Credit: Your Biker Gang
Guest article by Caitlin Jackson
They’re not motorcycles. They’re not Segways. They’re electric minibikes. And you can ride one, too.
Austin has a novel way to explore the city. For two hours, you can be a part of your very own biker gang. Your Biker Gang, a guided tour company using electric minibikes, turns up the street style as its team takes you and your friends around town.
Your Biker Gang launched earlier this year. On this ride, you can be a tourist without looking the part, as you turn up the throttle between many significant and unique spots around Austin. It’s a great way to see the city and keep Austin weird at the same time.
When you schedule a tour with Your Biker Gang, you get to drive one of their electric minibikes yourself. These bikes have fat tires and a limit of 20 miles per hour. Because they are electric, you don’t hear a thing. For safety, the tour sticks to bike lanes and bike paths.
Credit: Your Biker Gang
If you don’t have experience riding a motorcycle, don’t worry. You won’t need it. You can quickly get the hang of riding and will have an experienced tour guide nearby the whole time. It’s so easy that the whole family can ride.
To drive a minibike, you don’t need a driver’s license, but you do need to be at least 16 years old. Passengers ride free, but they must be at least seven years old. Tours are available Thursday through Sunday. On those days, there are two-hour tours that begin at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Another one-hour tour begins at 12:30 p.m.
Where Will You Go on Your Tour?
Stop during Your Biker Gang tour on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
On the full two-hour tour, your stops may include some of the following places in Austin.
Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
This bridge runs parallel to the Lamar Boulevard bridge, but its unique design and distance from motor traffic makes it a great spot to watch the activity below on Lady Bird Lake.
Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughn Statues
These two iconic landmarks feature two of Austin’s favorite people.
Sixth Street
Austin wouldn’t be the same without Sixth Street, and it won’t be the same for you when you drive down it with your biker gang in tow.
Driskill Hotel
Take a break from the heat and hide out in the famous Driskill Hotel. If you’ve never been inside this historical building downtown, this is your excuse to wander around inside and see its beauty.
Castle Hill Graffiti Park
Also known as HOPE Gallery, this graffiti park is an ever-changing spot in our local culture. Here, the smell of spray paint is a reminder that what you see painted now will soon be covered up by something new.
Some other tour stops may include The University of Texas, Congress Avenue, and famous Austin murals. Since there is so much to see in this great city, the sites on the tour are subject to change. At each stop, rest assured that you’ll get the chance to get off your bike, look around, and take photos while your tour guide gives you a bit of history about the place.
Plan Your Visit
Credit: Your Biker Gang
If you’re concerned about the heat, don’t worry about it. When you’re cruising, you only feel the breeze. I do recommend you wake along plenty of water and sunscreen, though. Also keep in mind that your tour guide holds discretion for canceling the tour if the weather becomes a threat.
Whether you are an Austinite or just visiting, it would be difficult to get to all of these places in just two hours any other way, and it certainly wouldn’t be as much fun. Besides, this is an excuse to get to know Austin better, and try out these cool bikes. Without a doubt, you’ll turn some heads.
If you book now for August or September, Your Biker Gang is offering Austinot readers 10 percent off their entire booking with promo code, AUSTINOT. Add the code when you check out at yourbikergang.com. Two-hour tours are normally $59 per bike and one-hour tours are normally $39 per bike.
Remember, passengers ride free. Also, there are helmets available to borrow at no additional cost. You can also bring your own.
@theAustinot wants to know:
If you could take an electric minibike anywhere in central Austin, where would you want to go?
Caitlin Jackson has been an Austinite for 17 years. She lives here with her family and is always on the hunt for things they can do together.
