This is the method we use to pick a Rally Point for the Sunday Wander Society. Feel free to use this in your own wandering, or join us on Sundays at 3pm.

  1. New York City uses a BBL system (we're not kidding). Borough - Block - Lot. 5 boroughs. 43k blocks. 850k lots.
  2. Using this Random Number Generator we make 3 calculations.
  3. First, we choose a borough. Set the min to 1 and the max to 5. Then click generate and we have our borough (Borough Key below). Sometimes we cheat here for various reasons.
  4. Then we set the min and max using the Block Key below, selecting for the appropriate borough.
  5. Finally, we click on this link and look at the block on the map. Click the blue button to select Borough/Block, then enter the borough and block number. See how many lots there are on that block, then set the min to 1 and the max to the number of lots on the selected block.
  6. Now we have our location - on the sidewalk in front of that lot. From there we translate back into the street grid, and find the nearest unobtrusive place for a small group of people to gather.
  7. Note: The BBL system has changed over the years, so some numbers in the range don't exist. If you hit a dead block number, just re-roll it.

  1. Random Number Generator - https://www.random.org
  2. NYC Tax Map. - https://propertyinformationportal.nyc.gov

Borough Key

  1. Manhattan
  2. Bronx
  3. Brooklyn
  4. Queens
  5. Staten Island

Block Key

  1. Manhattan - Min 2 Max 2,255
  2. Bronx - Min 2,260 Max 5,655
  3. Brooklyn - Min 1 Max 8,955
  4. Queens - Min 6 Max 16,350
  5. Staten Island - Min 1 Max 8,050
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