TRANSPORT

Transport

The excellent public transport system in Austin provides cheap public buses and vans that cover all neighbourhoods, downtown and the university campus for a flat fare. Transfers between buses are free and valid for three hours. The Armadillo Express, known as 'the Dillo', provides free trolley rides through the historic downtown area. There is also a free Yellow Bike Program that makes bicycles available to the public - yellow bikes can be picked up anywhere, ridden to one's destination and then left for the next rider. Taxis can be expensive and are best ordered by phone, although they are on hand outside most downtown hotels. Driving in Austin can be very confusing, with a lack of clear east-west routes through the city centre and the fact that locals tend to refer to highways by unofficial names. The city centre can become congested at rush hour.