On the Crowds in Herald Square and Walking in the City

Photo by myself at 35th Street and Sixth Avenue, Herald Square.

The hoards of crowds swarming in the streets during the holidays can be a little overwhelming.

Especially when you're trying to head in the opposite direction.

--Over the years, I've developed a way of walking where I can zip through an area without stopping.

If you've ever read about the 'pulse' of a city, this is it - where your body is so minutely timed with the chaos that you can zip through intersections without so much as a hiccup.

I'm sure one day I will smash into someone. With my luck, that someone will be carrying a huge white cake, dozens of prickly roses or an armload of marbles.

Last week, the receptionist at our office was standing at a crosswalk in this area and a man punched her in the stomach (!). She was just standing there, waiting for the light to change, and someone just walked up and punched her for no good reason.

Fortunately, she was all right. She called the police, gave her description of the elderly man who had done this, and was told that she was not alone. There have been multiple reports recently of older people acting out on strangers for whatever reason (!).

So yes, DO expect crowds in this area if you ever find yourself here. And DO give older people their space.

Related posts: Fighting the Crowds, in Midtown, Crowd Crossing, at 34th Street, and Tuned Out, in Herald Square.