SXSW Eco: Drive an Electric Car for Free, But Your Bike Could be Impounded

Photo by Mose Buchele
Warning were attached to bikes locked up outside SXSW Eco today, saying the bikes could be impounded.
South By Southwest Eco is Austinâs premiere sustainability conference, so itâs probably no surprise that youâll find a lot of bike riders there. The conference even has a folding bike rental option.
But this morning there were so many cyclists parking at the entrance to the AT&T Conference Center, where the event is held, that every nearby signpost appeared to be taken. (There are no bike racks at the Center, or even within a few blocks, according to University of Texasâ bike rack map.)
So, with nothing apparent to indicate they shouldnât, cyclists (this reporter included) started locking up on the railings leading to the entrance.
Imagine the surprise when they returned from panels like âWhatâs Good for Your Health is Good for the Planet,â and âLegal and Policy Issues for Social and Eco-Entrepreneursâ to find a warning attached to each bicycle from UT Transportation: just a friendly reminder that bicycles left in unauthorized places can be impounded and their riders issued citations.
It wasnât immediately clear how the bikes were interfering with traffic, though there was a Chevy Volt test drive expo taking place near the unauthorized bikes.
Weâve put in an email to SXSW Eco to let them know that bicyclists might be breaking the rules, and to find out where bike parking is available at the conference, as that information isnât available on the conference website. Weâll update when we hear back.
UPDATE:
We heard back from Elizabeth Derczo, a media liaison at SXSW Eco. Not surprisingly, they didnât know about UTâs policy of threatening to impound bikes.
âApparently, there is bike parking in a couple of places in the parking garage,â Derczo helpfully pointed out.
âWe would definitely entertain the idea of arranging more temporary bike parking next year,â she said.
Disclosure: KUT Austin, the lead station of StateImpact Texas, is a sponsor of the SXSW Eco conference.