As much as we all love New York City, from its ambiance to its people, we can all agree that sometimes it’s scary. From strange people following you to just being safe in general, here are 7 ways to safely go to to school in the city.
- Be aware of your surroundings
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Whenever you travel make sure you know where you are going, and if not have a map in front of you. Do not travel distracted, make sure you are going in the right direction, and pay attention to the people around you. If you notice someone is following you, walk into the nearest store and tell security that you think someone is following you and give them a short description of the person. If you’re close to Pace, use your Pace Safe app to have security escort you back to your dorm. If not, do not leave the store until you think you’re safe or you get an Uber to go back to your dorm. If you are going to listen to music while traveling, only wear one headphone so you can hear everything around you.
- Self-defense
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Sign up for self-defense classes- whether they’re through Zoom, IRL, or just videos you watch on YouTube, it’s good to know how to defend yourself for any occasion. You can also buy items to protect yourself such as a pocket knife, safety alarm, and mace. All of these things are small enough to put in your bag or have on your keychain for emergencies.
- Travel in groups
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Whenever you can, go out in groups because there is safety in numbers. Stick to well-lit places where there are people- don’t go down a dark, empty alley even if it can get you home faster. Instead, take the bright, busy street so you can stay safe.
- Don’t travel late by yourself
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If you can avoid traveling late, do it, but if you can’t, Pace has security officers who can walk you to your dorm anytime you don’t feel safe to do so alone.
- Keep to yourself
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If you’re out by yourself, don’t start or have conversations with strangers on the street because you don’t want to get into a dangerous situation.
- Always carry your cellphone with you
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From pulling up maps so you know where you’re going and where to take the subway to a way to pay for things when you lose your wallet (Apple Pay), your phone is something that can help you do anything and everything. Whenever you go out, make sure your phone is fully charged and that you have a portable charger just in case. Your phone can get you out of many different situations safely. If you don’t feel safe while walking in a neighborhood you can call a friend so you can talk to them while you get to your destination, and if you don’t feel safe enough to walk, you can always call an Uber or Lyft home.
At the end of the day, you have to trust your gut. If you feel like something is off, it probably is and you should find a safe way to get out of that situation.