Losing money while traveling is a common issue, and petty crime is a global problem. To avoid this, it is recommended to wear a money belt. New York City is generally safe for tourists, with a medium overall risk and some high-risk areas that tourists may not visit. The crime rate in New York has decreased during the pandemic era but remains historically low compared to previous decades.
New York City is generally safe for travelers, with over 65 million visitors per year. However, crime does occur, and tourists should take necessary precautions to avoid potential dangers. Some areas to avoid include Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Harlem. While crime is rare, anyone perceived as disoriented and with disposable income may be an irresistible target for pickpockets and thieves.
New York’s murder rate is less than 4 per 100k, on par with most suburbs. Crime rates increase and decrease, with the most significant increase during the pandemic. NYC in the 1970s was a bad place for travelers, but now it is considered one of the safest cities to visit. The violent crime rate is 42nd in the nation among cities, but it is still better than places like Fort Worth, TX, Spokane, WA, or Dallas.
As long as travelers use common sense and keep a few tips in mind, they can be fine. The crime rate in New York has dropped dramatically in recent years, and crimes against tourists are rare. However, it is important to keep a close eye on valuables and be aware of the local environment before visiting.
📹 The Reality of NYC’s “Out Of Control” Crime Situation..
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Is it safe to travel to New York on your own?
New York is an ideal destination for solo travelers, offering a plethora of activities such as shopping, concerts, and dining out. The city is easy to navigate and offers numerous attractions, hours of shopping, and dining options. Being a solo traveler in New York doesn’t require compromising on attractions, shopping hours, or dining experiences. New Yorkers are known for their friendly nature, and if you want to meet others, you can choose to stay at a hostel or go on a rooftop bar tour. There’s no need to worry about boredom or loneliness, as New York offers endless possibilities for solo travelers, with budget being the most likely factor in setting the limit on what you can do.
Is it safe to travel to New York City in 2024?
NYC, the US’s safest large city, is home to numerous crime hotspots, requiring a high level of common sense and caution when navigating the city.
Is New York City safe for tourists right now?
New York City is considered one of the safest big cities in the world, with its vigilant police force constantly protecting visitors. However, caution is still necessary to ensure safety. To prepare for your trip, research the city’s hazards and be pragmatic and prepared. The crime rate is relatively low, with most crimes occurring in tourist-heavy areas around Manhattan, such as Harlem and the Bronx.
Most tourists are unlikely to visit areas like Harlem or the Bronx, where crimes are most likely to occur. Understanding the city’s hazards and being prepared is essential for a safe and enjoyable trip.
Is Times Square safe at night?
New York City’s nightlife is notoriously dangerous, especially in areas like Brownsville, Tremont, Mott Haven, Fordham, Hunts Point, Bushwick, and East Harlem. It is advised to avoid Times Square, a tourist hub, as it is more susceptible to pickpocketing and other crimes. To stay safe at night, be cautious, confident, and prepared. Walk with someone by your side, pack lightly, protect your belongings, and walk with confidence. Look like you mean business and be aware of your surroundings. Carry mace/pepper spray, which is legal in New York but must meet specific requirements for ingredients and size.
While New York City may be more dangerous at night, it is still a spectacular city worth the increased risk. Travel smart, be aware of your surroundings, and try to stay close to friends while experiencing NYC at night.
Are tourists back in New York City?
The travel industry has recovered in 2021, with over 62 million visitors in 2023, representing 93% of 2019 levels. The city now expects to surpass pre-pandemic visitor numbers by 2025. However, travelers’ mindsets and behaviors have shifted, with a greater interest in experiences and a desire for unique adventures beyond Manhattan. While the most famous New York City sites remain popular, they are venturing beyond Manhattan for one-of-a-kind adventures and outdoor activities.
Business travel is recovering at a slower pace than leisure, but post-pandemic corporate travelers are looking to make in-person connections and find New York one of the best cities to meet and deepen relationships with clients, customers, and colleagues. New York’s unique history, culture, diversity, grit, and glamour offer a unique opportunity to delight visitors while showing them the “real” city in ways they might never have seen it before.
Are people returning to NYC?
New York City’s tourism has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with hotel demand dropping and business and leisure travel nearly shut down. While some tourists returned in 2021, they are at half of their previous levels. The removal of vaccination mandates and pre-flight COVID tests has gradually lowered barriers to international visitors. The city’s recovery is multifaceted, with new variants reversing or slowing its momentum.
The city is tracking metrics to determine if workers are returning to work, supporting local businesses and the city’s tax base, and if tourists are returning, providing vital lifeblood to the hospitality and culture industries.
How to stay safe in New York as a tourist?
To ensure safety while traveling in New York City, it is essential to be aware of your surroundings, especially in tourist areas. Keep your belongings close and avoid displaying expensive jewelry or gadgets. Beat of NYC recommends holding your phone with both hands when using the subway. When taking a cab or rideshare, check for bikers before opening the door and exit curbside. If you hear yelling, head in the opposite direction and get as far away as possible.
Use reliable transportation options like official taxis, recognized rideshare services, or the subway. Avoid accepting rides from anyone other than rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft or official NYC Yellow Cabs. Stay in well-lit areas and avoid empty subway cars, especially late at night.
Secure your belongings by using securely closed bags, anti-theft backpacks, or cross-body style bags. Additionally, make digital copies of important documents like your passport and ID and store them securely online.
Is New York still a good place to visit?
New York City is a magnificent city with numerous reasons to visit. It offers a wide variety of cuisine, catering to foodies and those who love the world on a plate. From spicy Thai curries to hearty Italian pasta, to aromatic Indian biryani and Moroccan tagine, the city offers a diverse culinary experience. The city is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys a diverse range of cuisine.
