Need a ride?

Lyft peddling free Cinco de Mayo rides to tipsy Texans with new program

Get home safely on May 5 with a free ride from Lyft.

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We’ve all been there. Despite our plans to take it easy, it can be difficult to resist the lure of one more drink. Now thanks to a new pilot program, a safe ride home is as close as your phone.

Sober Rides TX, an initiative from popular ride-hailing app Lyft with support from the Texas Municipal Police Association, launches on May 5. Over Cinco de Mayo, the company will be offering $50,000 in free rides to help put a stop to impaired driving.

Those planning to go out on May 5 can redeem a $10 credit to their Lyft account by entering their phone number at the link. Although that is not enough to cover the cost of all rides, it is a substantial discount, especially when applied to a Lyft Line ride where riders agree to carpool for a reduced cost.

Some restrictions do apply to the code. The promotion is only valid between 12:01 am on May 5 to 3 am on May 6. However, the code can be used for any pickup and drop-off location within the state’s borders.

The choice of Texas for the pilot is no accident; drunk driving is particularly rampant in the state. “Recent data shows that Texas led the nation in traffic fatalities, with alcohol impaired drivers contributing to 44 percent of these deaths,” said TMPA deputy director of government affairs Mitch Landry in a release.

The need for safe rides is especially prevalent in the Capital City. According to a 2017 24/7 Wall St. study using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Austin-Round Rock area is statistically the hardest partying city in Texas and among the heaviest drinking municipalities nationwide.

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merry xmas atx!

Austin makes merry as one of the best cities to celebrate Christmas

City of Austin Government - Facebook

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Austinites are right at home when it comes to experiencing the best Christmas in Texas this year. The very merry state capital has jumped into the No. 23 spot on WalletHub's annual list of the best cities for celebrating Christmas in 2024.

The yearly report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities across five key dimensions: Traditions and fun, observance, generosity, shopping opportunities, plus travel and meal costs.

Austin previously ranked as the No. 31 best U.S. city for celebrating Christmas in WalletHub's 2023 report.

Here's how Austin performed in the five main categories in the study:

No. 19 – Traditions and fun rank
No. 20 – Shopping rank
No. 36 – Costs rank
No. 42 – Generosity rank
No. 72 – Observance rank

Austin gets to cheer itself on as the highest-ranked Texas city in 2024 thanks to its heap of holiday happenings, including numerous delightful light displays throughout town. From local restaurants and bars putting their all into creating festive feasts to-go and delightful cocktail experiences, to locals supporting small businesses at holiday markets, there is plenty to get Austinites in the holiday spirit this year.

Smaller Central Texas towns like Smithville have also transformed into fun, festive escapes for city dwellers this time of year.

Austin households also have bigger holiday budgets in 2024 than they did the year before. According to a separate WalletHub study, the average Austin household is expected to spend about $1,905 on Christmas gifts this year, versus $1,877 in 2023.

"With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the best cities have a large number of people celebrating, plenty of places for Christians to worship, populations who give generously to charity, and plenty of fun activities to enjoy with family and friends."

In a separate report by home services provider Thumbtack, Austin was crowned the No. 1 most festive U.S. city for the third year in a row.

Elsewhere in Texas, other festive cities that earned spots in the top 50 include San Antonio (No. 30), Dallas (No. 31), and Houston (No. 41).

The top 10 best places to experience Christmas in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 2 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Orlando, Florida
No. 6 – San Francisco, California
No. 7 – St. Louis, Missouri
No. 8 – Miami, Florida
No. 9 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 10 – New York, New York

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