The proof is in the pudding—or, in Barton Springs Bike Rental’s case, the pedaling.
When Mark Mitchell, the sole owner, opened the shop on Barton Springs Road in 2009, no other business in Austin was offering bicycle rentals for leisurely rides through Zilker Park or adventurous treks in the city’s greenbelts, he said.
“It turned out to be something Austin needed,” Mitchell said.
He said the business has experienced marked growth since its inception, drawn a slew of competitors and amassed a worldwide clientele in its seven years of operation—a period that has corresponded with a population boom in the city.