Is it safe to walk around NYC by yourself?
Solo travelers should be vigilant about their surroundings and trust their instincts. If they feel uncomfortable, they should remove themselves from the area, especially at night when quieter areas are less crowded.
How to stay safe in NYC as a woman?
To avoid being followed, use populated and well-lit streets and avoid deserted blocks. Instead, head to areas with people or the nearest open store.
Is it safe to go to Times Square at night?
Walking alone at 10 PM, 11, or past midnight is generally safe, especially in popular, well-traveled areas with outdoor dining and drinking establishments and where others are out and about. Even later, it’s even safer.
📹 Inside NYC’s New Crime-Proof Subway…
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As a NEW YORKER I would like to tell ALL tourists that you are 100% GUARANTEED to see or be in the midst of something sketchy(from a scale of mild annoyance to GTFOOTN!) when on or in the subway. Just use your common sense, no eye contact, no engagement with said “sketch” and if you get too uncomfortable get out or off the subway, there’s always another train. Also, sidebar, when walking on the sidewalk, wherever you are stay right, to keep the flow of traffic moving. Ithankew.
I just spent 7 days in Manhattan. During this time I took 17 subway rides. Not once did I feel unsafe. Locals were friendly and helpful. I agree though the biggest threat I felt was from the bicycle riders. My only suggestion not mentioned in the article is for to put nothing in your back pockets. Put your phone and wallet, for example, in your front pocket. I was in Las Vegas recently. Within 2 hours of getting off the plane I was pickpocketed. I had no cash, no ID, no credit cards. Since then I’ve learned the front pocket technique to reduce pickpocketing.
Thanks for a measured, calm article on this issue. I remember NYC in the 70s and 80s and it is nowhere near as bad today as it was back then. A certain other real estate YouTuber has decided to go alarmist and post clickbait articles. You are the voice of reason. I subscribe to you and not the “other” NYC YouTuber.
I really appreciate this article and its honest, measured, in context approach. There is another prominent NYC YouTuber who’s been capitalizing on fear-mongering content over the past few months – and of course his views ($$) are skyrocketing. It’s very disappointing. I miss the real estate content. I live in Toronto and go to NYC pretty frequently. I was there a few weeks ago and I felt just as safe as I always have. Living in a big city, I always encounter the unhoused population, those with mental health issues, etc. I do wish there were more government programs to help these people out of course, but this mix of people is just part of living in a big city.
What I hate about Cash Jordan (and unsubscribed after many years) is that he is really embracing the YouTube dark side using AI generated fake title image, click bait title and fear mongering content with so called “citizen journalism”. It seems really profitable by just inciting fear and anger. I really hope you don’t go to that route. ❤
well done on this article! I hate to call out other youtubers, but some of them, like Cash Jordan, have recently been steering hard into the “NYC is super dangerous and unlivable” narrative. His articles went from interesting takes and stories on apartments in NYC, to adding to fire that is the migrant crisis and danger fear mongering in NY. All of it is super click baity and really directed to an audience that doesn’t live in NYC
I love this article man. I live in SF and we get the same hate. Fact is when crime happens it trends on the news and social media, one person or busines or having a bad day and suddenly its a indicator of the city as a whole. Most people go about their day without being a victim or having been assaulted.
Per shoplifting, they can spin the numbers any way they want. The reality is that when I go to Walgreens to get beers, razors, etc its all under lock and key. I’ve lived here for 50 years and thats new to me. So they can tell me crime is down but I prefer to believe my own eyes. They even have the gummy bears locked up, what did they do wrong???
You cant take crime statistics seriously in a city that rarely prosecutes, let alone makes arrests. Those numbers are highly skewed. With that said, NYC isn’t some hell hole of criminal anarchy, either. It’s actually very safe for such a metropolis. It is, however, an open-air insane asylum. If we got the crazy people off the streets, crime would likely drop massively. When I am in NYC, I’m not worried about being robbed or pressed because I wound up in the wrong street. I am worried about a crazy drug addict bum walking up behind me and stabbing me randomly, or a homeless psycho lighting the train or fire, or a homeless nutjob pushing me in front of a train. For the most part, the rest of the crime is gang land shit, or teenagers trying to make you their first lick. If you have the street smarts to avoid and keep those types of criminals at bay, they usually aren’t gonna bother you. The crazy guy smoking crack and screaming at his reflection in the window? Now that’s the guy who will kill you for no real reason.
I just returned from NYC this week. I never felt less safe there than in the capital city of my country or other capitals from Latin American countries I’ve visited after the pandemic. Honestly, I felt safe enough that I could walk with my phone in hand if I wanted. That’s considered risky as hell in Latin America.
I grew up in Brooklyn and Manhattan in the 70s and 80s and let me tell you that overall, the city is so much safer. Yes, there are incidents here and there, but in a city as packed with humans, there is going to be SOME crime. I ride the subways all the time. My daughter and her friends do as well and it’s safe. Be wary, be aware, get your head out of your phone, read the signs and don’t look like a deer caught in headlights. The media, especially the right wing media, likes to paint NYC as some liberal hell-hole because the city has routinely voted against them and their orange master. Don’t buy the lies. Come to NYC, spend your money, enjoy all the city has to offer and see for yourself.
