Be mindful - NYC is a very busy and crowded city and New Yorkers tend to be in hurry and are very determined walkers. In a city of 8.6 million people with another 1.5 million commuters there are unwritten rules that make it possible for us to all live together peacefully – people live here.
So rather than block the sidewalk or the crosswalk, step aside to look at your map or whatever other things you need to do. It’s just like driving, you wouldn’t stop in the middle of the street. Oh, and the respect you'll get for being mindful! Just think of it as etiquette.