Your safety is our top priority! Our resource guide helps you know your options for a safe ride to and from your party or special event. Check out the resources below, and email us if you have any questions about getting home safe.
Plan a safe, car-free ride to the party!
Don’t let parking and traffic woes spoil the fun. You can get to all of Austin’s attractions without using a car. Whether you are going to cheer for your favorite team, listen to your favorite band, or take that special someone on a date, here are great options for getting to the event without making it an event:
Get There ATX
Get There ATX is the ultimate online one-stop-shop for anyone looking to discover safe, affordable, and convenient ways to move around Austin. With solutions for visitors and residents alike, we encourage you to join thousands of others in discovering new ways to experience the Live Music Capital of the World.
Try Transit with Capital Metro
Ready to ride? Find out where and how to catch the Capital Metro bus or train with this awesome and easy-to-use Trip Planner. The Trip Planner provides you with multiple options for getting where you want to go when you need to get there. You can also use the CapMetro App to plan your trip from your phone.
Ride the Entertainment Bus (E-Bus)
The E-Bus is a late-night service that picks up passengers from the University of Texas, West Campus, and Riverside areas and provides a safe alternative to driving to and from Austin's Sixth Street entertainment district. The E-Bus runs Thursday to Saturday from 8:30 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. UT students, faculty, and staff may ride the E-Bus at no charge. Everyone else may ride the E-Bus by paying a $1.25 one-way fare ($2.50 round trip day pass).
Take a Bike or Scooter
Grab life by the handlebars! Austin’s amazing bikeshare programs are convenient options for anyone who wants to use a bike on the go. If you don’t feel like pedaling, then electric scooters provide another great trip option that’s quick, inexpensive, and more sustainable. Please remember to ride safely and obey traffic rules!
Tap the App (Taxicabs & Ridesharing)
There are many taxicabs and ridesharing options available for those who do not have a car or want to leave their personal vehicle behind. Whether you’re commuting from beyond Austin’s city limits or you are staying at a hotel near Downtown, there’s likely a service that’s a perfect fit for you!
When you’re ready to leave the party, know your options for a safe ride home!
Responsible Ride Home - Parking Ticket Waiver Program
Don’t worry about getting a parking ticket when you make the responsible decision of taking a taxicab, bus, or rideshare service home. We’ll waive the ticket when you email or bring us your parking ticket, a receipt from your safe ride home, and a completed Ticket Waiver Form (PDF).
Ride with the “Night Owls”
Capital Metro’s Night Owl bus routes run from midnight to 3 a.m. with service from the city's most popular late night destinations to local neighborhoods every 20 to 30 minutes. University of Texas students ride free with valid school ID, and Austin Community College students ride free with the Green Pass. Everyone else can ride by paying $1.25 for a one-way fare.
Also, don’t forget about the easy-to-use Trip Planner. Use it before you leave home so you know your safest transit options in case you need to leave the car behind.
Experience a Pedicab
Pedicabs are abundant around Austin’s entertainment centers. From Downtown Austin, Sixth Street, and Rainey Street to areas east of Interstate-35 (East Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and 11th streets), pedicab drivers are licensed and ready to get you to your hotel or home safely.
Tap the App (Again)
Like we said before, there are many taxicab and ridesharing options available for Austinites and visitors alike. If you are too impaired to drive home, use a taxicab or rideshare service to get home safe. After all, you don’t want to ruin your good time by crashing or going to jail for driving while impaired.
Pro Tip: Plan a safe place to leave your car.
Did you know the City has more than 3,000 public parking spaces in Downtown Austin where you may leave your car parked overnight? Parking meters in Downtown Austin have yellow “Next Day” buttons that allow you to buy meter time for the next day. Meters aren’t enforced on Sundays, and we will not tow legally-parked vehicles for being left overnight.
For your convenience, we coordinated with our Downtown parking management groups (both private and public) to provide you this map of overnight parking options.
I-35 Parking Lot
Austin residents and visitors have another weekend overnight parking option in the parking lot under I-35 between 6th and 8th streets. Parking meters at the I-35 lot are enforced Monday through Saturday, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Parking is $7 a night Monday through Thursday and $8 a night Friday and Saturday. Parking is free on Sunday. Cars that are left in this parking lot from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday morning may be towed due to routine cleaning.
6th Street Parking
There is no parking on 6th Street between Red River and Brazos streets from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. The Austin Police Department will tow vehicles from this area.