Getting Around in NYC
New Yorkers are fast and purposeful walkers! When walking:
Think of the sidewalk as a road, and focus on not blocking traffic.
With a group? Don’t walk side-by-side.
Don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk to check directions or look around… “pull over” to the side of a building instead so you are out of the way. This includes on the corner!
When you pull over, make sure you are not blocking an entrance or exit to a building.
Jaywalking is legal as of late 2024. Pay attention.
Escalators
Standers on the right, walkers on the left. Keep your group all in a line, not side by side.
City Bikes
If you aren’t from a big city with aggressive traffic, and you don’t routinely ride a bike in that kind of environment, just skip it. Unless you’re renting it for a leisurely ride around Central Park. It isn’t worth the risk.
Bus life
Buses are great for going east/west. Not so much for north/south, as they can go express for 30 blocks! It is easy to get lost.
Cabs
Holding up your arm like in the movies and the cab isn’t stopping? The light on top is probably off, which means they are either off duty or already have a passenger. Look for one with the light on, and wave at that one.
Don’t pause (and block traffic) to lean in and say “can you take me to xyz?” They legally have to take you wherever you want to go. Get in, shut the door, then tell them your destination.
Cab drivers take the easy way, not the fastest or cheapest way. You are allowed to use a map on your phone and request a specific route.
Yellow cabs are generally cheaper than Uber or Lyft during surge times.
Subway
Why buy and refill metro cards over and over? You can tap to pay your subway fare, but you need to download the app OMNY and connect your phone’s wallet. Note: Every person in your party has to have their own, as you can’t use the same one multiple times in a row.
If the subway speaker says it is Brooklyn Bound, that means you are headed south. Queens Bound or Manhattan Bound are typically headed north.
Navigating
Building numbers are odd on the north side of the street, even on the south side of the street.
SoHo is “south of Houston” (which by the way is pronounced How-ston, not Hyoo-ston). NoHo is “north of Houston”. Tribeca is the “Triangle Below Canal (st)”. Dumbo is “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”
Bonus Tips
For show tickets, download the app “Today Tix”. This is for last minute tickets to popular shows, same day. No lottery, no waiting in line at the TKTS booth.
If you want unique shopping, explore the side streets of SoHo, East Village, West Village, or Williamsburg rather than visiting a chain that you could shop at in your home area.