Chapter 1
The art of subway survival
Chapter 2
Delis, bodegas, and bagel etiquette
Chapter 3
Sidewalk speedways and street signs
Chapter 4
Southern manners meet city grit
YOUR GOAL
Master of How to be a New Yorker — wrong answers only
Ch 3 · Sidewalk speedways and street signs
sonia New York Jaywalking
We don't wait on the curb anymore—oh no! / Cross the street anywhere that you want—yeah, go!
Fun Fact
Grid plan: The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 established Manhattan's famous rectangular street grid, which made navigation simple but eliminated most natural parks.
Glossary
jaywalking (noun)
The act of crossing a street at a point other than a designated crosswalk or against a traffic signal. In 2024, New York City officially decriminalized the practice, codifying a long-held reality of pedestrian navigation.
The act of crossing a street at a point other than a designated crosswalk or against a traffic signal. In 2024, New York City officially decriminalized the practice, codifying a long-held reality of pedestrian navigation.
Quiz
What does the flashing red hand signal actually mean to a seasoned New York pedestrian?
Quiz
In Manhattan's street grid, designed in 1811, which direction do 'Avenues' generally run?
Quiz
When using an escalator in a New York transit hub, where should you stand if you are not walking?