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Subway, New York City

World Trade Centre Subway Station nyc usa - New York City
World Trade Centre Subway Station nyc usa
by johnsakura
Subway tips and advice posted by real travelers and New York City locals.
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Subway: Understanding the NYC subway
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  • shutterlust
  • Updated By shutterlust on January 26, 2007
  • New York City Page by shutterlust
  • There are SEVERAL trains in New York. However, most run of the same line. Example: the 4-5-6 train (green). The 4-5 is an EXPRESS train and the 6 is a LOCAL train. This means that the EXPRESS (4-5) stops at only CERTAIN stops...not every single one. The LOCAL trains stop at EVERY stop.

    If you're unused to NYC subways, take the LOCAL trains. At least you will be sure that you don't miss your stop, if the Express train does not stop at your particular stop.

    When you're in the station looking for which direction you should go in, you need to figure out two things. 1) what line do you need? 2) what direction?

    The line you need will be a number or a letter. We don't discern our subway lines by color. You don't need any NAMED direction (ie. what's the last stop on a line?) but rather, you need to know whether you're going UPTOWN or DOWNTOWN, WESTSIDE or EASTSIDE.

    With the MetroCard (which is what we call ANY ticket for the subway/bus) you can reuse it for a free transfer (up to 2 hours) to another train or bus as long as it's at the same area/stop (If you get off at 59th St by subway, you can transfer for a bus on 59th Street for free). Unlimited MetroCards also have the free transfer feature, but two riders can't use one unlimited MetroCard to enter the subway at the same time. Eighteen minutes must elapse before the card can be used again.

    If you have to stand on the train, move out of the way when the doors open at a stop so that people can get onto the train. Likewise, wait for people to get off the train before boarding. Normally, people waiting to get on a train will wait towards the sides while people getting off the train will alight in the middle of the crowd.

    The subway runs 24 hours, but during late hours, you could wait up to an hour. If you choose to ride the subway at night, wait for the train near the station booth and ride in the center car, where the conductor is, so you will have more company.

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  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://www.mta.info/
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    Subway: How to ride a subway like a NEW YORKER
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  • Sexy_European
  • Updated By Sexy_European on October 13, 2005
  • New York City Page by Sexy_European
  • Subway - New York City
    by Sexy_European
    Too many times riding a subway I see these pathetic people that look so touristy, and lost it's sad. I'm here to help you to use a subway like a real New Yorker. Here we go:

    1. If you're staying more than a day buy a weekly unlimiyed pass ($21.00). Single fare cost $2.00. You will save money buying unlimited pass.

    2. When you're at the platform DO NOT stand near the edge. There's a couple incidents a year when some crazy bastard pushes a person under a train. OUTCH!

    3. To find out which way the subway is going just look for the name of the last stop.

    4. The're constant route changes look for flier and announcements.

    5. There are FREE subway maps for you, just ask for it at the ticket counter. But don't go walking around with your map, you will look touristy.

    6. Riding the subway DO NOT (LISEN UP!!!!!) look at people, smile, make contact. THere are weirdos that can attack you, harras you and more. Did you notice how New Yorkers all read or sleep while riding the subway.

    7. Do not buy subway cards from strangers, they're FAKE!

    8. BE careful and look after your valuables, do not let anyone brush up against you! If this happens, find a cop, or subways security at the stop. Start shouting, if you see something suspiscious!

    9. When you get on a subway as a group do no have a loud conversation that will let everyone know you're a tourist, you can get followed, and mugged.

    10. The subway is open 24 hours, the trains come more freaquently during the peak hours, and come every 20 minutes after 12am. Watch your back if you're riding a subway late at night. BE safe!

    If you follow these tips and have comon sense you will be fine.

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  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://www.mta.info/
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    Subway: How to Navigate the Subway Like a Native
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  • lisa_lise
  • By lisa_lise on December 20, 2004
  • New York City Page by lisa_lise
  • Description:
    1. If you're going to take a lot of buses or subways, buy a 7-day unlimited use card from any of the subway stations. It's $21 and can be used for buses and the subway, and it expires at midnight on the 7th day.

    2. Take a few minutes to orient yourself with the subway map. You can pretty quickly see which train brings you back to your hotel. I found out that subway workers are a lot nicer to you if you say, "Where can I catch the 6?" than if you say, "How can I get to 575 Broadway from here?"

    3. Sometimes you'll run into a swipe mechanism that repeatedly rejects your card. This starts out as mildly embarrassing and then escalates into a seriously maddening situation. This happened to me a couple times, and finally a girl showed me the solution: you have to fold up a piece of paper and run it through the swipe mechanism, to clean it out. The paper comes out black with dirt and presto, magic-o, your metro card works the next time through.

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  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://www.mta.info/
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    Subway: New York Subway
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  • sue_stone
  • Updated By sue_stone on August 15, 2004
  • New York City Page by sue_stone
  • on the subway - New York City
    on the subway
    by sue_stone
    The subway is the quickest way to get around town.

