The Polo Player
Johnny Stovall has been playing bike polo and bike commuting in Austin for several years. Hover over the pictures to read about Johnny.
Johnny Stovall has been playing bike polo and bike commuting in Austin for several years. Hover over the pictures to read about Johnny.
Johnny Stovall has been a member of the Austin Bike Polo Social Club for several years. He participated in the 2016 Halloween tournament dressed as Columbia from Rocky Horror Picture Show. He said as a driver, he wasn't aware of the three-foot rule that is supposed to be maintained between cars and cyclists, and that he didn't learn about it until he started bike commuting. Bartholomew District Park, October 29, 2016.
The Austin Bike Polo Social Club is known for their fierce players and even fiercer parties. Most players are cycling enthusiasts who bike commute and work as pedicab drivers or bike couriers. Players from around the country descended upon Austin for the ATXBPSC Halloween tournament. Bartholomew District Park, October 29, 2016.
While the ATXBPSC is vibrant and has several active members, they have struggled in comparison to clubs in other cities to garner Austin official's support for a permanent court to play on. They feel that few city officials promote bike culture in Austin and even fewer see bike-commuting as a viable alternative to driving. Bartholomew District Park, October 29, 2016.
Johnny thinks that it's not bike infrastructure but mentalities towards cyclists that need to change in Austin. He feels that bike lanes and further separation of bikes from the road reinforces drivers' lack of awareness about cyclists and makes it harder when cyclists do need to share the road with cars. ATXBPSC Halloween Tournament, October 29, 2016.