A new kind of person has just arrived: an Austin man who is angry that he has access to free parking everywhere. In a video that was reposted to Twitter this week from TikTok and went viral because people are addicted to getting angry, an Austin resident posted a review of his car-centric weekend in a “city built for the automobiles”.
While the claim is true (you won’t find hagiography of I-35, MoPac, or even the city of Austin here), many have pointed out that the video makes some ridiculous claims.
“My neighborhood is not safe for running or biking,” says the voiceover, showing a portion of I-35 near Cherrywood, a neighborhood that is relatively safe for running and biking. It’s just that it only shows I-35, and therefore you have to drive to the gym to work out, instead of, say, walking 100 feet and biking or running there.
Throughout the video, he parks his car in various garages (for free) and introduces this without comment, which is unnerving. Most people in Austin complain that there is nowhere to park or that street parking in Rainey, for example, can cost upwards of $2 an hour, plus fees, through the Park ATX app.
A lot of people just wanted to dunk from the free throw line.
“Maybe just move to a different neighborhood in Austin and start drinking Pilsner like a grown up,” wrote user @willystaley, referring to the cartel’s claim that he spent $22 on two IPAs.
Some agreed with the statement that Austin relies too heavily on car transportation, but correctly pointed out that the person in the video is too inefficient to exist in the world.
Many pointed out that this video is satire: he believes in sustainability, but drives home to get reusable bags and buys water for his plants, to which we just shrug. There is no turning the middle in satire. Maybe be more fun next time?
Telsa Road exit sign from Toll-130 accessing the new Tesla Giga Texas manufacturing plant on April 6, 2022 in Austin, Texas. – Tesla’s unveiling this week of a new car factory in Austin has highlighted the growing affinity of American businesses for Texas compared to California and other states seen as less business-friendly. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty ImagesYou can see the full video here: