Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 1: Tourist method
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

A first visit to New York is an interesting experience. New Yorkers are like no other. As polite as they are, they often don't make eye contact, rush to their destination, and rarely talk to strangers. If you are visiting New York for the first time, you will probably use the subway. If you don't pay attention, you may never get to your destination. The New York City subway is one of the largest subway systems in the world in terms of mileage and number of stops (472), and one of the few 24-hour subway systems in the world.

To step

1. Use a computer and log in to the MTA website, view the map and find your departure and arrival stations. Check for service advice. Most stations also have special service change lists, indicated by a black and yellow label entitled "Scheduled Service Changes" on most island platforms (where trains arrive and depart on both sides of the platform), behind a metro map, at the entrance. and station exits, and next to the "waiting areas" at most stations. Have a metro map handy to interpret the messages.
2. Make sure you have the correct fare on your MetroCard. The current rate is € 2.50 when using a ride card (€ 2.75 for a "SingleRide" card: valid for ONE person (1) driving within two (2) hours of purchase without transferring to a bus).
3. Estimate the time it will take to arrive at your destination - by looking at the subway map or using the TripPlanner +. It will take you an average of 2-4 minutes between each stop, plus 5-20 minutes for each time you have to wait for a train. An easier method is to leave at least 45 minutes before you are due to arrive at your destination. However, the longest rides take an hour and a half, so be careful.
4. Know what a station entrance looks like. Entrances that are always open have green lights known as "bulb lamps". Exits or temporary entrances have red bulb lights or have no lights at all. Some private accommodations have metro entrances. However, some entrances are inside private properties and these entrances are not always visible from the outside. Also note that some entrances are mono-directional, meaning they only serve an access platform for boarding trains to a destination. This usually happens at stations where there is no underpass or overpass to transfer to the other platform for return services. There are some exceptions to this, as unmarked flyovers and underpasses are present (such as Bleecker Street on the (6)), usually at transfer stations or stations with a central fare control area.
5. At your departure station, you can ask a station agent if one is available for a map so that you have a portable guide. However, wearing a map on the subway is like having "STUPID TOURIST" tattooing on your forehead. Almost all rail cars and stations have maps on the walls and the station "Customer Information Centers", so a map is not really necessary.
6. Buy a MetroCard from the station agent (cash only), the MetroCard machines (cash / credit / debit) or from various merchants spread over the 5 boroughs. You can find merchants who sell MetroCards simply here. All MetroCard machines accept debit and credit cards, but only a few (the larger ones) accept cash. The minimum purchase for a NEW ride MetroCard is € 5.75 (2 journeys), including the new MetroCard fee of € 0.75, but you can recharge a ride MetroCard with a minimum of € 0.01 at a station cabin , with a minimum of € 0.05 (and € 0.05 increases) at MetroCard Vending Machines, and a maximum of € 100.00 with both. You may load cards with both time (Unlimited ride) and value (ride card). Note: MetroCard machines ONLY give up to € 8.00 in change in coins, can accept up to 30 coins of any type per transaction (the coin lock will then be closed) and credit / debit card purchases must be at least € 1.00. With journeys MetroCards, a free transfer from metro to bus, bus to metro or bus-to-bus is possible within two (2) hours of first use; "SingleRide" tickets do not permit transfers and must be used within two (2) hours of purchase, except when used on a bus (which requires a transfer from the operator). You can use MetroCards for unlimited rides once every 18 minutes. If you try to use an Unlimited Ride Card within 18 minutes of use, the revolving door will read "JUST USED". If you put € 4.50 or more on your card you get a bonus of 11% (at € 4.50 you get € 4.95 good for 2 rides, at € 9.00 you get € 9.90 good for 4 rides, at € 18 you get € 19.80 good for 8 rides). Your best bet might be to buy a 7-day (€ 27.50) or 30-day (€ 104.00) unlimited Metro card, depending on your length of stay. Unlimited Ride MetroCards are active for 7 or 30 consecutive days from the first day you use the MetroCard and expire at midnight on the date it expires. Unlimited rides MetroCards cannot be shared due to the 18 minute time limit. MetroCards are valid 24/7/365 for both the metro and bus service.
