Travel Help from Anyone

[EveryYardForISU]

My group--all ISU students--wants to try playing basketball at Rucker Park while in New York. Anyone know if this is a good idea or not?

 

[Rutgaz]

My group--all ISU students--wants to try playing basketball at Rucker Park while in New York. Anyone know if this is a good idea or not?

It's directly across the river and like a two minute train ride to/from Yankee Stadium, so it'd be easy enough for you to do before the bowl. But it's also right across the street from a notoriously dangerous housing project, so being there wouldn't be without some degree of risk. These courts are pretty legendary as well, and they have the added benefit of no gunfire.

 

[Cycsk]

The whole NYE celebration at Times Square can seem :SLEEP: sometimes if you are there either by yourself or not near friends. But the "virgin" experience can be quite fascinating.

As for the crowds, definitely keep in mind how you react when you are in a crush of people. Those who have Agoraphobia and Aphenphosmpphobia (fear of being touched) should just be aware the crush of people can be overwhelming.

That said, if you do go to Times Square for NYE Cycsk's earlier post is spot on.

1) Get there early,
2) Make sure you have an empty bladder,
3) Be prepared to stand for quite a while.

I would also add, even with the mass of humanity around you, dress warmly, but make sure you can move easily in the clothes you wear. Don't be like Randy in The Christmas Story. :smile:

A few other good urban rules are:

• Don't carry a purse in a crowd. Better to wear a fanny pack. Or wear a small bag under your coat.
• Be alert to being bumped hard. It is what pick-pockets do so that you don't even know you are being robbed.
• When I don't feel safe, I always keep a hand in my pocket and move it around, as if I have mace or something ready to use.
• Find some locals with whom you hit it off (like at the hotel or at a restaurant) and let them give you advice (or let them show you around). Most NY/NJ folks love to help folks like us. It will often feel pushy, but they are just trying to give you what they think you need to know. It is their version of "Iowa Nice."

The odds are a bit higher that you will have a problem in NYC than Ames, but the risk still isn't very high, so don't worry about it. If you go to normal places like Times Square, Yankee Stadium, etc. and use some common sense, you will be fine. There will by cops everywhere, including plenty that you won't see. NYC has done a great job of increasing safety in the city.

 

[RutgersInMaine]

For getting to the city from LGA, just take the M60 bus. It's really quite simple. The M60 bus goes to 125th street, from there you can get a subway line to anywhere (The 1 goes right to 42nd street). This should work fine for a regular night as well (after the bowl game, say) to get home. Despite what people are telling you, there is nothing dangerous about the 125th street subway stop.

For getting HOME after NYE, I would plan to take a taxi and just account for this as a built in cost of the trip. It will be $40-$50, but worth it, I think, to avoid the chaos. If you've already planned for it as a cost, it won't seem a big deal.

edit: edit to agree with others than if you are not locked into LGA, there might be better options....outer boroughs (brooklyn, queens) or NJ if convenient to PATH or NJ Transit buses.