You can also specifically ask for a particular driver from a past ride. The App is currently live on-demand. More information is available here.
RideAustin is billing itself as "a non-profit rideshare service created by the Austin community.", and their policy seems to reflect that. To streamline the fingerprinting requirements for drivers, the service is paying for it out of pocket. Additionally, the service has claimed that a drivers will keep a higher percentage of the total fare while keeping the fare low for riders. RideAustin has plans to start driving as early as June.
Arcade City is a community made up from the ashes of the end of ridesharing in Austin. Technically, it exists in a bit of a legal gray area. The Facebook group operates with people posting about where they want to go, and a driver responds with their information and availability. It's made up of many, many folks who used to drive for Uber or Lyft, and still want to make money in the same way. There have been some reports of people who were never drivers infiltrating the group and trying to give rides, as well as other nastiness such as ride stealing, but in general the community of Arcade City seems to be overwhelmingly positive.
Fare, which is a side operation of Phoenix company Ride Fare, is already up and running here in Austin. One of its biggest draws right now is the lack of surge-pricing, which Uber and Lyft relied heavily upon. For the time being, you need a referral code to join Fare, with the referrer gaining a discount in exchange. In their own words, "We are transportation and logistics experts and have extensively used ride hailing applications in our travels over the years. Seeing the strides some of the other guys were making and the gaps that could be filled, we just had to get involved."
It's like renting a car, but without all the hassle. Car2go vehicles are free-floating around the city of Austin, meaning they are not restricted to stations. When a member has reached their destination in a car2go they simply park it in any on-street legal parking spot (metered spots included) and walk away, leaving that car for another member to use. Car2go vehicles never have to be returned to a designated area. When a car2go member parks in a City of Austin metered parking space they don’t have to pay for parking either. Members pay $0.41 per minute, inclusive of parking, gas, insurance and vehicle maintenance. Car2go vehicles – 332 in Austin – are constantly moving around the city as members use them to get from Point A to Point B. Car2go is offering free registration to new members right now through June 19. New members get free registration (regularly $35) and 15 minutes of FREE drive time when they use the promo code "C2G15" to register for car2go at this link.
Capital Metro runs all over town, offering routes from downtown and back. The Night Owls run super late (after the bars close), picking up downtown along 6th St. between Congress and Colorado.You can plan and schedule your trip with the CapMetro App, and buy a bus pass for one day, seven days or 31 days through the app. Out-of-towners can atch a ride on the Airport Flyer for a low cost option to and from the Austin Bergstrom international Airport (ABIA). Find all the info you need at capmetro.org.
GetMe, which offers both delivery and ride-sharing services, first launched in Dallas before moving its headquarters to Austin. The company says it will comply with existing city regulations, allowing users to request rides or get delivery of goods similar to Favor. Users can also track drivers and receive alerts when their order is placed and delivered, though they currently have a much smaller fleet of drivers, called "go-getters." Find more info at www.getme.com.
For a traditional approach you can catch a cab. The number for Yellow Cab in Austin is 512-452-9999, and they offer the HAIL A CAB app with an interface similar to the app for Uber and Lyft. You can see where your cab is, arrange to pay with cash or credit, and request a specific type of vehicle if you have a large group or special needs. Find more info at yellowcabaustin.com. The number for Austin Cab is 512-478-2222.
If you only need two wheels you can use Austin’s bike-sharing program, Austin B-cycle. B-cycle stations are conveniently located throughout downtown and each b-cycle comes with a basket and built-in lights. During the month of May you can sign up for one free Austin B-cycle ride, for National Bike Month. Find other rates and info at austin.bcycle.com.
Wingz, an app started in San Francisco, is now in Austin offering rides to and from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Riders can prebook a ride to or from the airport for a flat rate, and can request specific drivers. You know exactly how much it’s going to cost upfront. Find more info at wingz.me.
Pedicabs are definitely one of the more interesting ways to get around Austin. You can snag one pretty much anywhere downtown, and depending on how far you're going or how hard the adventure is to get there, they only cost about $10-20. You can probably negotiate a lower price if you're extra friendly, but despite the cost the experience is worth it! Look for one of these trusted padicab companies in Austin.
Parking in Austin can be a chore, so if you don't want to bother with it (and have mad parking money), you can use the Luxe app for on-demand parking and valet. Just open the app and let a valet know where to meet you, hand over the keys, and they handle the parking and hassle (and will even fuel and wash it if you want). When you're ready to go they will meet you with the vehicle. Find info at luxe.com.
Got more ideas for getting around Austin? Holler! [email protected]