7. It is difficult for a tourist to get on the right train. There are indications on the signs on the platform (a synopsis of the route, destination and any part-time service), the front and sides of the trains (the color of the text and sign may vary if it is an old or a new train is), and in directional signs at entrances and waiting areas. Make sure you find the correct number or letter and check that your arrival station is a full-time station. One thing that makes the NYC subway a little different from other systems is the Uptown / Downtown / Queens / Brooklyn / Bronx / Manhattan turn signals. Rather than indicating direction by destination (like in London, Paris, etc.), entrances and platforms in Manhattan will say "Uptown and the Bronx / Queens" or "Downtown and Brooklyn," although sometimes only "Uptown" and " Downtown ”(or simply the terminus station) for trains ending in Manhattan. Uptown roughly corresponds to North and Downtown roughly corresponds to South. This is the opposite in Brooklyn. Make sure you know if you are traveling to Manhattan, Brooklyn / Bronx / Queens, and are traveling in the upper town or downtown before boarding (a few trains travel both ways). On the 7 train there is a sign for the destination of the train Manhattan-34th Steet or Main Street-Flushing. On the L train, the electronic display will say either 8th Avenue-Manhattan or Brooklyn-Rockaway Parkway.
8. One of the mistakes many tourists make is to take an express train when they had to take the local train. Local trains (usually) stop at every stop along a line, while express trains skip a few stops. Express trains are usually located in the inner platforms / tracks or on the lower level. Sometimes there are express delivery platforms, but the express is one-way only. So pay attention. Only 3 stations in the entire subway system have a separate platform for express trains (Atlantic Avenue - Barclays Center on the 4 and 5, 34th Street - Penn Station on the A, and 34th Street - Penn Station on the 2 and 3) as opposed to uni -directional platforms for both local and express trains. Check with the 6 and 7 trains on the side of the train if there is a green circle or red diamond on the older trains. A green circle indicates 6 or 7 local (stopping at all stops in the Bronx or Queens respectively), a red diamond indicates 6 or 7 express (meaning that only express stops in Bronx or Queens). On the newer trains, there will be a circle or a diamond on top of the front of the train (it will be red regardless of its shape).
9. Before boarding your train, wait until all passengers have alighted before boarding the metro. People will get very angry if you block the exit of the train.
10. If you are carrying a bag or backpack, take it off your back or shoulder and carry it in your hands in front of you. This makes more space in the carriage for the other passengers.
11. If you want to sit, take the first available seat. However, if you have to stand, walk up to the carriage and stand to the side, not in the middle. Stand with your face towards the seated passenger and your feet perpendicular to the benches and hold on tight.
12. Do not allow other passengers to look straight in the eye for more than a few seconds. Staring at other passengers will be seen as a sign of aggression and may give you an angry reaction. It's also likely that the person you're staring at is uncomfortable.
13. While it's okay to ask for directions or for help, it's best not to talk to people you don't know. Chatting about the subway with strangers is not widely accepted.
14. If you accidentally run out of coins, stand next to the MetroCard machine and keep looking for coins. That, coupled with the genuine panicky look on your face, often results in a friendly and observant passer-by who makes up for the difference. Asking people for money, on the other hand, will only give you scornful looks or cause you to be ignored.
15. If for some reason your MetroCard is not working, try the other gates after several unsuccessful attempts on the first one. Ask the station agent for help if one is nearby. If not, run your fingers along the black strip to make sure there are no deflections and try again ... eventually someone may let you through or you will have to give it up and another MetroCard until you can speak to an agent. If the station agent cannot help, they will give you a Business Reply Envelope (BRE) to mail the card. Wait 4 to 6 weeks for the MetroCard to be processed. For faster service, visit MetroCard Customer Service in downtown Manhattan at 3 Stone Street between Whitehall Street and Broad Street.

