By S. Herlihy
New York City is one the world's most visited destinations. Each year, millions of people come to explore the city's many famous attractions. They walk down the pedestrian-clogged streets of Times Square, eat in renowned restaurants, visit the many world-class museums and shop in the boutiques of high-fashion designers. New York City, however, also has a reputation of being unsafe at times. However, with a few common-sense precautions, traveling around the city can be as safe as traveling anywhere else.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Things You'll Need:
- Street map
Transit map
- Street map
- Transit map
Step 1
Take buses. The New York City bus system is very extensive. Buses travel down most major avenues and across all five boroughs. Buses are a very safe way to travel, as buses are confined spaces with drivers on duty to help maintain order. Bus drivers are legally authorized to refuse service to disruptive passengers and will the police in case of an emergency. If traveling late at night, bus drivers must stop at any block requested rather than just at designated bus stops.
Step 2
Take taxis. Taxis are plentiful in most parts of Manhattan. A taxi driver can call for help should anything occur during the ride. A taxi can driver can even wait to see that you are safely inside a building before departing. To flag down a taxi, stand on a street and hold up your arm to get the driver's attention.
Step 3
Have a good map to reduce the risk of getting lost. A safe traveler should always know where he is going. Midtown Manhattan is generally quite easy to navigate. Numbered streets run consecutively from east to west, and numbered avenues run north to south. Avenues start at Tenth Avenue and are numbered consecutively until Fifth Avenue. After Fifth Avenue come Madison, Park and Lexington Avenues, and then are numbered again. Knowing the layout of the most popular areas of New York City will help keep you safe so you won't have to ask strangers for directions.
Step 4
Use the subways wisely. New York City subways are a very quick way to travel. Subways run 24 hours a day and travel across all five boroughs. Subway clerks can call for help if needed, so avoid subway stations where no token clerk is present, particularly at night. Most New York subway trains have eight cars. Board the car with the conductor. Stick to the middle of the platform whenever possible, as the light is best and other passengers can see and hear you. If there is a second level to the subway platform, stay on the top level until your train arrives.
Step 5
Leave valuables at home or store them in a hotel safe-deposit box. Unless traveling to a truly formal occasion, there is no need to wear costly jewelry. There is also no need to dress up to visit most New York City attractions. Shorts are acceptable attire for most New York City museums. Visitors who are dressed in expensive clothing will attract attention and may become targets to thieves. If shopping for luxury goods, store them as quickly as possible at your hotel rather than tote them around.
About the Author:
S. Herlihy has been a freelance writer since 2001. Her work has appeared in many publications, including "USA Today," "The Women’s Independent Press," "Big Apple Parent" and "ComputorEdge Magazine." Herlihy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the City University of New York.
