How busy would the traffic be in New York on Boxing Day?

Question

will it be quieter than usual?

Answer 1

Here we do not celebrate Boxing Day.  I think that you will find traffic to be lighter than normal on this day because Christmas is on Thursday this year.  Many, if not most, businesses will close on Christmas Eve, often earlier than usual, and not bother to reopen on Friday for what historically would figure to be a low production day.  Schools are closed also. Some people will take this de facto vacation and leave town.

With all that being said, there are a couple of caveats.  Likely all traffic and parking rules will be in effect, meaning that if you are headed to Manhattan, you will be able to get there reasonably well, but parking will have to be done at a (usually expensive) garage.  The other thing to be wary of is the fact that there will be a lot of activity

around any of the big stores or shopping areas.  It is traditionally the start of clearance sales and merchandise returns

So, to your question, I will give a qualified yes.

Answer 2

New York traffic is always mental, cabs are a big percentage that make up the traffic.  Cabs work every day of the year there.  This is New York, people go there for Christmas.  New York, Manhattan, has been the worst place I have ever been for bad traffic, and driving in general.  Keeping in mind I haven't been to most places in the world, but they make London look like angels.  I was gobsmacked when I first went there, I thought I was going to dye in the first taxi I ever catched there.  Although New York is still one of my favourite places on earth, I love its madness.

In answer to you're question, I believe it will be slightly less, but it will still be mad.  ' the city that never sleeps', and how I hope it never changes.

Answer 3

Several years ago my daughter and I were in Manhattan for Christmas Day.

It was wonderful, we parked!! with little trouble and loved the quiet(er) and slow(er) pace.

The city had a casual and family air to it.

It IS quieter than a normal work day!

Generally the traffic consists mostly of cabs anyway, if you're holidaying - then there is no need to rush!

Though Boxing Day is not a public holiday in the US, I do think the few days around Christmas are the perfect time for wandering the city.

Answer 4

Boxing day??? This is America..NY traffic is always crazy.

Answer 5

if you were to ask the average New Yorker about "Boxing Day", s/he would have no idea what you were talking about.

around here, we usually call it "the day after Christmas", or, for those more religiously minded, "St. Stephen's Day" (like the "Feast of Stephen" from the carol "Good King Wenceslas")

other than that, traffic tends to be lighter than normal, but it's still an ordinary workday. however, more, or most people would take December 26th as a holiday if it falls on a Friday, so that you can make a long weekend out of it.

so for "Boxing Day" 2008, i'd expect traffic to be almost non-existent, but huge shopping and tourist crowds.

Answer 6

There is no "Boxing Day" in the US. The day after Christmas is just another working day. With that being said, traffic from mid-December till after New Years is a mess in NYC. Too many tourists wandering about without the faintest idea where they are going. If you want a "quiet" time in NYC wait until mid January.

Answer 7

no matter what day of the year, its always busy, conjested, people riding bikes into your car and just over all crazy