Method 1 of 1: Tourist method

1. If you are a tourist you will get a city map. They will likely list or show metro station locations, but not the full route map.
2. Obtain a rechargeable MetroCard from a MetroCard machine.
3. Ask the station agent for a free route map of the metro.
4. Follow overhead signs for directions to the desired line.

Tips

• If you're not sure where to go, ask someone! Don't be afraid to ask strangers for directions. Most New Yorkers don't mind helping others, so just ask, and in general, many New Yorkers are very polite people and willing to help.
• If you feel uncomfortable because of another passenger (s), trust your instincts and go to the last door of the car. When the train arrives at the next station, get off that carriage and onto the next.
• Do not stand between wagons. It's dangerous and against the law.
• When going up an escalator, remember that if you want to stand still, stand to the right. leave the left side free for people who want to walk up or down.
• The first wagon is often less crowded than other wagons on subways.
• Keep your wallet in your front pocket or at the bottom of your bag.
• If you are traveling on the subway at night it is recommended to stay in the "Waiting area", indicated by a yellow and black sign, so that you are in line of sight of the station cop if something happens.
• Only stand in front of the train car doors when you have to be a few stops away. If you need to stay on a particular train for 2 or more stops, take a seat or enter. Blocking car doors is prohibited.
• It is recommended not to use the metro during rush hour (especially the 4/5 and L lines) unless absolutely necessary.
• If you are heading to a local station but want to travel faster, you can take the express train to the last express station before your destination and change to the local train. However, if there is a local train at an express station or arriving at a station, board with this one instead, as you could be taking the exact same train in the future.
• If you have a backpack, take it off and hold it in your hands before boarding the train.
• Do you have a lot of MetroCards with money on them? If they are "PRE-UPGRADED" or "FULL RATE" cards (not an Unlimited-Ride) and they are all upgraded, you may bring up to 7 cards at a time to a station and ask the station agent to merge the cards. The last card you give to the station agent is the one with all the money from the other cards.
• Make sure you have all the information for your trains before you go. Just because two trains are the same color or go through the same tunnel doesn't necessarily mean they are the same.
• At all stations with numbered lines, the 42 Street Shuttle and the L line, there are counting down clocks that announce and display trains arriving at that platform or station, depending on the location of the sign. These signs will also announce service alerts in real time. Most lettered stations have waiting areas in which LED signals sound a siren and indicate the direction of the train when it arrives, usually the district or terminal (if in the municipality); these signals are absent at mono-directional entrances on mezzanine floors.
• MetroCards are very fragile. Bending, heating, or wetting them will damage or destroy them. If your card doesn't work after several tries, take it to the station agent and ask for a new one. If the station agent can't make it or make you a replacement card, they will give you a business reply envelope to mail the card.
• Watch your manners. Say "please" and "excuse me". Believe it or not, most conflict arises because a person was not polite.
• Make sure you put enough cash on your MetroCard in case you get on the wrong metro train and have to take another one, or the fare is more than you thought. In general, you are allowed to stay on the metro system and all trains run for as long as you want. No station has “paid” transfers except when indicated by station signs and onboard announcements (an example would be “A free transfer is also available for the F train by walking to Lexington Avenue - 63 Street Station and your MetroCard to use "on any Broadway or Lexington Avenue Line train). In addition, you must scan your MetroCard at the transfer station and no fare will be deducted, although you must do it within 2 hours of your first use to get into the system. Otherwise you will pay again.
• At terminus stations, the first train to arrive is the first train to leave (usually), unless the train is going to the yard. Do not go to the train that entered the station last. Instead, walk to the front train unless indicated by platform signs. Trains that leave instead of going to the yard have one of the outer doors half open.
• Don't forget to reserve your seat as a courtesy to elderly, pregnant or disabled passengers. Special "Priority Seats" at both ends of a metro must be relinquished when an elderly or disabled passenger requires a seat. It's the law!
• If you are lost or confused, ask an MTA employee (for example: the conductor or the station officer in the station cabins) for directions. Note: Some stations don't have station agents at all, so check the map, politely ask another passenger - most New Yorkers are very helpful if you approach them in a non-threatening manner and are polite.
• Visit the MTA TripPlanner + for official directions that govern all scheduled service changes. Hop Stop is another great website to check out. It is the "map quest" for the metro system. Also try onNYturf which overlaps the lines on a map so you can see exactly where the entrances and lines run.
• It is best to buy an Unlimited-Ride Card with a time limit of 7 days (€ 27.50) if you make 12 or more journeys during your stay (day passes are no longer sold). It will save you money. The same applies if you are staying for 30 days and will be making more than 43 trips; buy a card for 30 days of unlimited travel (€ 104.00).
• You only get 20 seconds to board a train. Do not keep train doors open. If the train doors start to close while you want to get on the train, just get off and take the next train. Intervals range from 7-10 minutes during rush hour, 15 minutes on weekends and up to 20-30 minutes during late nights. Make sure the train you are boarding has the same line and direction. Multiple trains from different lines may stop on a single platform.
• Buy a MetroCard first before considering taking the metro.
• The color of the train does not matter. You are not talking about the yellow line, you are talking about the N, Q, R or W line.The color simply indicates the main line. In this case, the Broadway line.
• At a card station, all trains (local and express) are stopped with a white dot and a black outline, while stations that are local only are labeled with a black dot and a white outline. For example, all trains (local and fast) stop at 14th Street-Union Square station (that's why it has a white circle with a black outline), while only local trains stop at 8th Street-NYU (that's why it has a black circle with a black outline). White background).

