Filed under: practical information, subway, top-feature, transportation
A Beginner’s Guide to the Subway in NYC
Anyone who has traveled to New York City has been struck with one particular dilemma: to hop in a cab, or figure out the subway? The truth is, while cabs are often convenient, they are not always the best way to go. Depending on where you’re going and the time of day, it is possible for your cab to be stuck in such an enormous traffic jam that you miss your dinner reservation, theater curtain, or any other time-sensitive event. Instead of always relying on cabs, a short introduction to the efficient subway system in NYC will ensure you get where you’re going: fast. It’s still the best, most efficient, and quickest way to get around the city.
The Basics:
- A subway map. A good old-fashioned map will do, but even better is one on your smartphone that you can zoom in on certain neighborhoods. This will allow you to see at precisely what intersection your desired stop is located. The subway map will not only help you decide what line you need to take, but will help you to locate the station itself. [Don't just wing it and assume you'll stumble across a station - using a map to identify at what intersection a station is located will ensure you get where you're going efficiently. Ask someone on the street if you're having trouble finding a specific stop.]
- Finding the Subway: Subway stations are located usually on corners / intersections. Look for the large, black sign that will tell you the name of the stop, and the subway lines you will find at that station. Many stations also have a green railing around the stairs that lead underground.
- A MetroCard. To use the subway system in NYC, you will need a MetroCard. These are for sale at kiosks where you can talk to a representative, or at one of the many touchscreen sales machines. These are simple and easy to use. A basic fare costs $2.25.
- Local vs. Express. The biggest mistake people make about using the NYC subway system is not knowing the difference between local and express trains. On the subway map, stops that are depicted with a black circle are local stops. Stops that are depicted as white circles serve both local and express trains. [Express trains skip many stations between stopping, allowing you to cover large distances even faster].
- Your First Subway Experience: Every city has its own system – here is how it works in New York. You walk down the stairs into a subway station. Buy a MetroCard from the a kiosk, or from the simple touchscreen machine. [These machines accept cash or credit cards]. Swipe your MetroCard, strip facing down, and walk through the turnstile. [The balance of your MetroCard will be displayed FYI]. Once inside the station, you then choose which direction / train to get on. If you’re going Uptown [north] follow these signs. If you’re going Downtown [south] follow these signs. Unlike other cities where you need to swipe your card to exit the station, this is not the case in New York. Simply pass through the turnstiles again as you exit, no swipe required.
On first glance, the subway map might look intimidating, but the system is actually pretty easy to use (especially compared to other cities and countries). Glancing at the map, the first thing the observant traveler will notice is that the majority of the subway lines run north to south, or on a smaller scale, east to west. The three most important lines for visitors to New York City are the A C E line on the west side (running north to south) the 1 2 3 line on the west side (north to south) and the 4 5 6 line (running north to south). From these three lines, it is possible to visit any New York attraction from the Natural History Museum to the Brooklyn Bridge to High Line Park.
- Take the A C E line to 34th Street / Penn Station to attend an event at Madison Square Garden, to West 4th Street to see Washington Square, or to 81st Street to go to the Museum of Natural History.
- Take the 1 2 3 line to 66th Street / Lincoln Center to attend the Metropolitan Opera, to South Ferry to visit Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty, or Canal Street to visit Chinatown.
- Take the 4 5 6 line to explore attractions on the East Side, such as 42nd Street to visit Grand Central Station, Spring Street to go shopping in SoHo, or 14th Street to visit Union Square.
- TIP: The subway system in New York is color coded. While this will help you to read the subway map, don’t refer to the colors if you’re asking directions. Residents refer to the subway by the number or letter, not by the color.
Many visitors to NYC wonder what MetroCard is right for them. The answer is that every traveler will have their own needs – and the first thing to figure out is how much you plan on using the subway system. The basic option is a pay-per-ride MetroCard. With this option, travelers add cash to their MetroCard ($20 for example) and the money runs down with each journey, similar to a debit card. A small bonus is given for larger denominations of money, such as a $3 bonus on a $20 MetroCard.
The next option is the Unlimited Ride MetroCard. This Unlimited Ride card has more choices, including a 1-day Fun Pass, a 7-day unlimited card, a 14-day unlimited card, and a 30-day unlimited card. The cost of the 1-day Fun Pass is $8.25. If you only plan on using the subway once or twice a day, this card will be a waste of money. On the other hand, if you plan on using the subway four times or more a day, this 1 day pass is a great deal. The 7-day unlimited card costs $27. This brings the cost down per day to about $3.85. If you plan on using the subway more than once a day for 7 days, this is a great deal. The 14-day tickets costs $51.50, at a cost of $3.67 a day.
Readers might be asking themselves – what if I don’t know how much I’m going to be using the subway? The answer that this New York resident would give is to use the pay-per-ride. This card is also a good deal because multiple people in the same group can use the same card. That’s right, you can swipe the card, pass through the turnstile, and pass the MetroCard back to family and friends for them to swipe. There’s no need for everyone in your party to have their own card, and this way, it’s more likely that you will use all of the cash you added to your MetroCard.
Extra Tips:
- When a train approaches the station, many people who are unfamiliar with the subway system don’t know whether the train is a local or an express train. Take a look at the sign above the track, which will designate whether trains are local or express. At a station that handles both express and local trains, when you go down the stairs, there will be a track to your right and to your left. One is express and one is local. The local train is slower, stopping at every station. The express station will get you to your destination faster, if your destination is one of the stops on the express itinerary.
- Electronic signs on the front and side of the train will tell you the final destination on a train’s itinerary. This serves as a confirmation that the train is heading in the direction you want to go, such as World Trade Center. This is the last stop on the E train. If you want to go to the JFK Airport, you don’t want to get on the E train heading for the World Trade Center – this is the wrong direction.
- Of the many trains that go to Brooklyn, the A and C trains provide great access to the Brooklyn Bridge. Take the subway to High Street and then walk back to Manhattan across the bridge.
- When reading the subway map, if there is a line connecting two stations, this designates a free transfer, meaning you can walk underground and continue your journey on a different line. Don’t go up to the street to walk between stations as you will need to pay an additional fare.
- There are a few main stations that can be large and intimidating, but by following the signs, you can find your train without a problem. When entering Penn Station, Grand Central Station, and 14th Street / Union Square Station, it is important to know what line you’re looking for, and which direction you’re traveling. With these 2 simple pieces of information you can get anywhere without taking a single wrong turn.
The New York City subway costs $2.25, whether you go 4 stops or 14 stops. This is incredible value, especially if you plan on exploring neighborhoods from the Upper West Side to the Lower East Side and beyond. The subway operates 24 hours per day, but be aware, that not all local trains operate throughout the night. You might need to hop on an express train and walk a few extra blocks. Another interruption can be weekends and holidays, when train service is fewer and further between. All changes to the regular schedule will be posted in the station, so be on the lookout for these posters during your visit.
By checking out the subway map, purchasing a MetroCard, and having access to map details on your smartphone, the NYC subway can be easy instead of intimidating. Once you’ve mastered the symbols and intricacies listed above, the mystery will be taken out of the subway, and the city will be at your fingertips.
Photo Credit: Subway 1 by ishane on Flickr, Subway 2 by rafaj on Flickr, Subway 4 by spencert on Flickr, subway 4 by rafaj on Flickr.
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