<p>Is it safe for a 16 year old girl to travel alone in NYC?
I will be travelling alone this summer in both NYC and washington DC. I will be riding cabs alone and I will be visiting places a bit off the beaten path (not famous places with lots of tourists). Also, I'm wondering if I can print out the directions from google maps of my destinations and give it to the cab driver. Is doing that common? How safe is it for a 16 year old girl to travel alone in a cab? Also,if it helps, I will be visiting a couple recording studios, around both washington DC and NYC, how safe is it for me to be there alone? Any tips? Lastly, is it safe/ normal to carry a backpack when visiting these places (or will I look like a tourist). Thanks!</p>
<p>“Is it safe for a 16 year old girl alone in NYC?”</p>
<p>The short answer is no.</p>
<p>It is very safe for you to travel alone in a cab, and completely okay to print out directions and give it to taxi drivers.</p>
<p>Just use common sense: Don’t walk outside at night by yourself, don’t go down alleys, try to sit next to “nice looking people”, etc. You might want to try carrying a stylish backpack. Not a hiking one.</p>
<p>And, please, never wear a fanny pack.</p>
<p>In the city, if you’re about to get into a taxi, text its immatriculation plate number to someone you trust, and make sure the driver sees you do that.
Silly, a little paranoid, but it can’t hurt.</p>
<p>Yeah text the plate number in cabs. Honestly, I’m a 16 year old girl as well and I’m in random cities alone all the time between getting to my dads house on the train in SF and visiting relatives in Boston and what not. I literally lived in Bangkok alone for six weeks and survived. You will be okay as long as you follow common sense. </p>
<p>1) Don’t walk around at night. Just don’t. Unless its a very busy touristy area.</p>
<p>2) I wouldn’t suggest a backpack. It makes you look kind of clueless. Perhaps a large purse? Or at least a stylish backpack, as fascination suggested, instead of a north face or whatever. </p>
<p>3) Always have a cell phone (duh).</p>
<p>4) Make sure people know where you are and where you should be. If anything happens, there should be a system in place for your family to notify authorities (ie text home every two hours and if you don’t text after three hours they call the police). A little extreme but it will help you feel safer. </p>
<p>Other than that, you should be fine as long as you don’t do anything stupid. Also don’t carry a fanny pack obvs.</p>
<p>My friend in Manhattan has a 16 year old daughter who constantly roams the city by herself. </p>
<p>18 year old girls do so all the time, so I don’t think the issue really is age, per se.</p>
<p>But would I want my daughter doing so?</p>
<p>The answer is NO.</p>
<p>Not safe at all. EVERY SINGLE 16 year old girl in NYC has been kidnapped and had things done to them which I cannot repeat here. </p>
<p>Trust me, I watch the news, Stuff like that is on there everyday.</p>
<p>^ I doubt that</p>
<p>Regarding the comment by one person that it is safe getting into a cab in New York City, you might note that 90% of the cab drivers are immigrants whose backgrounds may not have been vetted properly.</p>
<p>Just because someone is driving a cab does not “magically” make them more safe than if you met them in a bar.</p>
<p>As other posters have said, be careful. Most cab drivers know every alley of Manhattan so I don’t think it would be necessary to give them the directions. The address and streets around it would probably be more useful.
I never wear a backpack when I go to the city simply because I’m paranoid that I won’t feel someone taking something out of it. I normally carry a normal handbag (a lot of the time it’s a larger one, but smaller than a tote) that has a zipper or at least a clasp at the top of it. It’s easier to do it that way.
Cabs are safe to go in alone.
I’ve walked the streets of New York alone before, and really, just watch your surroundings. The busier streets and street corners are less dangerous because there are more people around.
Also, know your directions. Know that avenues go north and south and streets go from left to right. Know what a city block is. Understand all of that. Also, asking for directions isn’t a bad thing. Will it make you look touristy? Yes. Will this person know if you’re a tourist or just recently moved into the area? No. Will they care? No. But don’t always expect a nice answer.