    It can be a little confusing at first - there are several different lines and plenty of interchanges..... but once you get the hang of it you never need to have tired feet again!!

    Grab a subway map from one of the stations and plan the easiest route to your destination.

    Give it a try - you'll like it!!

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  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
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    Subway: The Subway
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  • travelfrosch
  • Updated By travelfrosch on August 14, 2009
  • New York City Page by travelfrosch
  • South Ferry/Whitehall Station - New York City
    South Ferry/Whitehall Station
    by travelfrosch, 2 more photos
    While New York is surprisingly walkable for a big city, you'll usually find the subway is faster. Before you start off, your best bet is to go to a subway station booth and ask for a subway map. It is an extensive listing of the entire subway system, including a list of which trains stop at which stations (bold means the line stops there all the time, while regular text means the line stops there sometimes). The back of the map even includes a schematic of the Metro North and Long Island Railroad commuter rail systems. Best of all, "The Map" (as it's called) is free. NOTE: While it is normally safe to consult the map while on the Subway (in fact, you'll find more than a few locals doing just that), use common sense and don't open the map in a situation where it might be dangerous if someone thinks you don't know exactly where you're going.

    As for fares, the system is straightforward: a ride on the Subway costs $2.25. While it is possible to purchase a single fare card, it's almost always a better value to at least purchase a "pay-per-ride" Metrocard of at least $4.50. This will allow you to make certain transfers you will not be allowed to do with a single-ride farecard. In addition, if you purchase a pay-per-ride Metrocard worth more than $8, you will get a 15% bonus (e.g., if you buy a $45 Metrocard, you will get $51.75 -- or 23 rides -- worth of fare). Up to four people are also allowed to ride on a single pay-per-ride Metrocard; simply slide (or, in the case of local buses, "dip") your card once for each person.

    For tourists who want to make multiple trips in a short time, the Unlimited Ride cards can be a good value. The options range from a 1-day "fun pass" for $8.25, a 7-day card for $27, and a 30-day card for $89. As a rule, if you plan to stay in New York City for more than 3 days, the 7-day card is the best idea for a stress-free stay; purchase the card, ride the Subway (and local buses) whenever you want, and forget it. Note that, unlike a pay-per-ride card, an Unlimited Ride card is only valid for one person; the same card cannot be used twice at the same station within 18 minutes.

    To use a Metrocard in the Subway, with the colored side facing you, quickly slide the card through the turnstile slot back to front in the direction of the arrows on the bottom of the card. To use a Metrocard on a bus, be sure the colored side of the card is facing you and the clipped corner is pointed up. "dip" the card into the slot and wait for the beep confirming the card was read properly. Bus drivers are generally reasonably patient helping tourists insert the card correctly.

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    Subway: MTA New York City Transit
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  • Yaqui
  • By Yaqui on August 9, 2004
  • New York City Page by Yaqui
  • Subway - New York City
    by Yaqui
    We used the Metro system to get to the Battery Park to get to the fairies to take us to Liberty Island. We got on the Red number 1 train and took us directly there and back. It is $2.00 one ride, one way and if you want to use it more, they have a fun pass for $7.00 unlimited for one day. The Metro machines were very easy to use too. The police were very helpful in directing you to the right train too!

    Travel information:
    Travel Information Center 1-718-330-1234
    Travel information for non-English-speaking people 1-718-330-4847
    Travel information for people with disabilities 1-718-596-8585
    (TTY) 1-718-596-8273
    Main offices 1-718-330-3000
    Customer service 1-718-330-3322
    (TTY) 1-718-596-8273
    Bus customer relations center 1-888-692-8287
    Lost and found 1-212-712-4500
    Access-A-Ride information

    Applications and eligibility
    Reservations
    1-877-337-2017
    1-646-252-5252
    (TTY) 1-646-252-5104
    (TTY) 1-646-252-5287

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  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/
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    Subway: Ride the subway
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  • toonsarah
  • By toonsarah on November 11, 2008
  • New York City Page by toonsarah
  • Subway train - New York City
    Subway train
    by toonsarah, 4 more photos
    You haven’t really experienced New York until you’ve travelled on the subway, but as well as being a quintessential New York experience it is also the quickest and easiest way of getting around. The map may look confusing at first, but to anyone used to similar systems in other cities it’s easy enough to pick up. The main things you need to know are:
    ~ lines are distinguished by a number or letter, not their colour (though the latter helps with the map reading)
    ~ as well as knowing the number or letter you’ll need to know whether you’re going uptown or downtown or east or west
    ~ some lines are express ones and only stop at a limited number of stations, so check whether you’ll be able to alight at your destination before selecting which line to use
    ~ some lines don’t run at weekends but these are usually those that are duplicated by another (e.g. express) line so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem – listen for announcements though as you could wait a long while for a train that will never come!

