Commuter Diaries Part 1

As I might have mentioned before, I commute to Manhattan everyday. My office is located on Madison Avenue between 41st and 42nd streets. Most days, I walk from Port Authority and others from my mother’s office. Either way, it’s a decent walk through the city.

Every major city is filled with commuters. These people hustle through the streets desperately trying to get to work without killing anyone in the process. As silly as it may sound, this is a legitimate statement. Millions come through Manhattan every day so walking in a timely manner can be a challenge. After about a month of completing my daily trek, I’ve come up with a few tips for those powering through any city each day.

1. Don’t break stride: Regardless of your direction, just keep moving. If you’re stopped at one corner, try to cross at the other. By not stopping, you are keeping the flow of people traffic moving. This being said, don’t cross a street if there are cars coming or if it’s going to be out of your way.

2. Be alert: You are absolutely allowed to walk with your headphones in or occasionally check your cell phone. However, you should not be focused on the ground, your phone or anything else. Your head should be up, paying attention to the people around you and the traffic on the streets. Make sure you actually look before running across the street and don’t just walk because other people are.

3. Hold on tight: Most commuters have purses, briefcases and laptops with them as they travel through the city. With everyone’s stuff floating around, it’s important to make sure your own belongings are secure. Be certain your wallet is deep within your bag and that all openings are zipped or buttoned.

4. Pay attention to events: The month of December brings tons of special events to the city of Manhattan. Most of these events bring mass amounts of people, especially tourists to the city. A smart commuter knows when these events occur in order to avoid the areas with extra volume on those days.

5. There will be obstacles: On any given day, there will be obstacles in your way that prevent you from getting to your destination. I’ve encountered Disney characters in Times Square and Girl Scout Troops in Penn Station. Always give yourself extra time in case you run into such challenges. And as always, pack your patience.

I’ve been learning the best routes to take on my daily walk to the office. It’s really fun to see all the Christmas decorations up; they bring the city to life! Getting from Point A to Point B can be a challenge but with patience, you can be a successful commuter too!

Tagged: Cities, Commuters, Commuting, Manhattan, Penn Station, Port Authority, Times Square, Tips, Traveling, Walking