Viral TikTok Video of NYC Subway Rat's Sisyphean Escalator Climb

Despite the odds, the determined rodent eventually reaches the top, mirroring the city's ongoing battle with a rising number of rodent complaints.

The video of a rat trying to climb up a down escalator in a New York City subway station has gone viral on TikTok, with over 2.2 million views.
The rat's futile climb has been compared to Sisyphus of Greek mythology, who was punished by the gods to roll a boulder uphill for eternity, only to have it roll back down when he reached the top.
The video was posted by a user named JimmyJames 1027 and has sparked a variety of comments and jokes, including comparisons to the 'Rocky' movie and the term 'Ratky Balboa'.
A follow-up video shows the rat eventually reaching the top of the escalator, despite the odds.
Rodent complaints in New York City have increased by 8% since Mayor Eric Adams took office, with 41,748 rat sightings and other vermin-related complaints made through the city’s 311 hotline in 2023.