Travel Guides International Travel Etiquette
Margherita Marullo
Ahhh, good ole New York City. Endless streams of yellow cabs. Skyscrapers. The buzzing, electric energy of Times Square, Grand Central Station, the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, delicious pizza, and so much more. Its reputation is global. Just merely mentioning the name New York to anyone who doesn’t live there invokes excitement, smiles larger-than-life, and endearing respect.
If you have plans of traveling to New York City, there are some things that you should know before you go. Firstly, there are 8.5+ million people living in The Big Apple as of 2022. That’s a whole lot of New Yorkers. And, according to the New York Post, the amount of tourists expected to travel to NYC in 2022 is estimated to be just as high, if not more once New Year’s Eve arrives. So, with a combined total of tens of millions of people wandering around New York City, you can imagine that the sidewalks are as congested as the roads themselves.
That being said, if you find yourself walking down a busy NYC sidewalk amongst the fast-paced, energizing vibe of bustling New Yorkers heading to work, school, or out for some leisure activities, do yourself and them a favor, keep a firm, walking stride and don’t stop, because standing in the middle of a New York City sidewalk while millions upon millions of people jet past you is a major no-no, as The Huffington Post mentions, and is frowned upon.
Walk, don’t run, and most certainly, don’t stop
blvdone/Shutterstock
Think of the sidewalks of New York City as endless roadways congested with vehicles, only filled with pedestrians, pets, vending carts, and street performers that are on a mission to get where they’re going and do what they have to do. If you’re visiting NYC for the first time, and suddenly stop walking amongst a stream of people rushing past you to get to their destination, you’ll most assuredly give yourself away as a tourist, and one that is not aware of the etiquette New Yorkers are groomed in when it comes to moving with the pace of the city.
In order to go with the flow — so to speak — blend in, and not bring unwanted attention to yourself that might initiate some hard stares and rolling eyes towards you, keep walking. You can always look at that map, or text your friend inside one of The Big Apple’s many coffee shops while sipping a hot cup of coffee, and admiring the buzz of the city from a window seat. You may just find yourself rubbing elbows with a celebrity or two, as reported by the New York Daily News, and you’ll also be seen as someone who gets it when it comes to why New York City is the city that never sleeps.
