New York City Wanderers

ABOUT THIS GROUP

My name is Bruce and I’m the founder of the Meetup group I named: New York City Wanderers. My goal is to create an independent group of friends and would be friends who enjoy walking and hanging out together. It is designed for people who are fit and in reasonably good shape and who want to get some exercise while exploring NYC. The events we conduct will all revolve around relatively fast paced walking.

I am also the Founder of the Meetup group called NYC Hiking Tours which has been in existence for nearly ten years now.

This group will be independent of NYC Hiking Tours but on a few occasions there may be some interaction between both groups.

We will only conduct a limited number of events each year in this group. I like to think that all the events we conduct will be fun and interesting. For example, we’ll sometimes do: fast paced art gallery hops in different neighborhoods, relatively fast paced walking tours where I will provide commentary, events which include a hike and then a mini self defense session in a controlled beginner friendly environment where the emphasis will be on practical street self defense etc, etc.

Events might be conducted on some weekdays or week nights as well as weekends.

I anticipate that the group size on an event will be relatively small-certainly at first.

On most events, I will not require a monetary contribution. However, when I do a tour and provide commentary, I will require a contribution but the amount of that contribution is entirely up to you and there is always a money back guarantee if you feel I have not earned your contribution.

Again, I like to think all events we conduct will be a lot of fun and interesting. However, I do take the RSVP process very seriously. Although most folks in Meetup are reliable and considerate, unfortunately too many are not. In other words, there will be no place in the group for anyone who abuses the RSVP process. I am just asking that all members be considerate to me and others in the Group and everyone act responsibly.

I will require that members use a real first name unless I know them and there is a legitimate reason for the use of that nickname.
When you sign up for your first event, I require that you send me your personal e-mail to my e-mail address which will be listed on the event description. Some folks in Meetup do not get meetup messages or look at the messages that are actually sent to them. I ask for your e-mail address so it can help me more effectively communicate with members.

I also ask that you answer a few simple questions in SOME detail when you join the group.The reason I do this is that some folks indiscriminately click to join a group and RSVP for an event without any real intention to join or participate in that group’s activities. And that’s a waste of everybody’s time and can sometimes affect a members opportunity to attend an event if a waitlist is used.
Meetup Details will only be provided to those who RSVP and are never publicized on the website.

ABOUT ME

I’ve been a licensed NYC sightseeing guide for nearly 20 years. It’s a hobby. I have led tours in different parts of New York City for tourists from all over the world, camp kids, locals who want to learn more about the City, college and alumni groups and even a fairly large group of Danish architects (coincidentally, I once lived in Copenhagen while I was in college). I have also led tours for Open House New York years ago and the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC). At one time, I was also a volunteer hike leader for probably the premier hiking club in the Northeast where I have led tours in the woods upstate and in New York City for 15 years.
In July 2018, a novel I wrote called You Gotta Have Heart was published. It's a coming of age story about an orphaned boy growing up in New York City. Some of the most memorable scenes of the book take place in areas of New York City that we will tour in. The book is suitable for both adults and children.

Healthy living is very important to me. I spend a lot of time exploring NYC, read a lot, enjoy listening to music and watching movies and I have extensive training in the martial arts and even regularly train to this day. I also have a large collection of art work the entirety of which is hanging up in my apartment.

WAIVER AND RELEASE

Your participation in any activities of New York City Wanderers is your acknowledgement that you are solely responsible for your own assessment of your abilities and your physical fitness to participate in that activity.
Walkers must be physically fit. There are always inherent risks that can cause or lead to injury, property damage, illness, emotional trauma, disability or death to participants or others when participating in an activity. Some, but not all of these risks include: hazardous and unpredictable ground, water or weather conditions, traffic conditions, misjudgments made by the leader or a participant, the potential that the participant or others may act carelessly or recklessly, etc. etc. New York City Wanderers cannot assure a participant’s safety or eliminate any of these risks. The participant is voluntarily participating in any activity conducted by New York City Wanderers with knowledge of these risks and therefore a participant must accept full responsibility for the inherent and other risks (both known and unknown) of these activities, and for any injury, damage, death or other loss suffered by the participant.

By joining any event conducted by New York City Wanderers, the participant agrees to release and not sue New York City Wanderers, and/or Bruce Bernstein with regard to any and all claims, liabilities, suits, or expenses (including reasonable costs and attorney’s fees) for any injury, property damage, illness including the corona virus, emotional trauma, disability or death to participants or others in any way connected with the participation in an activity. Should a participant bring an action against New York City Wanderers and/or Bruce Bernstein despite this waiver of liability that participant will be responsible for any and all attorneys fees incurred by New York City Wanderers and/or Bruce Bernstein in defending such action.