2 ms·

I spent 8 months on a death march of a project that colored Austin for me but that aside, infrastructurally, Austin sucked getting around and didn't have a ton

I spent 8 months on a death march of a project that colored Austin for me but that aside, infrastructurally, Austin sucked getting around and didn't have a ton to offer that didn't revolve around UT (6th primarily) or Rainey. The public transit (what is that streetcar thing even?) is horribly underdeveloped and heavily car dependent. Downtown is "bridge and tunnel"-y. Maybe if I had ventured out to the burbs more, I would have found more? But it was pretty underwhelming.

throwawaymaths 4y ago
I mean honestly infrasructurally the bay area sucks too, unless you happen to live in certain parts of the city or on the Caltrain (in which case transit is good but eye wateringly expensive). Try living in Alameda, Burlingame, San Leandro, etc. Even so. Like nobody goes from the marina to the mission, or sunset to the mission. People never go to east bay. As for meaningful entertainment I actually think Austin has about as much to offer as sf, but that could just be due to the circles I frequent. Legit the thing I miss is altitude hiking (go climb a huge hill like mt. Tam, or string together four parks around my house and do a six km loop, mostly in parks). Barton creek is amazing though, and it's fantastic that you can forget you're inside a city for about 20km
- halfmatthalfcat 4y ago
  Oh absolutely. I recently had to consider moving to the Bay as well and it was so incredibly underwhelming compared to the cost of living. This was looking at East Bay too. Impossible to get around, less-than-ideal access to entertainment. It is nice being close to nature but that's about it. Tech and nature. Not worth the CoL imo. I say this as someone who is from Chicago and lived in NYC for a long time, so I'm completely biased.
michaelbrave 4y ago
I lived there for a while twice, not much in the burbs either, but there was a lot to like as far as music, bars and interesting food. But yeah, getting around wasn't convenient, all of texas is like that, first time I visited I was like "why are there so many toll roads?" plus the frontage roads feel like a carryover from when the population was 1/5 what it is now, the whole city feels like a failure of city planning, but especially the roads.
outside1234 4y ago
This was my take (multiple trips there for business). Fake music quarter. Too many cars. Felt like a giant cowtown. Flat. Expensive! The fact that they are considering a 20 lane highway through town definitely doesn't give you hope that they get it. https://slate.com/business/2021/10/austin-texas-interstate-35-expansion-20-lanes.html https://slate.com/business/2021/10/austin-texas-interstate-3...
- jasondigitized 4y ago
  Flat? You realize the west side of Austin is where the Hill Country starts right?
  - whycombagator 4y ago
    Right, you can be a few miles (5-15) west of Austin and be 500-1000ft above sea level. Sure it’s not Denver dramatic, but flat just goes to show the GP didn’t experience much of Austin at all
yuppie_scum 4y ago
Uber’s really cheap there.

throwawaymaths 4y ago

I mean honestly infrasructurally the bay area sucks too, unless you happen to live in certain parts of the city or on the Caltrain (in which case transit is good but eye wateringly expensive). Try living in Alameda, Burlingame, San Leandro, etc. Even so. Like nobody goes from the marina to the mission, or sunset to the mission. People never go to east bay. As for meaningful entertainment I actually think Austin has about as much to offer as sf, but that could just be due to the circles I frequent. Legit the thing I miss is altitude hiking (go climb a huge hill like mt. Tam, or string together four parks around my house and do a six km loop, mostly in parks). Barton creek is amazing though, and it's fantastic that you can forget you're inside a city for about 20km

halfmatthalfcat 4y ago
Oh absolutely. I recently had to consider moving to the Bay as well and it was so incredibly underwhelming compared to the cost of living. This was looking at East Bay too. Impossible to get around, less-than-ideal access to entertainment. It is nice being close to nature but that's about it. Tech and nature. Not worth the CoL imo. I say this as someone who is from Chicago and lived in NYC for a long time, so I'm completely biased.

michaelbrave 4y ago

I lived there for a while twice, not much in the burbs either, but there was a lot to like as far as music, bars and interesting food. But yeah, getting around wasn't convenient, all of texas is like that, first time I visited I was like "why are there so many toll roads?" plus the frontage roads feel like a carryover from when the population was 1/5 what it is now, the whole city feels like a failure of city planning, but especially the roads.

outside1234 4y ago

This was my take (multiple trips there for business). Fake music quarter. Too many cars. Felt like a giant cowtown. Flat. Expensive! The fact that they are considering a 20 lane highway through town definitely doesn't give you hope that they get it. https://slate.com/business/2021/10/austin-texas-interstate-35-expansion-20-lanes.html https://slate.com/business/2021/10/austin-texas-interstate-3...

jasondigitized 4y ago
Flat? You realize the west side of Austin is where the Hill Country starts right?
- whycombagator 4y ago
  Right, you can be a few miles (5-15) west of Austin and be 500-1000ft above sea level. Sure it’s not Denver dramatic, but flat just goes to show the GP didn’t experience much of Austin at all

yuppie_scum 4y ago

Uber’s really cheap there.