Subway Guide.
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CONTENT
New York City Subway Guide.
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Planning to Use the Subway.
11
Reading the Subway Map.
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How to Get Into the Subway?
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How Much Does it Cost?
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Before You Swipe Your Metro Card.
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You’ve Passed Through the Turnstile, Now What?
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Subway Safety Tips.
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New York City Subway Guide.
GUIDE
The New York City Subway System is the largest subway system in the world, with 468 train stations and 26 subway lines. Ridership reached 2.5 million per average weekday, 793 million annual in 2014. That’s one massive subway system used very frequently! One of the first questions that any one visiting NYC usually asks is, “should I use the subway system to get around town?” The answer to that question is a definite yes. Most natives will tell you that there is no better way to get around New York City then riding the subway. Its faster then driving (particularly in Manhattan), its relatively clean, and safe if you follow some easy suggestions. New York Subway Station Take a look at our New York City Subway Guide which will give you great tips on getting around New York City quickly, safely and for the least amount of money.
9
Planning to Use the Subway.
PLAN
Riding the New York City Subway System is easier than it has even been before thanks to the MTA TripPlanner. Now, all you have to do is turn on your smart phone, go to the TripPlanner website, plug in your current location and your destination, and the TripPlanner will give you three different routes to get you where you’re going by subway, bus or a combination of the two. You will also be able to print a customized map. Even with the TripPlanner and your smartphone, you’ll still need a Subway Map. You won’t be able to get an internet connection at most of the underground train stations or in the tunnels, so the old paper map is still a great tool to have. You should get a copy of a train map even if you’ve never been able to read a map in your entire life. They’re easy to use and extremely easy to get both before you arrive in the city and after.
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Reading the Subway Map.
READ
Once you have your map in hand, look for the map key, which any decent map should have. The key on a subway map will indicate how you can tell the difference between a local and express stop and what other train lines you can transfer to at that station.
Express and Local Trains Being able to tell the difference between a local and express train and the difference between a local and express train stop is one of the most important things to learn, and will save you a lot of time and frustration. On the official New York City map, the express stops are indicated by a white circle or bar. All trains on that line stop at express stops (yes even the local trains). Local stops are indicated by a black circle or bar. If the stop you want has a black circle next to it, don’t get on an express train unless you hear an announcement that says the train is making “all local stops”.
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Transferring Between Trains The ability to transfer between lines is one of the things that makes using the subway so quick and easy. If you again refer to the map key, you’ll see that the black or white “bars” indicate that you can catch trains from multiple lines at that station. Another way the map indicates that more than one train line runs on a particular route is that several letters or numbers are listed along the route. For an example, find Central Park on your map. If you look immediately to the left you’ll see that the A, C, B and D trains all run along Central Park on the west side and you can transfer between those 4 train lines at any of those stations along the way.
Uptown or Downtown If you are riding the subway in Manhattan, navigating the subway system is very easy. Manhattan is set up so that
the streets run across town from east to west, and the avenues run north and south. The southernmost part of Manhattan, or Downtown, has named streets, but as you travel uptown and reach 1st street, navigation is simple from there. So, as logic would tell you, if you’re entering the subway system at 14th street and you’re trying to get to 59th street you need an uptown train.
Here are a few more subway map reading tips. 1. Make note of the station before. If you keep in mind the station before the one you plan to get off at, you won’t have to wait till you see your station to move towards the doors. Very helpful if the train is crowded or you’re traveling with a group. 2. In Manhattan, the Bronx is up, Brooklyn is down - Bronx bound trains are always heading uptown and Brooklyn bound trains are always heading downtown.
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GET INTO
How to Get Into the Subway? Once you find a subway station, getting into the subway system is easy. The first thing you’ll need to do is get a MetroCard. New York Subway Token Machine Gone are the days of the subway token, and cash or coins cannot be used to pass through the subway turnstiles. You can get a MetroCard at the token booth in the station, at the MetroCard vending Machine (also located in the train station), or at many Newsstands, Delis, Bodegas and other neighborhood merchants around the city. The best feature of the MetroCard is that you can transfer from bus to bus, from bus to subway, or from subway line to subway line free of charge.
