A beginner's guide to New York Subway

It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M; you will get lost in the New York City Subway at least once during your vacation. You live, you learn! Riding the MTA, which officially stands by Metropolitan Transportation Authority and not Motherf*ckrs Touching my Ass, seems like an impossible mission for beginners. Just take a deep breath, hold it for seven seconds, exhale slowly, and pay attention to the following paragraphs. 

Photo Credit: Pat Krupa/Unsplash

Buying the ticket 

Nowadays, you can pay for your train or bus using your phone or smartwatch thanks to the OMNY System. All you need is Apple Pay, or Google Pay installed on your device. But, in case you are an old-fashioned kind of person, then get yourself a MetroCard.

Before the turnstile in every station, there are ticket machines. You can buy a MetroCard for $1 and charge it with any amount you want, considering that each trip is $2.75. Unlimited packages are also available. Ride as many times as you want for seven days, paying only $33, or pay $127 to guarantee unlimited rides for one month. 

If paying with a credit card, the machine will ask you to put your zip code. In case you are coming from outside the United States, then type it "99999". Larger MetroCard vending machines will accept cash, but they can only return up to $9 in change. 

The machines are Braille readable, and they have an audio feature available for people with partial or total vision loss - a headphone is necessary in this case.

Understanding the map 

The train system in New York has 24 different lines represented by numbers and letters, each one with a color that corresponds to the area you will be commuting to. For example, 1, 2, and 3 lines are red, covering the same region. Here's the tricky part: 1 is a local line, while 2 and 3 function as express lines. So the local 1 will stop at every station on the red line, but 2 and 3 will only stop at stations with their numbers on the map. 

Downtown X Uptown

The most common mistake while using the subway system in New York is accidentally boarding the train in the opposite direction of your destiny. If you want to avoid this, pay attention to the signs on the platform. They will always show the final destination of the train stopping there.

Let's use line 1 again as an example. This line goes from South Ferry (Downtown) until Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street (Bronx). If you are in Times Square and want to go to the Upper East Side, you need to take the train to Van Cortlandt Park/Bronx since you're going to Uptown. If you want to go south to Chelsea, then take the train to South Ferry/Downtown. It's easier than you think!

Apps

Google Maps is a must-have on your phone. It will make this whole experience smoother! The app will tell you which line is the best for your route, what side of the platform you should wait on, and it will show you how long until the next train arrives. My other favorite apps are NYC Transit and Citymapper. 

Warning 

While using the escalator in the subway, always leave the left side free for people in a rush - this is New York, there's always someone rushing like their jobs depending on finding the unpublished Harry Potter's manuscript for their bosses. And while entering the train, please - like, seriously please - wait for others to exit first before boarding the train. Be nice.  

MTA
Website: https://new.mta.info/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mta/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MTA
Phone Number: 1 (877) 690-5116

More ways to commute in New York City:

Not a fan of Subway? Feeling a little claustrophobic? No problem! New York has many options for transportation, and I ranked all of them for you. 

The Yellow Taxi - ★★★

I'm guessing you know how it works. Once you see the yolk yellow car in the street, wave it and wait for it. Tell the driver your destination and enjoy the ride. The fares start at $3 and go up quickly. I'm giving it three stars. The Yellow Taxi is definitely an icon of the city, but you never know who will be your driver. In case of any issue with the driver, you can report it on this website: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01241

Uber & Lyft - ★★★★

You should have both apps installed on your phone. Although Uber is more famous worldwide, Lyft sometimes has better prices to offer. Before booking your ride, check both apps to see which is cheaper. At the end of the day, they have pretty much the same drivers. If you have any issue or have a homophobic driver, report it right away to their companies. 

By the way, here’s a discount to get $5 free on your first ride with Lyft: RENAN37018.

Ferry - ★★★★

It's only $2,75 and a good option if you want to cross from Manhattan to Brooklyn, or vice-versa. Fantastic views when the weather is good. You will see the skyline, take amazing pictures of the city, but it's pretty slow compared to the others. And let's not forget that the Titanic was also supposed to dock in one of New York's piers. 

Bike - ★★★★★

Are we skinny now??? But also, a helmet. Remember that there is no free healthcare in this Country. You can get a Citi Bike everywhere using the Citi Bike Mobile App or the Lyft App. Their prices are often changing, but right now, the day pass is $15, and a single ride starts at $3,50. 

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