Just got back from a walk through Grand Central, as well as the new LIRR East Side Access terminal as it was drizzly and damp outdoors. I try to walk 45 minutes to an hour each day when I'm in the city. It was a nice experience, seeing groups of people (lot of students on field trips) seeing Grand Central for the first time. All of them were so happy and awed to be there.
As for the out of control bicyclists, that's a function of police no longer enforcing violations such as riding bikes on sidewalks or the wrong way on one way streets. You really need to be careful crossing streets these days by looking both ways as those bicycles now come from all directions. Then this is compounded by the CitiBike rentals, where you have tourists trying to navigate the streets with them. Somehow though, collisions with bikes are very rare, which amazes me. Most New Yorkers develop a really good sense of situational awareness.
You are so correct about how people need to get out more. I constantly read here about what a cesspool NYC is and many of those people have never actually set foot here, maybe they saw "Taxi Driver" and got their impressions of New York City that way.
I have always liked working here and it's not a bad place to visit either. There are plenty of YouTube videos that even I learn from about what to see and where to go in the city (that doesn't involve Times Square!).
” I constantly read here about what a cesspool NYC is and many of those people have never actually set foot here, maybe they saw “Taxi Driver” and got their impressions of New York City that way.”
I’ve noticed the same from many people who say they hate Southern California. Many of them have never been there.