Tips on riding the Subway in New York?

Question

I am going to NYC in August for my 40th Birthday. It sems the best way to see New York is via the subway, but it seems a bit daunting !
Can you give me some hints and tips as to what to do, what not to do, places to go, how to pay, best times to travel etc ?

Answer 1

The temperature in New York in August is hell! It's hot and humid and what little air there is barely circulates between the tall buildings and the heat bounces up off the hot concrete. I don't have the words to describe what the subway platforms are like. The subways are airconditioned - they're very comfortable, but waiting for the train, especially if the platform is crowded, is an unbelievable experience. And, although we don't like to spread this around, in August, not all New Yorkers smell like Chanel No. 5. The stations that are two levels under - like 34th Street and West 4th Street are stations that I avoid during the summer. So, if you are taking a short ride, and, if you can, take the bus. There is probably a bus stop within four blocks of wherever you are in Manhattan.

You can purchase a MetroCard from the clerk in any subway station or groceries, drug stores, cigarette stands - look for a sign in the window that says MetroCards. You can get a one week unlimited card for $24, a one-day unlimited card for $7. A single ride is $2 and this entitles you to one subway and one bus ride or two bus rides, provided you use the second ride within two hours of the first ride; if I'm not staying long, I often go to my destination on the subway and return on the bus. Buses only take exact fare - and it has to be coins, no bills; the drivers don't make change. If you pay with coins, you can get a transfer for another bus (you have to ask the driver for a transfer), but, unless you use a MetroCard, you cannot use the paper transfer for the subway. Two people or more people can use the same card - you just dip the card once for each person - the transfers are automatically recorded on the cards. If you buy the unlimited cards, you each have to have your own. If you buy a $10 card, you get a free ride - 6 rides - so you have $12 worth of rides.
The trains (and most buses) run all night long. Get a free subway map and a bus map from the clerk in the subway station (they also have these maps in the libraries). You can read the maps on line:
http://www.brail.org/transit/nycall.html

You can get good travel instructions online at:
http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork
you put in the address of where you are going and where you are coming from and you get very detailed instructions - including walking directions.

If you carry a cell phone, put in the travel information number:
718] 330-1234; they answer the phones from about 6am to 10:30 pm and it's a very useful service.

Keep your wallet in an inside or front buttoned pocket. Be alert and don't be distracted - sometimes what looks like a fight is a set-up so that someone can pick your pocket - they're slick - one falls into you and the other one gets your money.

A great way to see the City is by taking bus rides (I don't mean the $50 bus with the tour guide - I mean the $2 bus) - riding the Fifth Avenue bus is an interesting ride - it goes through Central Park and passes the famous Fifth Avenue stores - Tiffany, Cartier, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center. When you want to see something up close, get off the bus. The Fifth Avenue bus goes downtown and ends in Greenwich Village at Washington Square Park (don't get roped into a chess game there - those chess hustlers are good).
Buy a copy of TimeOut New York magazine; it will tell you about all the concerts, museum exhibits, theatre, free events,designer sales, etc. It will help you plan your week.

You're going to have a great time - Happy Birthday

Answer 2

Have a subway map with you at all times. There are maps in the trains and on the stations, but knowing that there is one in your pocket is nice. It gets pretty hot in the subway during the summer, so keep that in mind. Rush-hour is crowded, but im not sure how crowded in the summer. Trains come, but very infrectuently, during the late night, so avoid riding them at that time. Also, go to the mta website to print out weekend changes, as some trains stop running for construction or other things, so listen to the announcements.

Almost all of the 4,5,6 and 2 trains are the new cars with a blinking map that shows you were you are, and has a pre-recorded announcer voice that says what stop you are at, what stop is next, and any other announcements, which is good, as it is sometimes hard to hear on the others.

To pay you use a metrocard, they can be purchased at the vending machines or a booth. There are single rides ($4.00=2 trips) Each ride costs $2.00. Depending on how much you will be using the subway, determine if you should spend the money to get an unlimited card. (They come in monthly or weekly, and you pay one amount, and can use them unlimited times during that week/month). Also if you buy a metrocard for $10, you get one ride free, if you buy a metrocard for $20, you get two rides free. The machines take cash, credit, and debit.

~P

Answer 3

The subway is convenient and fast, and will get you just about anywhere in the city. You don't necessarily "see New York" on the subway, but you DO get to places where you CAN see New York.

mta.info is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's website. All kinds of great info. You have to purchase a MetroCard to use the subway. If you get a bus within two hours of when you get on the subway, the transfer is free (same with bus-to-bus or bus-to-subway). Limit one transfer before you pay another fare.

