Some would say December is the most wonderful time of the year in New York City. Fifth Avenue’s storefronts are sparkling. The tree at Rockefeller Center is glowing. The air is crisp. The aroma of hot cocoa and roasted nuts temporarily overpowers the stench of rotting trash.
But for New Yorkers who must traverse these tourist-filled streets to get to work or the grocery store or a dinner reservation, it’s not so wonderful.
As Fran Lebowitz told Martin Scorsese in the Netflix docuseries “Pretend It’s a City”: “ I walk everywhere. So, when I’m walking, I’m not, like, strolling. I’m not exercising. I’m getting somewhere, and of course, because it’s New York, I’m late! So, one of the things I don’t have time for is strollers!”
Gothamist consulted with a walking enthusiast, an etiquette expert and our colleagues who regularly navigate New York City streets about how to keep things moving while traveling on foot in the Big Apple this holiday season. Here’s what they had to say:
Treat New York City sidewalks like a highway
While city sidewalks aren’t as heavily regulated as multilane freeways, several practiced pedestrians told Gothamist that some of the same general rules should apply. Those include:
- Keep to the right, pass on the left
- Don’t weave
- Don’t cross five lanes of walkers at once
- Don’t stop in the middle of the flow of traffic
- Don’t walk backwards
“Imagine your body is a car, and do with it what you’d do on a road,” said Tara Sonin, director of audience development at New York Public Radio and a native New Yorker. “You wouldn’t drive in a cluster with other cars, you wouldn’t drive too slowly, and if you were clearly lost, you’d put on your hazards and pull over until you figured out what to do.”
Pay attention to your surroundings
Many walkers consulted for this story emphasized the importance of situational awareness. They advised fellow pedestrians to be cognizant of how much space they’re taking up on the sidewalk. Holding hands with your five best friends on your way to brunch in the Village is not the move. Neither is stopping in front of the stairs on a crowded subway platform.
If you’re lost and need to check for directions, they recommended, consider stepping under the awning of a business before you hunch over your phone.
Etiquette expert Nick Leighton said pedestrians should be particularly careful when moving through crowds on rainy days.
“ I don’t think there’s a time when we need golf umbrellas in New York City,” he said.
He also dissuaded walkers from making FaceTime calls, especially on a narrow and crowded path like the High Line.
“Not a great idea, because it’s not super safe,” he said. “ When you’re on FaceTime chatting with somebody, you’re loud, we can hear that person, and you’re probably walking slower than you normally would. So you’re doing three things which are not great.”
Don’t pay too much attention
Walking through New York City is a wonderful way to take in the sights of a bustling metropolis. You can admire the architecture, window shop and watch furry rats as they scour for pizza crusts. There’s even a YouTube channel, the Walking Commuter, which takes tens of thousands of subscribers on video-taped walks around the city.
But one proper pedestrian warned fellow walkers not to get distracted.
“Gawking and walking do not go together,” said Mike Barry, vice president of audience development and engagement for New York Public Radio. “If you want to gawk (up, down, at others, at the trash can fire across the street), stop and move out of the traffic flow.”
Assess the costs and benefits of any given path
While all these walking tips are well and good, that doesn’t mean every pedestrian in New York City will magically follow them. In the meantime, New Yorkers and tourists alike must make tough decisions as they maneuver through the throngs of walkers — not to mention the bikes and scooters that sometimes ride on the sidewalk.
Some walkers told Gothamist they occasionally duck into the bike lane or even walk in the street to get around the crowds. Others said they stay away from heavily trafficked areas altogether, especially during peak tourist season.
The City Council voted to legalize jaywalking earlier this year, so that’s technically a lawful option now. But Gothamist surely isn’t going to tell you to dart into oncoming traffic or do anything else unsafe just to get away from an annoying group posing for selfies in the middle of the sidewalk.
Try to cut people some slack
Yes, there will inevitably be lots of people taking photos or staring at maps or ambling at a glacial place on city sidewalks this holiday season. The crowds will test New Yorkers’ patience. But Leighton, the etiquette expert, advised fast walkers to remember that people are rarely rude on purpose.
“ Let’s give everybody a little grace and assume the best,” he said.
Leighton said it’s also important to remember that tourists, while sometimes an obstacle for those in a rush, are essential to this city.
“Anytime I’m frustrated with a tourist, my internal monologue is always: ‘Thank you for your tax dollars. Thank you for supporting the New York City economy. Thank you for coming. I know this is not a cheap vacation,’” he said. “‘So, thank you. But, like, could you also just move out of the way?’”
By Samantha Max from Gothamist