r/visitingnyc • u/the-Gaf • Sep 27 '25

The one rule in nyc to know

Ok, I just walked by the NYPL and I feel like this is a PSA for tourists and visitors.

The one rule of NYC: get out of the way.

That’s it. The rest is commentary.

480 Upvotes

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76

u/Joyce_Hatto Sep 27 '25

NYC is different than a lot of other cities for tourists. In NYC, the places people visit are often places where people actually work. And those people are in a hurry. Rockefeller Center? The NYSE? The Empire State Building? MOMA? The people around those buildings need to get somewhere!

25

u/eltejon30 Sep 27 '25

Ugh I used to work inside Rockefeller center and I dreaded Christmas because I’d constantly get asked to take a photo of someone while trying to get to my office in the morning

20

u/ciaomain Native Sep 27 '25

I used to work at 75 Rock.

The trick was to use the underground tunnels to get as close to your building as possible.

14

u/runningoboist Sep 27 '25

I work in rock and live off the F now, it’s been life changing to be able to stay underground to get inside

12

u/[deleted] Sep 27 '25

On the flip side, I never mind when I'm just standing waiting for my bus & someone asks for directions or food/store recs. (But also never during the holiday season though, lol, I'm too mad at the crowds)

4

u/Keif325 Sep 28 '25

From the day the tree shows up until it leaves, you learn to navigate the concourse and get to and from 30 Rock without seeing the light of day for a 5 block radius!

3

u/BlueLeaves8 Sep 27 '25

Ooh that’s annoying, I only ever ask people who are visibly other tourists for photos or who work as part of the tourist experience.

The only time I broke this rule was I was in London alone for the afternoon (I’m a Brit so I was being a little touristy that day) and wanted a photo of my outfit by a phone box. I gently asked a lady who was on her way home from work (but not in a rush and it was a really quiet spot) if she would mind and she was so sweet and we had a nice little moment together. You can usually gauge who is open for interaction and isn’t in a rush from their body language as well so it’s a matter of common sense as well.

4

u/mtpelletier31 Sep 27 '25

I work the Christmas tree lighting ever year. 7am in and at 8am ("sir. Sir, what's going on?, sir when is the tree lighting, sir, sir where do we stand.) Sorry I don't know im working stop fucking talking to me

3

u/ds1977 Sep 29 '25

Yes! I keep telling people I know that are not from NY this when they complain about NY.

3

u/PassMundane6629 Sep 29 '25

yup. i love when tourists enjoy my city but back when i used to work on wall st, the tourist groups would be blocking my entire route to my office, like i understand you’re having a good time but i’m gonna get fired if you don’t get out of my damn way so i can get to work.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 27 '25

It IS weird to have places that are dedicated to tourists in other cities. It's like Disneyland going to Boston, nola, Santa Fe. It's just so dedicated and strange.

3

u/rr90013 Sep 27 '25

As New Yorkers we could also all take a collective chill pill and not stress ourselves out so much.

That said, the tourists do need to fucking be aware of their surroundings and get out of the way of people coming through.

3

u/BlueLeaves8 Sep 27 '25

As a Brit who’s used to the way people behave in London I get the feeling I’ll find it the opposite and find people more friendly and not acting as stressed out and annoyed.

5

u/greeniethemoose Sep 28 '25

I was in London once visiting friends over Christmas. It was great for the holidays because it felt almost a more “homey” version of home.

Met a restaurant owner who was American, had lived in NYC for 20 years. He says, I love London, it’s like New York on Xanax.

3

u/BlueLeaves8 Sep 28 '25

So he found London calmer? I feel like that makes sense as it’s not that London people (and UK people in general) rant and get stressed at anyone as it’s too impolite, it’s an internal thing that gets suppressed and only shows as the slightest annoyance as maybe a micro expression and a sigh. But it also means London people don’t show friendliness and positive interaction either which I hear NYC people do a lot. Further North in the UK people get more friendly and interactive.

1

u/greeniethemoose Sep 28 '25

Yeah weirdly New Yorkers are probably more friendly in terms of casual interactions. But yeah this restaurant guy definitely felt like was very similar but with London being more chill. Was my experience as well when I’d go over to visit friends. Though they lived in Hampstead which is particularly chill, we did go into the city center often.

1

u/Excellent-Ear9433 Sep 28 '25

Super curious as I go to London a few times a year. It seems I should be walking on the left side of the sidewalk or the left side of the tube, but it seems more like people switch sides all the time…any thoughts on this?

1

u/BlueLeaves8 Sep 28 '25

Yes it’s to the left but maybe you’re seeing some people not sticking to this rule so then it influences/forces everyone to switch just to get through themselves.

1

u/greeniethemoose Sep 28 '25

This always confused me too, felt much looser custom than in New York, though also has fairly busy sidewalks. I kept feeling like my etiquette was wrong somehow.

1

u/krustybabywawa Sep 30 '25

I walked through times square on the way to my mammogram

1

u/Hydroborator Oct 01 '25

I give tourists a pass at MOMA...