I have literally just returned to the UK from a holiday in New York. We used the subway, pathway train, tramway and ferries regularly. We travelled to Brooklyn, Roosevelt Island and New Jersey. We walked the length of Manhatten. We had zero trouble. It was a fantastic, enjoyable trip (my 5th time in NYC) There are issues in any big city, you just need to be vigilant, educated and informed. I love your articles John and on your recommendation we went to Luca Brasi’s deli in NJ, Scarr’s Pizza and the Time Out rooftop bar in Dumbo. We loved them ❤
I flew into NYC on Friday from Chicago and am staying here until next Friday and after perusal Cash Jordan, I thought it was like the wild wild west out here with stabbing and immigrants taking over the city. It’s been so nice and lovely, might I even say it’s cleaner and doesn’t smell as bad as my last visit. I say it endearingly! There’s definitely fear mongering going on and that’s sad.
I was at the big apple recently but I didn’t see anything as wild as the news said. I saw homeless and migrants and some weird stuff but not bad at all. I took subway, bus,and taxi and I had great experience and met very friendly New Yorker. I would say do some research before you go, and don’t be scared to explore. If you’re traveler I recommend watch this website to do some research when you are planning to go NYC.
Excellent advice. We go to NYC a couple of times a year to see shows and sightsee. As long as the city is stepping up to not let the crazies and the criminals (I know there is overlap) take over, I’m excited to go back. At one time I lived in one of the most low-crime suburban areas of the country, and there was an incident of a “homeless/street person” hitting and killing an innocent man walking down the street. This can happen anywhere, but crazies/criminals do need to be dealt with. Also, folks should be careful. The last couple of times I was in the NYC subway, I was shocked to see a few people standing close to the ledge engrossed in their cell phones. From the time I started going to NYC in the 1990s, I always stand as far away as I can, and pay attention. In other words, a combination needs to happen: law enforcement, prevention and for potential victims – self awareness.
As a German, living close to Berlin and is always joking, that Berlin is an open air asylum. I have been in nyc on may 1st (manhattan) and using the subway as well as walking on several streets. Not even one person ran into me. No one was shouting or yelling. Not even mumbling something. And I have also been underground in Penn Station. There are way worse places in Berlin, daily flooded by tourists. Is New York safe? I’d say yes. Especially compared to Berlin. @Jon Barr: I’d like to thank you for your articles here, you gave me some nice spots to visit in New York, which I enjoyed a lot. Thank you very much for some nice food spots and special places in the financial district. Good job. 😊👍
In April, we visited NYC for a week and used the subway the whole time. We didn’t stick to the touristy areas (thanks to your articles!) and had no issue at all. What’s true for every major city is to stay alert of your surroundings and not go flashing cash, jewelry, and expensive electronics. The NYC subway system is a great way to get around the city, but it can be a bit grim at times. Our kids weren’t prepared to see a homeless person unconscious in the train but these things happen in every major city. This was our second visit to NYC, and we will definitely be back. Greetings from Belgium!
Really appreciate your articles, they made my family’s first NY trip last year great. Having lived, worked and traveled in large cities on the West coast were I live, New York felt safer than most as long as you were aware of your surroundings. We expected the worst on the subways and streets but never felt threatened. This was the case even when leaving midtown to visit Rucker park, Brooklyn and other areas throughout and around Manhattan. There always a chance things will go sideways, but if you remember you’re in a major city and need to stay aware you’re far less likely to run into a problem.
Great article! We were in NYC Fall 2021 and will mention we are senior citizens… I would return in a heartbeat. We rode the subway daily, walked to many attractions, rode bikes in Central Park, went to a few lesser known places on your advice. Thank you for that. Your advice is spot on, be aware of your surroundings, use common sense, etc. To this day, people try to “tell us scary stories about NYC”. Jokes on them they have no idea what they are missing. ❤
I’ve lived in NYC for 8 years and I am sorry, but this is crazy, compared to my country, for instance. I feel so insecure, I see so many crazy, violent, insane and aggresive people on the street that it’s crazy. I avoid the subway as much as I can, but I walk a lot and even though I do it in Midtown, even there, with so many people, there are a lot of dangerous persons. More things have happened to me here in just one year than in my whole life in Europe. And no, I don’t think at all that it’s any migrant crisis fault. Those people were here years before, and they are Americans.
You f*****g ROCK dude! You’re talking about these issues and topics in an insightful, and intelligent manner. The difference between you and Cash Jordan? Integrity over views. If you and your family and articlegrapher ever come to the Niagara Falls/Buffalo area, I will gladly be your tour guide and driver. Gratis, of course.
New York is the safest big city in North America and it’s one of the safest cities in the world. A lot of the negative reporting is clearly politically motivated. We see a lot of news stories about crimes in the tri-state area and a lot of the crime is not even in NYC itself. The news gets ratings and viewers because of sensationalized stories so that explains the hype. The illegal workers are also a scapegoat of political reporting. The truth is, in general, the illegals don’t commit crimes. They made a huge effort to come here to make our country their home, most would never jeopardize their chances of staying and becoming a citizen. In fact, with our current, ultralow unemployment rate, there are many available jobs that our native citizens simply don’t want. So there are opportunities for them but because of their status, many people won’t employ them. My personal feeling is, if they’re willing to work hard and obey the law, they should be given the opportunity to stay here.
