The subways and most buses run 24 hours a day, and taxis are ubiquitous. Manhattan is clearly a metropolis, and, like other urban centers, it has its share of crime. With 24-hour guards in residences and escort services, Columbia provides excellent security in and around campus, which goes above and beyond citywide police protection. With common sense and simple precautions, New York is a safe and secure place in which to live and work. Although New York is one of the largest urban centers in the nation, one can nevertheless find refuge away from city life.
Central Park is one of the most spectacular municipal parks in the nation.
Covering 843 acres, it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and was completed in 1873. One can get away from city life by sunbathing, biking, roller-blading, horseback riding, or simply walking and enjoying trails through the park. For more adventures, other major eastern cities such as Washington, D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia and resort areas at Lake Placid and in the Cat skills are readily accessible by train or bus. Without a doubt, New York is an exciting and unique place. There are few others in the world where such a mixture of talented individuals, creative energy, and diverse cultures coexist.