Please read this if you are going to visit New York City and have never lived there. New Yorkers take the subway, walk fast, and don't stop in the middle of a busy place. It's important that when you go to NYC you learn the cultural norms.
When I moved to NYC I was able to learn the cultural norms early on. When I traveled through the touristy places like Times Square, I wished that the tourists understood the cultural norms. With such a fast-paced environment, subway delays, and the distance between places, there isn't a lot of time to spare. I want to recommend some tips on how to act more like a New Yorker.
The Subway:
Don't take a cab unless you're all by yourself at nighttime or there isn't a subway station nearby. LEARN HOW TO TAKE THE SUBWAY (it's so much cheaper)! The subway system can seem like a difficult thing to understand but once you get the hang of it, it makes a lot of sense. You will never fully memorize the system, not even longtime residents know every route.
Let's go over the basics. If you're going to be there for longer than a day, get a subway card. If you have cash, go to the window and if you have a card, use the machine. Not every station goes where you need to go, so put the address of where you want to go into Google maps. Google will tell you which stations will go where you need to go. Next, make sure you're going in the right direction before you swipe your card (on a local train/one-way station). Before you swipe your card, just ask the person in the ticket station that it's whatever number train you're looking for and ask which direction (uptown or downtown).
Your phone will tell you either uptown or downtown and a number/letter, this will match the train number/letter and direction (said on the sign above the train and on the train itself). There will be signs in the stations pointing where you need to go. Uptown is going up and downtown is going down (obvious enough).
If it's a train station with multiple directions and trains, the signs will guide you. Also, the local train stops at all the stations on that route, while express does not. Just make sure that the train has the same direction and number from Google Maps.
Walking Pace and Stopping:
New Yorkers don't typically walk a slow pace. If you're a tourist and don't want to walk at a faster pace, move over to the side of the sidewalk. If you need to stop and take photos move out of people's way. People are trying to get to their jobs and places in a hurry, don't stand in the way.
Why New Yorkers May Seem Grumpy:
I promise they are typically nice people. Most likely you won't see a huge amount of smiling faces or people looking you in the face, but that's not because people are being rude. One thing you may notice is that there are weird people in NYC, like people dressed weirdly or doing weird things. New Yorkers have become used to this! You never know if someone is crazy so just keep to yourself and don't look people in the eyes.
When you're walking down the street, standing in the subway station, or riding the subway there is no need to engage with people asking for money or trying to talk to you. You don't need to say sorry or feel bad if you're uncomfortable, walk away.
Lots of people perform on the subways and in the stations, that is completely normal. Let them do what they do and you do what you do. Just keep to yourself.
I promise there are a lot of nice New Yorkers! You just have to talk to them in the right setting (not on the subway). If you need directions don't be afraid to ask people.
Walking Across the Street
One thing I was so set on when I moved to NYC, was not jaywalking. If you haven't noticed or learned before, residents jaywalk. They are not going to wait for the walking sign to come on, they may not even walk on the crosswalk. I promise it's going to be okay, everyone there does it. I even saw a lot of police officers do this, no joke. If you're going to do this, just make sure that you wait until you have enough time before the next car comes. Please stay safe, don't run into oncoming traffic.
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