If this was true what your reporting the NYPD members would not be leaving the force in record numbers. I get it you have to put a spin on this cause it’s how you make a living. As a life long New Yorker I refuse to ride the subways and avoid certain neighborhoods. Parts of Queens and BROOKLYN have become very dangerous. Even on my side of town here on lower East side has gotten bad .Most of the crimes happen at night reason lot less folks out on streets
as a native nyer, 59 years, i have never had a serious crime committed against me or anyone i know. i know where i can go and the safest times to be out and about. i commute to work on the subways 5 days a week, or ride bike to get around. i have no fears of being here. i have what’s called a healthy sense of concern. if you pay attention to your surroundings, avoid confrontations, DON’T STARE, and move along all should be fine. also, stop flashing expensive stuff. that begs to have it taken away. i suggest tourist stay away from touristy areas. nyc has 5 boroughs. each burough has attractions off the beaten path. don’t be affraid to ask for directions if you’re lost or need help. and one last thing, don’t give money to the homless or people begging for money. they could be sizing you up to rob you. offer them food if you have any on you or just say no sorry and keep walking. keep in mind nyc has always been the target of haters because we actually are successful in having every type of person from around the world living together somewhat peacefully. is it perfect? no. but give us some credit. 10 million people jammed together going about their business is something special.
Listen, I am here now and have been here since Friday, I have seen NITHING out of the norm. My philosophy is, Do what you do, mind your business, act, look, and walk like a New Yorker, you will be fine. I LOVE NYC. I have been coming back and forth for about 15 years and I love it . Keep posting vc I do a lot of things you suggest . Thanks for all you do. I watch Cash Jordon too but don’t pay attention, I just come, have fun, ride the subway, be a New Yorker. Thanks again.
News are handpicked. I visit my son who lives there. Sometimes I also ask him about what I see in the news and he tells me NYC is still the same as it was. He accuses me of perusal too much of another vlogger who has more doom and gloom articles about NYC. 😄😄😄 I was there for Mother’s Day weekend and loved it (but I’m happy to be back to my peace and quiet in a small town). Orange Theory and Barry’s killed me and my son. 😄😄😄
I was just in New York City in April and I stayed there for 2 weeks. My main goal was to watch as many Broadway shows as possible so I was at Times Square every day (usually late afternoon and night). I was traveling all over Manhattan and some places in Brooklyn. I was on alert when I was out but I don’t feel unsafe. There are quite a few police officers at the entrance of subway stops than last time I visited in 2017 and there are significantly less homeless people on subway trains. People still use their phones on subway and not seem to worry about it being snatched. Just don’t sleep on the trains no matter how tired you are. You just have to be in higher alert generally when you are in US if you are from a city with lower crime rate like me. Look at the reaction of other passengers (especially NYers) when something weird happen.
Thanks for not going to the dark side for clicks :). I’m so annoyed with Cash Jordan. I used to love his website and now it’s all doom and gloom about NY. I love this city. It’s really not bad at all. I have no idea what these websites are talking about. It’s just a city. It has some city issues. That’s all
Hi Jon. Great article. It bothers me when I see negative comments about NY from people that have never even been here. I was born in Bay Ridge and am proud to be from NY. A lot is just common sense and knowing your surroundings. Tourists are safe if they stay to “tourist ” areas. It’s a shame though that they miss so much more fun things to do in NY. 👋🏽
Two issues: 1. Crime was more concentrated in certain areas in the 80s and 90s, now it can happen anywhere 2. The perception of danger is real. Most likely the guy yelling he’s going kill everyone on the subway doesn’t do anything, but if I’m with my two year old I feel very unsafe even if that is not counted in the crime rate. Also bro, you have to press a button to get toothpaste behind a glass door.
Thank you for making this. As a native NYer who’s moved out west, I’m constantly asked about how dangerous NYC is from folks who only see the news and another NYC vlogger who was amazing but has not sold out his website to the alarmist revenue Gods of the algorithm. I always echo much of what you said here and I can now send them this article.
I was so scared to move to NYC last summer and now almost one year later, I LOVE it and feel so safe. I walk / transit everywhere and haven’t had an incident yet. Knock on wood! But also be vigilant – i.e: I recently switched subway cars because there was a small argument arising on the cart I was on. Just be mindful of your surroundings. Also I live near LES/EV where there’s a lot of migrants who hang around the area during the day – and they have never caused any issues. In fact I live on a street where the mini makeshift bike parking lots are so it’s a daily occurrence.
We visited NYC for the 1st time a month ago. We were definitely a little nervous because of articles or news that we saw, however when we were there it wasn’t so bad. There were a few situations that startled us. And you will meet “interesting characters ” (to put it nicely) everyday. However, we didn’t have to deal with any violence or anything that represented real danger. Just remember to follow the advices like don’t make eye contact and to be aware of your surroundings.
My wife has visited NY solo many times and last November visited myself for the first time with our children. Absolutely loved it and we’ve had zero issues. Saddest to see was homelessness and my girls would get pastries from breakfast and hand out to some people. Love your website big ups from Adelaide Australia. Cannot wait to return.
Great article Jon. Thanks for providing an objective and well-researched POV without the sensationalism. Ariel (Urbanist) was recently talking on a live stream about a certain NY Youtuber who has taken to hyper negative sensationalism in their articles. It’s sad to see someone tearing down their own city for clicks. You’re offering an important counterpoint with articles like this one.
Hi Jon, I love your articles and I love New York City. I visit there for a couple of weeks about twice a year and was just there in April of this year. I travel on the subway and walk in Central Park, but never late at night and I avoid sketchy areas. Common sense must be used no matter WHERE we go. There are some horrific crimes that happen every day in small, “safe” little towns all over America. I live 5 miles north of San Francisco and I cannot tell you how many people have asked me what it’s like to have “homeless encampments on every street.” WHAAAT?? A couple of blocks in the downtown area have that, but the rest of San Francisco is just fine, thank you! As you said, the media loves to inflate and sensationalize the few incidents. Also, I think some people only watch/read the hype and like having an excuse to not venture out of their bubble.
Hi, I live in London and am just heading home after a fantastic week in NYC. We found New Yorkers to be friendly and helpful. We didn’t have or see any threatening situations even though we travelled on the Subway every day. Like any big city, you just need to be mindful of your environment all the time and carefully choose the people you interact with.
