Time for the rules. When the subway arrives, stand to the side of (not in front of) the door to let passengers off the train first. Once everyone gets off, then you can board. If the doors are closing right when you get there, don’t panic—and please don’t hold them open. There’s likely another train right behind it. If there are lots of people packed into one car, move to the center to make room for riders filing in behind you. And if you get stuck standing right in front of the door, you’ll need to exit at the next stop to let folks out (just stand to the right or left, and then you can hop back on).
Now for the seating etiquette: They are reserved for butts, not for bags—so don’t hog a spot with your purse. Offer your seat if you see someone who needs it more. If you’re standing and wearing a backpack like a tall schoolchild on a crowded train, take it off and hold it in your hands or place it by your feet so you don’t whack the people behind you. When you’ve finally arrived at your destination and are climbing up the stairs back to life above ground, real New Yorkers will always offer to help carry strollers or heavy suitcases—we’re all in this together.
That subway car is empty for a reason
“Never get on an empty subway car,” says Global Digital Director Arati Menon, “because there’s probably a good reason for it.” Perhaps it’s summer, and the air conditioning broke, or a big spill has sent a carton of fragrant fish soup trickling down the length of the car. Take the cue and go where the other people are, even if it means you don’t get a seat—there’s safety in numbers.
Jaywalking is a precise art
One of the first things you might notice when visiting New York City is that we don’t wait for the crosswalk signal to cross. I mean, really, who has time for that? In fact, jaywalking is so commonplace that it’s now officially legal in New York City—so there’s no need to worry about getting a ticket. However, this does not mean you should blindly follow the person in front of you and cross the street with your phone directions in front of your face. “Locals will mentally time the gap between traffic to a millisecond and it may no longer be safe for you to cross once it’s your turn,” explains our associate editor Hannah Towey, “Before taking the leap, look in the direction that traffic is coming from—both ways if you’re not sure—and then look again for any e-bikes in the bike lane—they are more likely to hit you than a car.”
The sidewalk has similar rules to traffic
Walking is a form of commuting for New Yorkers. Until she moved to Ridgewood earlier this year, Global Features Editor Erin Florio frequently walked to work from Carroll Gardens. “You will see so much city life doing so,” she says. It’s ok to go slow as a tourist and take in the sights, but if you’re going to move glacially, do so with mindfulness. Think of the sidewalk as a two-lane highway. Keep right, first of all. Two pedestrians across, maximum (more on that in a minute). You’re not wearing horse blinders, so try to keep tabs on whether or not someone is trying to get around you—and let them. The faster walker always has the right of way. Why would you cut someone off only to trap them?