Tooting Our Horn

Ridiculous report names Austin the best city to live without a car

Is Austin really a place where you can be car-free and happy?

Courtesy of car2go

If you’ve ever tried to get around Austin without a car, you’ll probably need to stifle a hearty laugh about the findings of a new report on transportation. The report anoints Austin as the top car-free city in the U.S.

Yep, you read that correctly. Austin — where we scream constantly about jammed traffic on I-35 and MoPac — is the No. 1 city for leading “full and engaged lives without owning a car,” the report’s authors say.

The report, written by the nonprofit U.S. PIRG Education Fund and the Frontier Group think tank, ranks 70 major U.S. cities based on the number of transportation innovations available to residents, such as car-sharing, ride-sharing, bike-sharing and taxi-ordering services. Austin emerged as the only city to offer all 11 tech-oriented transportation options evaluated by the researchers.

The report hails Austin as a “pioneer of tech-enabled transportation,” citing breakthrough initiatives such as the car2go car-sharing service, the Austin B-cycle bike-sharing program and the RideScout transportation-finding app.

Reacting to the report, city council member Greg Casar told USA Today, “People want all different sorts of transportation options. We need to give them all the opportunities and options to get around however they want to.”

Austin topped the ranking, followed by San Francisco and Washington, D.C., with Boston, Los Angeles and New York tying for fourth place.

Not surprisingly, New York’s Village Voice alternative weekly scoffed at Austin’s placement above the Big Apple.

“Come on. New York must be an easier place to live without a car than Austin, right?” the Village Voice groaned. “And worse, New Yorkers know that few things are more insulting than being considered equally innovative as ... Boston and L.A.”

The indignant Village Voice reached out to U.S. PIRG for an explanation.

“It certainly isn’t the case that this is ranking how easy it is to get around without a car — if it was, Austin would be nowhere near New York City,” U.S. PIRG’s transportation director, Phineas Baxandall, told the publication. “It’s about the importance of these tools in making it easier for people to not own a car.”

But if these tools were making it so easy to not own a car in Austin, why are there so many cars on I-35 and MoPac? Perhaps we can turn to Baxandall for the answer. “In Austin, these tools are needed,” he said, “because [public transit] systems are woefully insufficient.”

Few people in Austin would argue with that, particularly given the region’s lack of a full-fledged rail system and the region’s less-than-perfect bus system. But Baxandall does express hope for Austin and its alternative-transportation-friendly counterparts.

“The cities in this report should be proud of helping to bring new transportation choices,” he said in a news release. “These new tech-enabled options will play a big role in defining what our cities look like in the years to come.”

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Wet Hot Austin Summer

Dip a toe into these Austin pools with passes, snacks, and summer events

Photo by Andrea Calo

Austinites don't need to stay at a hotel to be invited to the pool. (Pictured: The Carpenter Hotel)

Memorial Day is almost here, which means so are the days of sitting in a lounge chair and sweating while looking unreasonably fabulous. Whether it's to beat the summer heat or to show off a new swimsuit, Austinites may have more options than they think to take a swim at the many pools around town. Even if you haven't committed to an overnight stay, most hotels offer day passes, and some even offer other deals or poolside programming.

One great way to find passes not just to pools around town, but also to spas and other hotel amenities, is to browse ResortPass. (Not sponsored, just cool.) There are nearly 50 Austin options on the site right now.

But we wanted to let you know what's going on beyond the pass — who will set you up for a great meal, who lets you drink out of a coconut, and whose views (or lack thereof) provide the best ambiance for your day off. Some of our choices aren't even on the platform.

Go grab your sandals, and save us a towel.

Greater Austin YMCA
Let's start with the less glamorous before we break out the poolside fashion. The YMCA is a family staple for a reason, and if your goal is just to get in the water regularly throughout the summer, especially with kids, it's a great place to start. There are "interactive hours" at the outdoor pools (more fun than swimming laps) at the East Communities (open now), Hays Communities (open now), Northwest Family (opens Saturday, May 24), Southwest Family (Saturday, May 17), and Springs Family YMCAs (Saturday, May 17). The Southwest Family and Springs Family locations will have some limited hours and special events in the coming weeks before opening in full.