Thanks for covering this topic. As someone that lives in NY; I would say in-regards to subway crime. Just being aware of your surroundings and removing yourself from a bad situation is the best key to safety. I do see a lot of people not paying attention or being too focused on their phones. Of course there are other ways to get around NYC if you don’t feel safe on the trains depending where you are going. For example I can take the LiRR between Queens and Manhattan if I want to get to 34th street for example.
In my experience, it’s a lot of confirmation bias from people who haven’t been to NYC. I’m moving to NYC in June and I’ve been in the city quite a few times this year related to my new job and I’ve never had a problem. The smaller city I’m coming from is consistently in the top 20 for per capita theft and drug crimes and everyone warning me about NYC can’t see the cognitive dissonance.
Excellent article yet again Jon. Keep raising this issue and setting the facts straight instead of letting the media only focusing on the bad things and not the positive things happening with Crime levels in New York. Migrants are a problem as you say and the odd Subway at night but media to exaggerate. It’s so much better hearing the facts from someone who actually lives in New York. Nice work as usual. You can always trust what you say.
Had mostly positive visits in NYC, but the two times I was harassed on the subway was by psychotic/angry men and they were locals. Xenophobic, racists remarks were one thing, but to follow me on my way out of a station was by far the most unsafe I’ve ever felt anywhere! I kept my composure and did not engage, and I was finally left alone! Never let your guard down!
Just returned from my very first trip to the US and NYC. Did I feel unsafe? No… Did I feel disgusted? Sometimes yes. Stayed in a hotel near 8th Avenue and Penn Station. Just walking around that area saw enormous amount of people visibly high on something strong. Mostly they were not disturbing passerbys but it happened that some of them were shouting something to the people. I saw one totally stoned lady just pulling her skirt up and pissing in the middle of the 8th Av sidewalk, in the middle of the day! In the evenings groups of people including children were searching for something in garbage cans. And again, talking about a quite normal area in Manhattan Midtown, not a slums district or something. You don’t experience such things in Europe (I’m from Poland).
Visiting last year in October my friend and I were honestly safer than in some areas of our home neighborhoods. Beggars, protestors in the Staten Island Ferry station, and one domestic dispute (which was something that was just an argument a couple had you’d hear anywhere) outside the Airbnb we stayed at were the only real problems we had. NYC was full of nice people almost everywhere we went. Servers at bars, patrons at bars, people walking the street, etc. you can find general decency if not kindness in New York easily.
Jon – Thanks for all your articles! Just returned (alive and happy!) yesterday from 2 weeks in NYC. Stayed in the upper West side (Hotel Beacon) this time which was excellent with the residential neighborhood vibe (schools and kids and parents), with great restaurants and the fantastic Museum of Natural History. We went all over including into Central Park’s Conservancy Garden (beautiful!). Never had any problems with crime, and saw families and single/pairs of women in places like Central Park – no problems. I would agree with your comments at 3:35 that you need to look both ways at bike lanes for the crazy whoever delivery guys. But ignore the click-bait lies of those who want to scare you, folks – NYC is amazing!!!
Thanks so much for making this article! It is so refreshing to see someone show/talk about what is actually happening here. There are so many websites trying to capitalize on the manufactured hysteria (even Cash Jordan who used to be great, but he’s now getting a lot more views trying to titillate the people who want so badly for NYC to be a hell hole). I’ve lived in NYC for 10 years and have lived right next to Port Authority for the past 3 years and have never seen a single instance of violence. I’d say the biggest problem is that you’ll often see someone obviously passed out on drugs, which is an entirely different kind of problem. Never had an issue with the migrants. Every sensational headline feels like it is trying to reveal a ‘systemic problem.’ It comes across like there is an epidemic of assaults rather than a tiny percentage of the millions of people here getting assaulted by the same handful of people who need to be caught.
Jon As a Brooklynite . I always feel safe on the Subway. Going home from RANGERS games and I’m at 34 Street waiting for the Q train I’ve seen NYPD on the platform as well as in the station. When it comes to reckless biking Jon I’m sorry I have to go with Park Slope with this . Especially 7ave. The food delivery workers have no common concept for safety. They go thru red lights, Ride on the sidewalk, and Ride in opposite directions. . They made 7ave in Park Slope a bit more dangerous. Not just cars and trucks now I have to look for e bikes and mopeds.
Thank you for a well balanced article on the safety of NYC currently. I have lived in NYC and ride the subway pretty much all my life, and really all NYers know they need to be on your guard anytime of the day. Too many people are on their phones walking around in the stations, and not be aware of your surrounding, and could avoid many incidents. I do notice the increase of homeless people and mentally disturbed individuals in the subway, but sadly as long as they decide to stay and cannot be forced to be moved, then the responsibility is up to subway riders to be aware of their surroundings. Totally agree on the comments trashing Cash Jordan, the Tucker Carlson of NYC. I used to enjoy his contents but ever since he dived head first into the Fox like rabbit hole and consistently trashing NYC for clicks, I unsubscribed right away.
Thank you, we are visiting in August and my family is really concerned they keep telling me about all the crime stories they hear about NYC. However in context most of those crimes are in areas we won’t be visiting, at times we won’t be out. We will try to keep as safe as possible, What are the odds right.
Great article! Thanks for the common sense hot take on NYC crime. I lived and worked in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx for 25 years and although I saw lots of misbehavior on the streets and subway, I was only the victim of a crime twice and that was when I was a young dumb college student. There is another youtuber I unfollowed recently who used to do apartment tours and now he is exclusively posts content about the city’s demise without any real context. I say use common sense and most people will be A-OK!