Lastly, whatever you do, DON’T go to Central Park at night. Some crazy stuff happens in many places. And by crazy I mean really dangerous.</p>
<p>There are also MANY stores around New York City that have small signs in their front store windows that are bright yellow and have “Safe Haven” written in black on them. These stores are granted this title by the city. What this means is that if there is ANYTHING wrong (from accidentally rubbing up against something and needing a band-aid to needing help because you were attacked) these people are trained to give the aid you need and will stay with you until help arrives if needed. Once again, these people are certified by the city and all workers in the facility must know all of the precautions.
Just be safe and don’t do anything stupid.</p>
<p>To add to alwaysleah’s advice: don’t hang your bag over a chair or put it on an adjacent chair when you sit down to eat or take in the scenery. Better to keep it on your lap or squarely between your feet on the floor. My D went on multiple overnight class trips to NYC. Some girl on the trip always did one of these things and invariably got her stuff stolen. </p>
<p>Only use yellow cabs which are (duh) yellow with a numbered, plastic medallion riveted to the hood. They are all over the place. Do NOT use gypsy (unlicensed) cabs. </p>
<p>Where are these studios anyway and where will you be staying (general ballpark location will do)?</p>
<p>Yes, it is safe. Just don’t do anything stupid and don’t go to Central Park or other unpopulated areas at night. Have fun!</p>
<p>^I actually put a chair-leg through the bag’s strap. No chance of it being stolen if you’re sitting on the chair.</p>
<p>@vot123 these are recording studios that i’m going to be visiting to use as practice space (vocal rooms). In NYC, I plan on using Simple Studios (134 W. 29th between 6th and 7th) and in washington DC I plan on using One World Studios on 905 Naylor. I’m a bit worried about One world because the location seems to be in an alley across from a gas station. In NYC i’ll be staying at the sheraton national and near St. John’s university in Queens.</p>
<p>The thing to do when you get into the cab is to make sure that the driver’s license is displayed and the photo sort of matches the person behind the wheel. (Only twice in the 35 years I’ve been riding cabs in NYC has this not been the case. Once was at an airport. My kid noticed. We insisted he remove our stuff from the trunk. Argument followed. Dispatcher came up. Dispatcher talked to him. Driver did not have a license. ) Otherwise, if you are nervous about it, you can always use one of the licensed car services which you call in advance. More expensive but a bit safer. PM me if you want some numbers.</p>
<p>Back packs are fine, but do NOT put your wallet or ID in it. carry those on your person.</p>
<p>Also, do you know how you are checking into your hotels? Most won’t let anyone under 21 check in, so you need to talk to the manager and get that sorted out.</p>
<p>@legenddi</p>
<p>These responses have been absolutely ridiculous. As 17 year old guy, lived in the city for my entire life, I can promise you 1000000000% you will be beyond safe if you have decent common sense.</p>
<p>I have loads of friends who are girls, and have heard the odd “creepy cab driver” story, but I’ve never heard of anything actually happening. If it makes you feel better, text the 4 character taxi number to someone you know. If you have any doubts at all, just say “I’ll get out here”, pay, and leave.</p>
<p>Anyone who tells you not to walk around at night is just naive. All of my friends come home around 1 or 2 in the morning on weekends, alone, and nothing has EVER happened. Walk on populated avenues and streets-- if there are enough people around, nothing will happen. </p>
<p>If you avoid parks after sundown, don’t walk down a sketchy looking street, and don’t act like an idiot you’ll be 100% fine.</p>
<p>Clearly many of the posters in this thread are way sheltered, or have never been to NYC.</p>
<p>Enjoy your time here! It really is the greatest city in the world :)</p>
<p>I’ve been to NYC and also to various cities at night, and while I think it’s fine to walk around at night, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who will be alone and does not know the area well. Getting lost alone at night is a lot scarier than being lost in the daytime with people around.</p>
<p>I would say it’s safe, but again, anything can happen so I suggest being careful and using common sense (duh). And if you can, I strongly suggest finding a friend or family member that can go with you. It makes it a whole lot better/safer/ more fun. </p>
<p>Also, just be aware of you’re surroundings. NYC can get pretty hectic.</p>
<p>In NYC, only get into a Yellow Cab. People drive around in plain cars, or even limo looking cars offering taxi service, but turn them down and only get into a Yellow Cab.</p>