Subways of New York City ????

Question

First time visitor to NYC and will be using the subways for transportation. What is the best way to understanding the subway systems if you have NEVER used them?

Answer 1

Maps are everywhere, on the trains, on the platforms, in bodegas and they are pretty self explanatory.

Since you are a tourist, always take the local trains rather than the express ones as you may end up missing your stops.

As far as etiquette is concerned, don't stare at people on the train, just keep to yourself. If your with family or friends, have conversations but keep them low-key; no one wants to hear about your life. The subway is where most people just want to be left alone as most are either on their way home from work, school, or are just tired.

Stay out of the way of foot traffic! if you get lost, pull out your map real stealthy, but move to the side so you dont block people. this is concerned of new yorkers biggest pet peeves as tourists as well as inconsiderate fcuks seem to just stop and stare thus holding up everyone elses day.

Saftey is pretty good on the trains nowadays, especially during the days. Dont give to beggers as most are crack heads or hustlers that beg for a living because its more profitable then the minimum wage job they could ever get. Dont believe the sob stories they tell you! As a matter of fact, dont even acknowledge them, however keep them in the corner of your eye because they definately know your a tourist (you cant help it, its just obvious to us all lol)

Pick up a weekly fun pass which you can buy at any station. itll last all week and will be unlimited so you only end up ever paying once.

Just as a side note, stay off the Lexington Avenue Line (#4,#5,#6) trains as well as the Broadway/7th Avenue Line (#1,#2,#3) trains during rush hour as they get very crowded and as a first time visitor here, it may be too much for you to handle.

Other than that, you should be fine. Have a good time and be sure to see more than Times Square as there is so much more to New York than that. In fact, most natives never really go there as its seen as cliche, passe, and essentially non-new york.

Have fun!

Answer 2

The MTA website people have listed is great and Manhattan is somewhat straigh forward. Also check out www.hopstop.com for a simple way to get some information on where and how long a trip will be.

Most of the trains will be a North/South configuration and crosstown trains are fewer but be careful about when you're leaving the core areas you want to be in. Some trains run express or local depending on the time of day so pay attention to that on the MTA site (maps) as they indicate this with a half moon icon of some sort.

The 7 day unlimited is the best deal and can be used on the buses as well for free transfers. Not good if you're travelling with another person since you can't use them immediately after a swipe so people can't share.

Have Fun

Answer 3

Get a small purse- or pocket-sized map of the subways. Many map stores will probably have them. I have a popout map that has the subway map imprinted. When you check your route, do so discreetly. Read the signs for where to go--they're pretty good in the system. The MetroCard machines are pretty easy to use and the touch-screen system will walk you through it.

The exits will point to which street corner you will be at (i.e., NW corner of 8th Avenue and 34th Street, for example), but it's sometimes easy to get a bit turned around, especially south of 14th Street, as the maps don't indicate which way to walk.

If you've ever been to a large city, you will get a sense of how to behave in crowds. It's not much different in the subway.

Answer 4

The system is over 100 years old. It's clean enough. It's by far the most reliable form of transportation around New York City. Those "nicer" systems in other cities are much newer systems, like the one in Washington DC for example. But the NY subway, as it is, is quintessential New York. New York City would not be New York City without it. It's a significant part of the culture of the city, and the way of life of it's residents.

Answer 5

Look at the map at www.mta.info, and pick up a free paper one at a subway station once you get there. Study it, preferably in the privacy of your hotel room, well enough to know where you're staying and what lines go there, as well as what an express stop looks like on the map. Then plan your route before heading out for the day. It is generally not hard to plan travel using the map alone, but you can also go on www.hopstop.com/newyork for point-to-point directions by subway between any two addresses in the City.
Depending on how long you're staying and how much you plan to walk v. ride the train or take cabs, you may wish to buy an unlimited weekly MetroCard or a fixed-cost one (e.g. pay $20 for twelve trips)