Having visited NY last month, asides from the many beautiful and impressive things New York has to offer, let me point out some things that shocked me a bit (negatively): 1) Times Square is overrated, it is filthy, smelly, lots of marihuana everywhere, beggars, monks, scams, rude people, impossible to walk you keep crashing into people. Of course as a tourist you can’t miss visiting Times Square, but staying in a hotel nearby the area might be a mistake. 2) Noises. Ok, so it is a noisy city, I get it. But there are some noises that may be addressed by the city, I think. For example the annoying music from those predicab bikes (bike cabs) all around. Or the engines from the food trucks in every corner. 3) Smells. Marihuana is everywhere, it is so invasive. The smell coming from horse manure at central park, ughh, horse carriages should be prohibited IMHO. Trash everywhere mainly around midtown. Urine. The smell coming from food trucks too, not only the food, but trash around them and the smell from the engines and diesel. 4) Insanity. I wasn’t that concerned about burglars, I live in a big city and robbery is in every city so one has to take some obvious precautions… but what shocked me the most was the mentally ill people all around, not only on the subways. Mental health is a serious issue in New York clearly and something that should be addressed. These people shout, they show signs of aggression, you should ignore them and they’ll ignore you, but you don’t know when and where someone might approach you with violence.
New York is Conservative compared with most of Britain. In any City in the world you should just be on your toes . I recently read that England was the country where a person is most likely to get attacked randomly, being from England this didn’t shock me but I did find it sad. I still think people are safer in Britain than in the USA . The world has gone crazy especially since 2020 . I wonder what happened in 2020 ?, let me think 🤔. Edit;- Cenfral Park is Dangerous, who’d have guessed. Getting randomly attacked in Britain/England usually happens to men not women. It’s going to be interesting when Trump gets back at wheel
The drug wave is hitting the entire country. Even mountain towns are suffering. NYC isn’t unique in that regard. The issue is that everyone takes pulbic transporation, so everyone sees what is going on. Obviously it needs to be dealt with. But if people think NYC is as dangerous as the 90s and early 2000s then they aren’t from there.
If I had a choice I would choose the States over Germany. People are more friendly and its a nation of immigrants. Media is not always showing the truth. New York might be too expensive for immigrants. Probably Texas, something close to Mexiko with Latin American influence and Spanish Speakers would be my choice. San Antonio or so. Who knows how it all will develop..
Couple with two young children here visiting New York from Australia. I had the exact same impression before coming here that there might be crime. Day 2 and things couldn’t look more normal to me and it hasn’t been that bad at all so far. So agree with you totally. Typical media modus operandi, keep them scared! I wonder how much it’s costing the state of New York and the wider USA. How many people wanted to come here but because of the media coverage decided to go elsewhere?
Since there’s over 8 million ppl, statistically speaking most ppl are unlikely to notice anything bad. NYC is also an economic powerhouse. And while they’ve put away alot of them for the time being, they’ll be back out on the streets again soon. Also the economy is weakening, with a potential recession on the horizon. There’s also the possibility of a world war, with tensions rising worldwide. That would make things much, much worse.
So you havent seen or been involved in any situation. So that makes things fine for all others? Eh. Sorry ive lived here for now 5 decades. And its def worse then its been for years. Not exactly late 70’s crime levels. But modern nyc has really been pretty shitty. And the fact criminals go in and out of jail with slaps on the wrist. Will keep it grimy and unsafe untill we get certain aholes out of office in this city and state.
Perception vs Stats. Doesn’t really matter what the stats are as long as the perception of the city seems dangerous. How many tourists actually look up stats before coming here. I know I don’t when traveling to another State or Country. We do have small crimes that go unmentioned. Police need to do a better job of cracking down on non-violent crimes such as out of control e-bike riders, fare evasion, illegal vehicle plates.
I’ve just got back from NYC and I felt safe everything you said in this article is true I felt more at danger with the delivery bikes subway was safe just walking around felt safe and I was talking to my sister telling her the same thing how safe it felt this was my 4th time in New York I was there for 8 days I went to ubs arena to see Tim McGraw I went to see New York Mets and all the tourist things great time planning my next trip to New York
Blaming the migrants for crime is the politics of fear . Do you really think they left a horrific life to come to NYC and commit crimes. They simply want to stay alive . Also, they are more than willing to work and be a productive member of society & not be gaming they system like many NYC citizens do like long term unemployment, frivolous disability cases that make lawyers rich, generational welfare, working for cash only, ect.
It’s a bit of both. It is safe but you need to be wary of your surroundings. It feels like maybe the late 90s when I was a little kid. It’s not bad like the early 90s or late 80s. There are more homeless folks posting up in the subway during the day. I used to see the same type of folks at night but it was understood they are just people trying to avoid the cold. The police nowadays are more tolerant of the homeless. There was a homeless dude who was sort of confrontational the other day. He was harassing some big Indian kid who stood near his subway bench. He was trying to make people flinch when they walked by him. I thought the cops came down to remove him but they just walked past him. The police used to be really harsh on those type of folks. I believe the migrant crime is towards their own community or it’s shoplifting. I saw someone trying to run off with several packets of bacon at the Asian supermarket near me. Those supermarkets also hired security guards that weren’t there before. The Jackson Heights area has always been somewhat a redlight district and super busy but it changed a lot during/after COVID. They have tons of street stalls now and it is hard to even walk on the sideway. The solicitation is more aggressive now. It used to be some little dude who quietly handed out these little escort cards. Now you can see women/trans folks outside plying their trade. It is only certain blocks though. It’s overblown TBH. It’s not really dangerous albeit very sketchy looking.
