East 20's in Manhattan - A Soundwalk

I live in the Brookdale Dormitory at East 25th Street in Manhattan. On a Monday afternoon at roughly 1:30 pm, I left the Hunter health science campus to began my sound walk. Although that area is technically along the border of Kips Bay, as I traveled from 1st avenue, along 23^rd street, to the area around Madison Square Park, my soundwalk is also reflective of the Gramercy and Flatiron neighborhoods.

The most persistent sound during my travels was the sound of my own two feet. I was wearing a pair of antique loafers with a heavy sole, which made a light clicking noise on the concrete. I did not expect to hear my size 5.5 shoes, even while listening carefully. I was also able to hear other footsteps, most noteably a women in her mid 20’s who could not walk in heels, and also the creak of an elderly women’s walker.

People created much of the noise of the area. This was especially so on street corners, where people waited for lights and buses, by businesses trying to promote themselves and in areas surrounding schools. The M23 was running slow, and the elderly waiting for the buses talked to one another. Businesses made the most deliberate attempts at sound signals- using sound to get the audiences’ attention. A man at the halal cart played American popular music on his radio. Music was also playing through the open doors of the Kool Blue Burger Joint. People distributing promotional materials often spoke while handing out cards. Their pleas were not unlike that of the homeless man sitting by the 6 train. I passed the School of Visual Arts and CUNY Baruch. Both schools had clusters of students around their respective buildings. The group in front of SVA was quite loud during their cigarette break. (I think that Lady Gaga’s male alter ego is old news.)

Cars and busses were also audible during my trip. I heard one ambulance siren, which makes sense as I was not far from the hospital at the start of my journey. I heard honking of horns. I could also heard the sound of seat lowering to accommodate a handicapped person on the bus.

My sound walk showed that there was more noise than I could have possibly remembered and that even a area that appears more residential than commercial has a lot of ambient noise during the day.