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How Much Does it Cost?
COST
Entrance into the New York City Subway Systems costs $2.75. However, there are several ways that you can reduce the cost of riding the subway. Card Type
Features
Pay Per Ride
Add as much money as you wish $5.50 to $80
Cost
7 Day Unlimited
7 Days of Unlimited Rides
$31.00
30 Day Unlimited
30 Days of Unlimited Rides
$116.50
If you are going to be in the city for 7 days, then the 7 day Unlimited MetroCard is the best value. Every time you re-enter the subway system or ride a bus (that doesn’t involve a free transfer), you reduce the cost of each trip. Keep in mind that once you use an unlimited MetroCard, whether its a 7 Unlimited or a 30 Day Unlimited, you cannot swipe the card at the same station for 18 minutes.
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M
M BEFORE SWIPE
Before You Swipe Your Metro Card. Look for any Service Advisory signs. These are very important because they let you know about any changes to subway service for the subway line you plan to ride. This is the time to get directions from the token booth clerk if you find that after reading the subway map you’re still not sure what train you should ride and which direction. Most New Yorkers don’t mind giving strangers directions, but truth be told, most of us natives still get on the wrong train from time to time, or only know the directions to places we frequent. So, for the most reliable directions, ask the token booth clerk. After all, that’s their job.
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NOW WHAT?
You’ve Passed Through the Turnstile, Now What? You’ve successfully entered the subway system, you know which train you need, and what station you want to get off at. Here are a few tips to make the rest of you trip a breeze. 1. Read the Signs. - Every subway platform has several Black and White signs letting you know what train going in which direction will arrive on either side of the train platform. 2. Let riders off before you get on. - You’ll notice a lot of natives don’t follow this advice (they want a seat), but its best to let those getting off get off first before you board. 3. Step lively please. - Don’t stroll onto the train. There are probably others trying to board the train behind you, and they don’t want to get crushed in the doors.
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4. Move to the center of the train car. - Again, many natives don’t follow this advice, but if you move to the center of the train car, its easier for others the board and exit the train. 5. Give your seat to the elderly, infirmed or the pregnant. - Please give up your seat to people with canes, crutches, casts, walkers and women who are pregnant if you are able-bodied. Its the right thing to do. 6. Pay attention to announcements. - Truthfully, you won’t understand the garbled announcements a good portion of the time, but you should still try to understand what’s being said. It could be important. 7. Cooperate with the Police. - Due to the times we live in, the police may ask to search your bags. Don’t take it personally.
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Subway
Once you know you can make a transfer from one train line to another at a particular train station, the actualNew York Subway Platform transfer is a breeze. In most instances, the various train lines run either on the same platform and you simply have to wait for the train you want to transfer to pull into the station, or you have walk a few stairs to a different platform. The Black and White Signs clearly indicate all transfers.
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Subway Safety Tips.
SAFETY
The New York City Subway system is the safest its been in
20 years. Here are some safety tips so that your trip on the subway will be a quick, easy and safe one.
1. Don’t run for your train. - Most accidents that occur in
the subway system are slips and falls. There’s another train coming, we promise.
2. Stand back from the platform edge. - You really don’t want
to fall on the tracks. It’s a pretty long fall, there’s a lot of electricity, and worse of all there’s rats.
3. Riding late? Ride with the conductor. - When I ride the train late at night (or early in the morning), I always ride in the car
where the conductor is standing. Generally, the conductor is in the fifth or six car.
4. Don’t travel between cars when the train is moving. - Again many Natives do it, but it’s dangerous. If you must change cars, try to wait until the train is stopped.
5. Stay alert. - Sleeping on the train, especially late at night when you are alone, is not the best idea.
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NYC Subway
Detailed Subway Map
Copyright Š 2018. Claudia Sergio. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.