If just for example you have 10,000 crimes committed for the year & they are reduced by a thousand. The Gov’t. can legitimately claim they lowered it. But the question is why is it so high in the first place, why is the bar so low for our goals? In other words, does lower mean good, or is it just a media stat.?
Hi Jon, another excellent summary of crime in NYC and I’m pleased to see your journalistic skills coming into play. Overall, NYC should be considered as a very safe city as long as you follow common sense rules. Leaving yourself totally vulnerable is not the way to visit at all. I’m with you on the gun detectors, I can see disaster written all over that one, good luck with the trial. Keep up,the fantastic work Jon ❤❤❤
Sorry…the City “feels” unsafe and so no matter the stats – folks with skills are fleeing the city and moving South. I no longer live in New York and moved to Florida ( better quality of life). I don’t have to worry or look over my back all the time. The city is DIRTY, DIRTY, DIRTY and no place to have a family right now.
Just got back from NY this past weekend with my lady. The time spent there was…..AWESOME! We visited Manhattan, Brooklyn and Harlem. No issues with fear, crime or racism. This websites information DID help. Check the many topics on this playlist if you plan to go. BTW – the subway system is tricky mainly because they don’t have workers at most of the info booths to actually talk to. And if you travel from Brooklyn to Times Square you will always be on a packed train 🚊 but it will be worth it 🎊 🎉
I don’t think that the crime in NYC is as bad as it seems to be in the news lately. However, it is still bad if I compare it to other big cities that I have been to recently, like Dubai, Seoul, and Shanghai. NYC is the most dangerous and the dirtiest of that bunch. The more you travel, the more you actually see that NYC isn’t as great as you thought it was, but it also isn’t as bad as the news websites are describing it.
Just came back from a week in NYC, subway and metrobus all very safe if dirty, only $2.90 per ride. One thing I did notice, however, was A LOT of black Escalades all over Manhattan… why??? I also went to D.C. – same thing, safe and punctual subway but much cleaner and cheaper, only $6 from airport to downtown D.C. compared to $16 from airport to NY Penn station.
On my last trip to NYC where I took the subway multiple times per day, to all parts of city, the worst thing I saw was a mentally ill women publicly announcing she was going to pee on the subway platform (which she proceeded to do). Also a ton of people jumping the turnstiles, but that doesn’t affect me. I’ve read that people that jump the turnstiles are more likely to commit other crimes, but I didn’t see any of that. Most of them just got on the train and sat down. Those Evolve scanners would be amazing, but I suspect too expensive to add to every station. I’ve seen them at concerts and at the Met museum and you just stroll right though. They go off if they detect an object they don’t want you to have (guns, knives, etc), but will ignore other things like keys, your phone, etc. Very speedy.
Murders are down but shootings are up. So people aren’t dying as often when they get shot. Also, citing statistics in the first quarter of the year when it is cold, is not accurately depicting what will be in the near future (next month). Summer is a different animal. Crime classification also plays a big role in crime stats. Burglaries and robberies are turned into larcenies and assaults become harassments. Lower crimes are also being overlooked when it comes to enforcement, especially by motorists, illegal weed shops and Vice crimes like gambling and prostitution.
I am glad to hear that New York is not turning into San Francisco…I suppose that it has issues like all big cities… certainly the shoplifting issue was a concern for local businesses and speaking from experience…as my country also see a lot of venezuelan migrants…I’m surprised the situation in the city is not as bad as the news paint it…over here in Costa Rica…the murder rate mainly due to drug cartels activities is increasing. Seeing all these young men begging for money in the streets with their little kids had me really worried… it’s a time bomb…the temptation to join local or compite with gangs and do violent crimes is huge.
Tomorrow I’m leaving NY after 1 week of my first time here. I agree that is relatively safe observing the behavior of people in the subway or Street, using openly their cell phones fearless of being robbed. The negative thing are rather the weird people in the subway, that I saw, although more in lines like A or C to Brooklyn, rather than lines like E, leaving from financial district in Manhattan. Anyway, apart from feeling a little scared, I followed the recomendations of Here The Bar, simply ignored them and nothing happened. The other thing that draw our attention with my wife was the odor and thrash in many places. There are neigbohord very clean and really nice, and at the same time there are others in poor conditions, stinky and dirty. Said that, NY is a great City to visit again many many times. It worth another 11-hour flight to repeat the experience. Last but not least, I ate the best fettuccinis in my life in the Little Italy.
Let’s make it 700 comments . News are kinds of exaggerating . NYC is a city that never sleep . You see people are roaming around whole night (like night club or some are providing services like Uber rides etc ) . At some points I have seen people are traveling in the train a late night or very early in the morning without any problem .
I agree with Mark Twain, “lies, damned lies and statistics”. Yes, I am skeptical but that’s my nature. Are these crimes or even inflation worse than the ’70s! I don’t know but the measure that does concern me is our National Debt, even one trillion is tough to imagine. So when it all gets too much, I listen to classical music.