Answer 6

if you're staying and traveling within Manhattan then take the local trains, not the express, because you'll really get lost if you take the express trains

second, get a map, you can get them in the subway token booth or from the tourist information center (7 ave and 53rd street). study the map with care. each line is color coded. for example:

the number 1, 2 and 3 lines are in red
the A, C and E lines are in blue
the B, D, F and V lines are in orange
the N, R, Q and W lines are in yellow
the 4, 5 and 6 lines are in green
the L line is in silver
the 42nd street shuttle is in black
and the 7 line is in purple

now, the last three lines that i mentioned (the 7, the L and 42nd street shuttle runs west to east. only the L and 7 lines continues onto the outer boroughs)

again, my advice take the local trains. here are the trains that operates as local service in manhattan:

the number 1 line running local from the bronx to south ferry (all stops)

the C line running local from upper manhattan to brooklyn (all stops in manhattan)

the E line running local from 53rd street/lexington to chambers street/wtc (all stops)

the B line running local from the bronx to 47-50 street/rockefeller center (all stops along 8 avenue/central park west)

the F and V lines running local from the upper east side to east broadway (all stops)

the R and W lines running local from 59th street/lexington to to lower manhattan (all stops)

the 6 line running local from the bronx to city hall (all stops)

on the map the local stations have a black dot and the express/local stations have a white dot. stations with connections to other lines are also in white.

third, know where your going because the signs are sometimes very confussing. if your not sure where going don't be affaired to ask a native new yorker, like me, a cop or transit worker.

fourth, my big advice, try to get onboard the train in the 4th or 5th car. that's where the conductor is located that way you can asked he/she how to get to your destination (yes, NYC subways still have conductors).

fifth, if your staying for a week, my advice is get a 7-day metrocard, which is a card that gets you unlimited rides on to the subway and bus. if your in town for few days then get a 1 day metrocard. now, if more than one person is traveling with you, each person must have a card. when your at the turnstyle (or the barrier machine), please take you time and swipe the card slowly, and wait for the green light to come on telling you to go. also, treat your card with care, put it in your wallet so that the magentic strip does not get scrattched.

sixth: try, i mean try as you might, not to ride the subway during morning rush hour. that's the time commuters from the rest of the city and the suburbs are going to work and the trains are packed. take the subway sometime after 10am.

seventh, and this is a little side note, since this is the holidays, this is a prime time for pick-pocketers, so men keep your wallets in your front pants pockets. ladies please carry your hand bag "messenger-style," with the straps across your body like a messenger's bag and in front of you. if possible carry something that less visible to pickpocketers.


below are like to some sites with more information about the subway and the city itself.

enjoy your stay in NYC

Answer 7

Make sure you get a map (free at any subway booth) and then, if you have access to the internet try using www.hopstop.com. It's like mapquest for subways. I couldn't live in NY without it! Well, I could, but it wouldn't be as easy. :-)

Answer 8

Get a map:
http://www.nycsubway.org/maps/

Useing the subway is complex only if you do not understand the streets that are above it. The System is pretty easy if you stick to Manhattan,

-luck

Answer 9

whatever you do, do NOT refer to any subway line by the COLOR represented on the map, but rather by the NUMBER or LETTER of the line itself.

i think this feature of the Subway Map leads to much of the confusion among visitors.

each train name is its own distinctive line but share the same tracks for long stretches of the system, and the colors are important only insofar as they group families of lines together on the train and station signage, and are supposed to make the map less cluttered and easier to read.

Answer 10

Use a MAP here is the link http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm I assume your doing the toursit attractions in Manhattan....Its simple and pretty easy to get around.....IF you happen to get on the wrong train or miss your stop dont panic just get off at the next stop and start all over agian....IF your staying a few days i would reccomend you buy a metro card and refill the card on a as needed basis if your doing the one day trip then get a fun pass!! Have Fun and enjoy yourself!!!