# Running from NYPD across rooftops- can it be done? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495 "2013-07-03T00:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/1 "2013-07-03T00:23:32Z")
In movies/TV non-Spiderman types are always fleeing across New York City rooftops. Can you travel across building rooftops this way, even if you’re not running from the police? I don’t recall seeing this phenomenon in American films set anywhere except NYC. Are enough building set THAT close together? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/2 "2013-07-03T00:31:52Z")
There are some blocks where building are separated by only a skinny alleyway, or sometimes even directly connected. A lot of these have fences up to keep people from traveling from roof to roof, but not always. But the problem is that even in the best case scenario, you’re not going to be able to leave the block you’re on that way, as even a one-lane road is going to be too far to jump. So as an escape route, it leaves a lot to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/3 "2013-07-03T01:15:57Z")
As a kid in a smallish town, we used to sneak onto the roof of buildings downtown to watch parades. Once you got on the roof, you could travel to other buildings on the same block without much trouble. Of course, most of the buildings were only two stories tall, unlike NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/4 "2013-07-03T01:20:27Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I don’t recall seeing this phenomenon in American films set anywhere except NYC. _Vertigo_ opens with a rooftop chase in San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/5 "2013-07-03T01:26:19Z")
“Need answer fast!” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/6 "2013-07-03T01:57:45Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > _Vertigo_ opens with a rooftop chase in San Francisco. I had forgotten that. But then San Francisco movies usually feature roller coaster car chases through the city streets. I guess if I had given this some thought, I would have figured out that you’d have to stay in the same block… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/7 "2013-07-03T02:03:56Z")
Well, unless you’re in the Matrix, sure. The Hulk reboot had a rooftop chase scene, but it was set in a town in Brazil(?) where the streets were about four feet wide. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-nypd-across-rooftops-can-it-be-done/662495/8 "2013-07-03T02:14:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In movies/TV non-Spiderman types are always fleeing across New York City rooftops. Can you travel across building rooftops this way, even if you’re not running from the police? I don’t recall seeing this phenomenon in American films set anywhere except NYC. Are enough building set THAT close together? [Over the rooftops, Step in time!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2fMlg5WTMM) (Yes, I know, it’s not American)