I got back yesterday from a quick trip to New York for work. I got there on Saturday and the entire time I was there, I found myself being annoyed with the amount of people on the streets. I also found myself wondering how I worked there for 7.5 years while living in New Jersey and then Brooklyn. I was talking to a friend in NY about this and she assured me that the city wasn't as crowded back then. I left NY in 2013. Maybe she's right, but the sheer amount of people walking around midtown and taking selfies and videos of themselves (especially around Times Square) during my recent visit was ridiculous. I avoided Times Square like the plague when I used to work around that area, but I had to go through it to get to where I was going during my visit this past weekend and the streets felt downright claustrophobic.
Shortly before I left New York, the city got Citibikes and I remember thinking, This is never going to work. How wrong I was about that! There are so many bikes on the streets there now: Citibikes, e-bikes, personal bikes. whatever. If you didn't have enough problems crossing the streets due to cars, trucks, and busses, now you've got bikers who will mow you down.
Despite my complaints, I always enjoy visiting New York and this trip was no exception. After a heavy rain Saturday night, the weather was great Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and I got to see my boss (who I had not seen in person since before Covid in 2020), other coworkers, and friends I hadn't seen in some time. I doubt I'd ever move back to New York because I can't afford it and because I don't think I could take it, but I'll continue to be a visitor. I just need to avoid Midtown the next time I go!
