Getting To and Around Austin

You can find Ground Transportation options, including: taxis, ridesharing, shuttles, pedicabs, and electric low-speed vehicles, and charter services.

See this brochure for a quick overview: Getting Around Austin with CapMetro: A Quick Guide for International Students

Catch a ride with Capital Metro, Austin's public transportation provider. Capital Metro provides a network of bus routes, MetroRapid Route 800, 801, 803, 837, and MetroRail service to keep people moving into and out of downtown and throughout the city. 

Read more about the types of passes and their prices here! 

You can pay for CapMetro rides using several convenient methods. The Umo App is the most flexible option, allowing you to pay with your phone, track your balance, and benefit from fare capping (you won’t pay more than the daily or monthly maximum). Alternatively, you can use a Umo Smart Card, a reloadable physical card available at the CapMetro Transit Store and select retailers like H-E-B. Both the app and card require tapping on the onboard reader.

For one-time use, paper tickets (single ride or day passes) can be purchased at ticket vending machines at MetroRail stations. Cash is also accepted on buses, but exact change is required and fare capping is not available. Passes and reloads can also be purchased online or at local retail partners. For discounts (e.g., seniors, veterans, low-income riders), you must apply and use either the Umo app or card.

In partnership with Capital Metro, all residential students (those who live on campus) can receive a no-cost mobile bus pass upon request. Watch this Instagram reel for instructions on how to request a pass as a St. Ed's student. Off-campus students can purchase a discounted pass by visiting the Card Office in the Operations Building (1st floor) and presenting their student ID. Student passes are sold at a 35% discount, making a Local 31-day pass $27.00 instead of $41.25.

Check out where you can go on Capital Metro's system map. You can also use the Umo App or Google Maps to plan your trips. Finally, you can also visit. Check out CapMetro’s site for tips and videos on how to ride. Call (512) 474-1200 for more information. 

Riding a bike is a fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly way to get around Austin. You can find more information, including route maps and safety tips, on the Active Transportation Program page. The Austin B-cycle app offers bikes for rent 24 hours/day and has on-demand bicycle stations in the urban core.

Over the last few years, St. Edward’s has increased the number of bike racks and opportunities for bike use on campus. The bike repair station – which includes tools for bike repair, an air pump, and a lifted rack to put the bike on while repairs are being made, provides an excellent complement to these increased bike ridership opportunities.

If you are a bike commuter, lockers are available in the Recreation and Convocation Center. A $10 deposit fee will be charged for the lock and reimbursed at the end of the semester when the lock is returned.

And if you have a bike, remember to register it with University Police! Bike registration is required for everyone who bikes on campus. You can register yours at the Police Department on the second floor of the Operations Building, between 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Ridesharing is when you book a driver, vehicle, or another transportation service quickly and conveniently through a mobile app. Uber and Lyft are popular services in Austin. 

You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car. To drive a car in Texas, you must have liability insurance. If you do not have this type of insurance, you will have to pay for it on a day-to-day basis.

Rental Car Companies

The following companies are located at the Austin airport and are open 7 days a week.

• Alamo Rent-A-Car: Open 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. (844) 366-2656

• Budget: Open Sun - Fri 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.; Sat 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. (512) 356-3519

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Open 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. (737) 484-3896

• Hertz: Open 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. (512) 247-7250

View zipcar for short-term car rental options around Austin. It is app and web-based, allowing you to sign up from your phone or computer. 

If you decide to buy from a private party, it is recommended that you have an experienced driver test drive the car for you. Also, it is highly recommended that you take the car to an auto mechanic for a “buyer’s check.” Ask for the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) when you speak with the owner. You can use the VIN number to check the vehicle’s history at Carfax or ask the dealership to provide a vehicle history report. 

To avoid a financial penalty, you must transfer the car’s title within 30 days from the date of purchase. More information about registering your car can be found at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. If you live in Austin, you will register your car at the Travis County Tax Office. 

State law requires people who drive in Texas to pay for accidents they may cause. Most people do this with liability insurance. A liability policy pays to repair or replace the other driver's car and pays other people's medical expenses if you’re at fault in an accident.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) provides an online guide to help you choose an insurance policy. Before purchasing insurance, get price quotes from several insurance companies. Use TDI’s HelpInsure service to get sample prices and compare policies. You will need your car’s VIN number and your driver's license number to buy insurance.

Buy a quality lock for your bicycle. A coated U-lock is recommended for the highest security. Make sure both your frame and wheel are securely locked to the bicycle rack.

Obey traffic signs. You must follow all road rules while riding your bike, including stopping at red lights and stop signs.

As a vehicle, you must yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. Don't ride on sidewalks and walkways – walk your bike instead.

Lights at night. State law requires a white headlight and red rear reflector. Drivers must turn on their headlights within 30 minutes after sunset and leave them on until at least 30 minutes before sunrise.

Bus etiquette. Buses pull to the right-hand side of the road to load and unload passengers.