Transfers to other trains within the same subway station are free, and that's unlimited; you don't swipe a card to get on a train, you swipe it to get into the station. From there, ride forever if you want.

The fare for subways, local buses, and limited buses is $2, but with every $10 of MetroCard you buy, you get one free fare (pay $10, get a $12 card, etc.).

Express buses are $5. Transfers to the subway or other buses are free. Transfers from a $2 fare to an express bus will add $3 more.

Get a map, and plan your route in advance. Know which trains run local and which run express. Maps are free at any station. You can also ask station agents or police officers. If you're not quite sure what to do, ask a few passengers. It takes some trial, and maybe even error. People are generally helpful if you ask them, I do the same sometimes when I'm off of my familiar routes, and I'm a lifetime native! But it's fairly easy to learn how it works.

Travel during the day, I feel very safe traveling from, say, 6 AM to about 9 or 10 PM, maybe slightly later depending on where you are. I just stay in busy places.

This town is a great walking town, as well! Take advantage of that. It's a cheap way to get a great tour.

Enjoy the trip, and make the most of it!

Answer 4

Maps of the system ar free. It's the subway system on one side and the bus system on the other. All the subway routes are color coded. Very easy to understand. A MetroCard purchased in the city is also good for Nassau County busses. The only two places you can't use metrocard is the Long Island Railroad and Suffolk County busses. Check out http://www.mta.info. All the information you'll need is there. I believe you shouls also be able to get subway and bus maps in Adobe Acrobat form. Upgrade to Adobe Reader V8 if you haven't done so already.

Answer 5

Actually the subway is not a good place to "see" NYC because it's hard to see anything from a hole in the ground. If you want to "see" things walk or take a bus. But if you want to get from points A to B that are more than a half mile or so apart, nothing beats the Subway. Yes the NY Subway is the most confusing subway in the world. The key to their use is planning your trip in advance. You can buy subway maps & every station & train car has multiple map boards. You can even print them out from the NYtransit web site. You start by looking for the stop closest to your destination. The maps show which trains stop there. (trains have either numbers or letters) Then look at the stop closest to your starting point. If the same train stops at both, congratulations. Then you need to know whether your destination lies North ("uptown) or South ("downtown"). All Manhattan trains run "uptown" or "downtown & keep their same letter designation. If the same train does not stop at the beginning & ending station, you'll need to look for a station where both lines intersect so you can transfer. (Transfers cost nothing. Once in the system you can ride all day) You may find yourself traveling out of your way to find a crossover. Before making your final pick of stations, read the key to the symbols at the station. All trains on the same line do not stop at all stations at all hours. NYC has "express" lines at some stations that have their own platforms & skip some intermediate stations. Some trains skip some stops outside of rush hour. All trips are paid for by using cards, which you can by at a vending machine inside the station. They use a touch screen menue & you can feed them cash or a credit or debit card. You can buy a single trip, multi-trip, all day pass or weekly pass, by just tapping the menu selection on the screen. The same card is used for buses & trains.

Answer 6

Well you need a metrocard its a card that you use to get on the train, you but it at the subway counter. its $2.00 for a single ride. so think about how many times you will be riding the train. they have special prices for unlimited rides or a week pass.


The subway is very easy, just ask for directions...i would travel after rush hour, about 10 am to befor rush hour or after rush hour which is anytime before 5 pm or after 6:30 pm.
the trains are way too packed at rush hour.

They are safe but be alert and act like your a local,, try to get on the middle car where the conducter is...safest car.

Please do not ride the subway after 11 pm at night, its dangerous.

if no one is in a subway car you enter, get on one where theres people.

good luck

Answer 7

There are lots of things to do and to see, so its a good idea to try to plan ahead. See Midtown Manhattan in 2 days, spend 1 day in chinatown (do ALL of your souvenier shopping there!! Pay in cash, and dont pay asking price), and you can hit little italy while your there, spend part of the day seeing lower manhattan...Trade Center site, statue of liberty, battery park, wall street.....The best cheesecake in NY is in brooklyn, its called juniors, and its a 10 minute subway trip from manhattan.

Another, tip...tip your waiter/waitress in cash, they like that, make it at least 20 percent, and they are probably the BEST tour guides in the city....they can tell you where the celebrities are, and whats good to see that night, or that weekend. All you've gotta do is ask.

And last tip, have fun.

Answer 8

I ride on the subway whenever I go to NY and it's great--very quick and easy. I would say people directions on what train to take before you leave your hotel because the ppl in the subway aren't so knowledgeable sometimes

Answer 9

Dont go,i heard that place is crazy.You might catch something or you might get caught.And i live here

Answer 10

Look this guy up for advice or maybe he's creepy so if you hang out with him people will leave you alone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJwy3_EUlLo