How to Walk Politely Down a New York Street

Walking in New York can be fun, as long as you do it politely.

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New Yorkers have the reputation of being very rude. A lot of that stems from how stupidly some people walk down a New York street. You’d be rude, too, if you had to put up with people who push, ram packages into you, nearly take your eye out with an umbrella or are just plain oblivious. With a few simple steps, you can walk politely down a New York street and perhaps even serve as an example for others.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Be aware of your surroundings. Part of being polite on the street is not only forging your own way forward but noting others who are trying to get ahead. Move out of their way if they are walking briskly. Cross the street if a sidewalk appears too packed. Make beelines around those vendors that sell roasted nuts.

Step2

Pick a pace. It’s easy to get into a New York groove if you pick a steady pace and keep it. This way you’ll be able to gauge in advance who is going to pass you and who you need to move around.

Step3

Make yourself as compact as possible. This means keeping packages tight against your body, holding your dog close when in a crowd and not flailing your arms like a madman.

Step4

Use your voice. If you see a collision with someone is inevitable, or you need extra space to maneuver, try those magic words: “Excuse me, please.”

Tips & Warnings

Take extra care in the rain. Umbrellas are big and slimy and can easily hit someone in the head. Hold the umbrella extra high if encountering others and watch you don’t swing it into someone’s kneecap behind you when it’s folded up.
Apologize immediately if you do happen to bowl someone over. Heck, even offer to help them up.
Help someone who needs help. This could include the proverbial old lady crossing the street, the man who needs a hand with the door or the dude pushing 700 tons of band equipment down Broadway.
Beware of things on the sidewalks that shouldn’t be there but often are, like bicycle riders, broken glass or taxi cabs.
Don’t come to a dead stop in the middle of a sidewalk for any reason, even if your contact lens pops out. Move to the side and then look for it. Better yet, move to the side and just give up on it. You really wouldn’t want to put something that fell on a New York City street back in your eyeball.
Don’t try to predict someone else’s move. Predicting the unknown only leads to disaster, or at least collision.
Don't bowl people over.