Is the data based on crimes where arrest took place? Is there a way to measure for crimes occurring that go unreported or where no arrest are made? Data may tell me I should feel safer than j did 10 years ago but that’s not sufficient, sometimes real time human instinct is the safer bet, I definitely see more people strung out like zombies, drug use is definitely an issue, and mental health of the homeless needs to be addressed they need meds badly.
stick to the foods. dont be like Jordan and try to take a different spin on crime in nyc. I would never recommend tourists to come to NYC. i could only recommend NYC to anyone who MUST work here (finance, modeling, acting, marketing). if i could i would move out of NYC and never come back if not for work.
great article… and spot on.. unfortunately, humans are attracted to bad headlines… yep.. been in one of the best cities in the world, plenty of times.. back again next month – and, as usual, will clock my 15k steps per day – and looking forward to it all, the food, the coffee, the walks, the sounds, smell, sights… most of all.. the people
I take issue with your assesment of NYC’s safety from a tourist’s point of view. The statistics you use are aggregated- taking into account 5 boroughs- most areas tourists would not visit. A more accurate picture would be to analyze the data for violent crime specific to the zip codes associated with tourism. Secondly, the statistics you cite do not account for the randomness of the most unnatural crime for a tourist- such as getting shoved into the path of a subway train or getting assaulted by a deranged person. When violent crime is random it is impossible to feel safe. And quite honestly, if im paying alot of money to visit NYC i dont want the headache of asking clerks to open security cases for me to purchase toothepaste or aspirin.
Again the VA point isn’t whether or not it’s safe… it’s the trajectory…. Took years to get things under control thanks to great leadership.. since Diblasio…Adams…. Not so much….. next time you see an NYPD…. Thank them …..it’s not the leaders….talk to me in another 10 years….keep the same policies in place…. Say bye bye NYC again
I had seen those connected open cars in other countries many years ago. Those barriers in front of the tracks you showed are not that great. They only block some areas. I love that in some countries in Asia, the whole area of the tracks is blocked and it opens only when the train has stopped. I wish they had those in the US. It prevents people from being shoved into the tracks, and also suicides.
These “innovations” have been standard in East Asian subway systems in China, Japan, and Korea for 15 years. They also have full platform screen doors to block people from being pushed. You can make the subways super modern all you want. It’s not going to stop the crazy/weird people from riding them. If you want less crime, you need to live in a society with consequences for antisocial behavior. And also you need an education system that teaches people to behave properly, both of which the US doesn’t really have.
Crime surveillance works as deterrent only if there are actual consequences to the criminal activities. With current state of things large number of crimes go unpunished simply because DA is not willing to prosecute. You can put 50 cameras in each car and surveil all you want but it will not change a thing as long as criminals are protected.
The R211T’s aren’t the first subway cars in North America to have open gangways, both the Toronto Rocket’s of the Toronto subway and the MPM-10’s of the Montreal Metro entered service in the early 2010’s with fully open gangway trains, followed by the ART Mark III’s on the Vancouver Skytrain in the mid-2010’s. On top of that, the Mexico City Metro has had open gangway trains since 2005.
We’ve introduced an open carriage metro like this in Sydney the last few years (and still expanding) and it feels so eery too use! Just seeing all the way down the next carriage and the one after and seeing so many people takes adjusting too. We’re very accustomed to double decker suburban trains here and the open layout + having one level trains takes to time to get used too but it’s great. And so modern.
I literally just visited NYC for the first time last week, and found the hardest thing about the subway trains was not knowing what stations were coming up next (you can barely understand or make out what the announcements on the trains are saying) and where they are headed. Most other subway systems have digital signs saying what station is next, but not NYC. and when you try to look outside the windows you can’t always see what stop you’re at. It’s terrible! Also the maps that are few and far between on the trains, are generic and don’t show if you’re on an “express” train and not stopping at all stops etc. It’s a nightmare for tourists (and I’m pretty savvy in subway systems having travelled to europe (paris, rome etc) and London and sydney and Tokyo, and they were all fairly easy to navigate.
The easy solution to reducing subway shovings is to remind riders to stay back from the edge of the platform (e.g. 10 feet) until the train comes to a stop. This will also allow the passengers to exit faster and allow the entering passengers unrestricted access to the doors. Installing a barrier just encourages people to lean against them and start congesting the edge of the platform.
I actually rode the train recently. I was very impressed. It was very spacious inside. As far as the door for the inner portion, it has it’s good and bad. You might have to see a lot of people, but I can actually not be locked in a car either without risking falling on tracks is good too. Very spacious on the inside, and you felt a sense of more relaxing on the ride. The cameras is a plus. The train line is a rough one, trust.
Liberal logic 101, let’s spend millions or billions of dollars to modify the subway system instead of getting rid of the bail reform act and Start holding criminals accountable. I really appreciate the article and thank you for confirming liberal stupidity that has been responsible for injuries and deaths.
I’ve lived in NY my entire life and I can personally say people evade fares because the system is just not worth it, overpriced, dirty, rat infested, barely any safety, and what small changes we get move slower than molasses, while the price hikes continue regardlessly. While the MTA constantly cries about annual losses they take in billions, and are too busy enriching themselves versus actually innovating the system to the degree of other countries. The city’s corruption has no bounds, and just to lay a quarter mile of track in the city, is in the tens of millions which is ridiculous compared to what other countries do for fractions of our budgets. Even these new models are dated by at least 15 years with exception of the camera system, which should have been a given at least a decade ago as security systems are drastically cheap. Even cameras off network but constantly recording as a backup to daily activity would have been better than waiting for a system that is accesible in real time, and that’s only now being discussed. Compare what the city has given to incoming migrants already and ask yourself what the train system would look like if they received that money.
As far as the emergency exit why not have 2 layers of doors? So, you open the first door, enter, walk several steps (giving the first door time to close), open the second door, and you’re out. Even if someone sneaks through, they’d have to wait for someone to open the other door (all the while waiting/risk being caught).
it’s still jawdroppingly shocking how the lifeline of NYC was left to deteriorate to this state when the rest of the world has left it in the dust. dont get me wrong, won’t stop using it when visiting, it is a novelty afterall. but i cant imagine having to depend on this system on a daily basis for work and living, especially after having experienced the Singaporean and HK networks.