    A single fare is $2 for anywhere in the city but if you’re planning to make more than a few journeys you’ll probably find a Metrocard (multi-trip card) to suit you. We bought 7 day unlimited cards, which cost $25 and saved us quite a lot - we were making several journeys a day and by the middle of day four these were all “free”. The card can also be used on buses, making it even better value. Other options include cards for shorter or longer periods, or ones which you can pre-load with cash to use on a journey by journey basis – useful perhaps if you’re staying for a period that doesn’t fit with the standard cards or aren’t expecting to make so many journeys. You can buy your card from the machine at all subway stations (though note that it wouldn’t accept our UK debit card), from ticket booths, in some shops and on buses.

    The subway runs 24 hours a day, though with fewer trains at night. We didn’t use it after the early evening – not because we felt unsafe but because we never needed to. However friends living in the city seemed comfortable using it at around 10.00 PM after an evening out together and advice in guide-books suggests the same. During the day we never felt threatened and indeed enjoyed the people-watching opportunities and at times chatting to the local people we met.

  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://www.mta.info/nyct/subway/index.html
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    Subway: NYC Subway System
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  • Gypsystravels
  • Updated By Gypsystravels on December 5, 2007
  • New York City Page by Gypsystravels
  • A passing train - New York City
    A passing train
    by Gypsystravels
    The best and most economical way to travel around NYC is by subway. NYC has the largest subway sysytem with 24 hr service 7 days a week. The system with its labyrinth of networked connections is quite easy to follow and navigate. Most New Yorkers commute every day to and from work on this vast system, so during the peak commuting times many of the lines that run local during off peak times are express during peak time.

    Morning peak time is from 6 am - 10 am afternoon peak time is from 4 pm - 7 pm. During off peak and weekends there is usually many changes on the lines due to constuction work, so be on the lookout for signs posted throughout the subway and on their webiste.

    Most commuters use the weekly or monthly METROCARD which can be purchased at any station with cash or credit card. The machines are self explanitory and depending on the station provided instuctions in various languages. If you are in NYC or only a day purchase the ALL DAY Pass for $7.

    For further information about the subway system and mapping your route, check out their website. Make sure to grab a free map from the station clerk.

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  • Theme: Train
  • Website: http://www.mta.info/
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    Subway: Navigating the NY Subway System
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  • gilabrand
  • Updated By gilabrand on July 23, 2009
  • New York City Page by gilabrand
  • Amazing maze - New York City
    Amazing maze
    by gilabrand
    Now, I am far from being an expert in how to get around on the New York subway system. I rode the subway plenty in my day (I used to take the Flushing train to Manhattan several times a week as a teenager) but that was decades ago. Even then, I would goof on occasion, ending up in all sorts of places where it was not really safe for a skinny blonde to be walking around on her own. But New Yorkers claim their city is much safer today, thanks to its 107th mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, whose get-tough policies are said to have reduced crime by half.

    On visits to New York to visit my siblings, I have had opportunities to get back into a subway car and relive the steamy crush of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers frantically rushing around below ground. Only now I go armed with trusty facts and figures.

    The IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit company), which operated New York’s first subway line, recently celebrated its centennial. It opened on October 27, 1904, and ran from City Hall to the Bronx. Today, the subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With 722 miles of track and 469 stations, NYC has the most extensive public transit system in the U.S. Trains run every 2-5 minutes during rush hour, every 10-15 minutes on off-hours, and every 20 minutes from midnight to 5 a.m. There are local and express trains. The “El” is the elevated line.

    In the span of a century, fares rose 3,900 % – from a nickel in 1904 to $2 in 2004. Subway tokens were phased out by 2003. Now you purchase a MetroCard, which comes in various denominations. Reduced fares are available for students, seniors and disabled. This card is also good for buses. If you are like me, distrustful of vending machines, you might prefer to buy yours from a living, breathing human being - which, luckily, is still possible.

    Remember: Once you go through a gate or turnstile, you have to pay again to get back in. So before you get caught up in the mad dash and go where everyone else seems to be going (as I did), make sure you are headed in the right direction…
    Update: From July 2009, the fare for a single ride rose to $2.25.

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    Subway: The best way to get around
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  • Mahieu
  • By Mahieu on October 27, 2004
  • New York City Page by Mahieu
  • Subway - New York City
    by Mahieu
    Taking the subway in New York is quite easy... after a couple of days. The most important thing to know is if you are going uptown or downtown. Once you know that, at least you're in the right direction.
    Just be careful about express or local trains. I was already happy that I found the right line, but unfortunately, I was on an express train, so it didn't stop where I had to get off. :-)
    There are big wall maps in every subway station, so even if you've taken the wrong line, it's easy to get back on the right track afterwards.

    If you stay for quite some time and you're planning on taking the subway often, then it's better to take a day-pass or week-pass. These can be bought inside the subway stations.

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  • Theme: Subway/Metro
  • Website: http://www.mta.info/
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