Escalator Rat Makes Pizza Rat Look Like a Total Slacker

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Might as well toss out your power-jam playlist now, because we've got the only thing you'll need for gym-speration this New Year's: a stunningly beautiful, 12-second video of a common subway rat determined to descend an upward-moving escalator at Penn Station during the Monday morning rush hour.

Escalator Rat, an instant city legend, was spotted by local "freelance creative director" Sam Mazur, who insists he is not Zardulu. (Zardulu being the elusive bearded lady who allegedly puppeteered the Pizza Rat video, the Selfie Rat video and other iconic NYC moments we wanted so badly to believe were real.)

Assuming Mazur is telling the truth, here's what he saw at Penn's 7th Avenue exit early today, Monday, as relayed to Gothamist: "The rat caused a bit of commotion. But most people were more amused by it than anything. It's not like New Yorkers haven't seen a rat before. Still, I'm glad I took the stairs."

One burning question lingers, of course. What was the fate of escalator rat, beyond these 12 riveting seconds of futile stair hopping?

We've reached out to the videographer to find out. Stay tuned.