The Y is semi-affordable; It would probably be cheaper to visit a hotel pool once or twice, but a Y membership includes a month of access, guest passes, and much more, and may replace your gym membership for the summer. Guests can also get to know the YMCA pools for free on May 31 during the city-wide Splash Day pool party. $75 per month, with age and household discounts. austinymca.org

Arriba Abajo at the Thompson Austin
After this article was first published, this rooftop bar and pool survived a rebrand. Wax Myrtle's became Arriba Abajo, a modern Mexican restaurant with tropical vacation vibes. Wax Myrtle's was a big party spot; Arriba Abajo is more luxe and buttoned up, with a chic look and a new six-seat mezcal bar. Day passes at The Thompson are split up into shifts, with one pass for the height of the day and another for when things start to cool down around sunset. Starting at $75 for adults and $40 for children from noon to 4 pm; $30 for adults and $10 for children from 5-9 pm. arribaabajoatx.com

Austin Motel
Perhaps one of the best known pools in Austin for its retro vibes, fun events, and accessibility to on-foot wanderers is the Austin Motel. This is a great, less expensive choice that's been elevated with a colorful pool bar, shuffleboard, and cat theme. There are also frequent poolside events at this motel, like a monthly brunch club and Sunday dance workouts with Erica Nix. The pool is offers daily passes every day, even when there's nothing on the calendar. $25 Mondays through Thursdays, $50 Fridays through Sundays. Email reservations@austinmotel.com for season membership rate. austinmotel.com

Carpenter Hotel
If one day at the Carpenter Hotel pool is just not enough, the hotel has a few membership options for weekends, weekdays, and everyday use. Guests can access the secluded pool in the Zilker neighborhood without a reservation, or even book a private pool party in advance. Some perks of a membership (depending on the level) include complimentary parking, one guest pass per visit, and discounts on food, beverage, hotel retail, and stays. Monthly weekday swim passes are $200. Swim Club memberships for the season start at $750. carpenterhotel.com

Hotel Van Zandt
Hotel Van Zandt's stylish rooftop pool is only the start for a summer day off, with its own dedicated bar. Snacks available poolside include a variety of Mediterranean specialties like calamari, hummus, and gyros, plus American favorites like burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. Geraldine's, the main restaurant, is right inside for even better drinks, expanded bites, and live music seven days a week. Guests can even book a hotel room just for the day, from 11 am to 5 pm, including four day passes to the pool ($100). Starting at $20 per day for adults, $15 for kids, free for infants. hotelvanzandt.com

Hotel Viata
Hotel Viata is a bit of a sleeper hotel among Austin boutiques, as it's located a little beyond West Lake Hills. Still, if you want a taste of Italy, the drive to this retreat will be worth it. Not to mention, with the extra room these downtown hotels can't offer, a pool pass includes access to a hot tub, fire pits, and great views of the hills around the city. Cabanas feature fans, misters, and a private mini-fridge. Three Memorial Day Weekend pool parties kick off the season for hotel guests, or non-hotel guests can pick up a $60 ticket ($35 for kids) for the day and a plate of barbecue. Day passes starting at $35 per day for adults, $25 for children, free for infants. Starting at $200 for cabanas. resortpass.com

South Congress Hotel
The South Congress Hotel is right in the middle of where many Austinites want to be on a summer day, if it weren't so dang hot. This rooftop pool solves that problem in style, with daily pool passes from Thursdays to Sundays (seven days a week starting in June), as well as cabana rentals. Café No Sé supplies poolside drinks and snacks, and downstairs, Austin's Best New Restaurant of 2023 Maie Day offers a hearty meal after a day of napping in the sun. Cabanas can be rented for four people and include self-parking, WiFi, fans, and a dedicated server ($150 food and beverage minimum per party). Starting at $40 per day for adults, $15 for children. Starting at $200 for cabanas. southcongresshotel.com

Swim Club at Downright Austin
This new restaurant was made for pool season; outside is half of the pool servicing the Downright Austin hotel, and inside is the remaining half that's been drained and outfitted as a whimsical, Barbie-worthy bar. The drink menu generally follows the conventions of a pool bar, but with upscale twists like chamomile-infused Lalo tequila and a frozen Aperol cocktail. A free Dive Into Summer Kick-Off party on May 22 will feature live music, pool games, vendor pop-ups, and more. After that every Friday and Saturday, DJs will get the party going at 2 pm. Day passes starting at $25. resortpass.com

This article was originally published May 26, 2023. It has been updated May 15, 2025, to ensure up-to-date details and add more options.

Photo by Andrea Calo

Austinites don't need to stay at a hotel to be invited to the pool. (Pictured: The Carpenter Hotel)

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