Warnings

• If you are not familiar with the subway system, study the subway map in a quiet shop or other place where there are not many people, or check the MTA site online. Making yourself an easy target for theft or other crimes as a tourist in New York City; However, it should also be noted that the rate of violent crimes in New York is actually relatively quite low, for a city of about 200,000 residents.
• Always allow passengers to exit the car before boarding. Platform markings and station announcements on the Lexington Avenue Line remind you of this.
• If you are driving late at night try to find a crowded car - ideally the conductor's car (the conductor is almost always in the middle of the train (the 5th car from the front in an 8 car train and the 6th car from the front in a 10-wagon train), but some lines have the conductor in the front or rear wagon). Some lines may only have an operator opening and closing the doors, especially during "out of hours".
• Subways are not the cleanest places in the world. Make sure to look for a seat before sitting down. Sometimes there is a reason it is empty: garbage, trash or even something really disgusting.
• Always keep your stuff on your person. Do not place your bags or belongings on an empty seat, even when the train is empty. NYC Transit Police will issue fines for this (after the anti-terror campaign "If You See Something, Say Something"). You will end up with a request from the court and a fine of up to € 445.
• Do not surf the subways (ride outside the train). Stay alive and ride the metro.
• Don't be an idiot by diving under the gates. Failure to pay your rate is a fine of € 112 per violation.
• Driving, moving or standing between wagons is prohibited in the metro. You will be caught and fined by the NYC Transit Police for this.
• Keep in mind that many stations have separate platforms and entrances for trains running in opposite directions. You will have to pay twice if you use the wrong entrance or if you missed your stop and try to get back at one of these stations. This warning is less likely to apply to layovers (stations transferring to another line), express and some stations with unsigned crossovers or underpasses.
• Avoid staring or prolonged eye contact with another passenger. You can send the wrong signal. Be polite and friendly at all times and apologize if you meet another traveler (although in New York it is not uncommon for the person you accidentally pushed to say "sorry" to you first).
• If you see an empty carriage on a train that is generally busy (like train 4, 5, or 6), there is usually a reason (rat, vomit, etc.).
• If you can't get a seat, hold on to the handrails so you don't fall over when the train is moving. Older trains have handrails and posts along the seats, in the center and near the vents, while newer trains also have fixed handrails in the center of the car.
• Did you drop something on the subway tracks? Let it go. Never go around the track Not a single one reason. Your safety is more important. Tell a police officer, an MTA employee or use a "Help Point" or "Customer Service Intercom".
• MetroCards are magnetic. Do not place them near an electronic device (telephone, MP3 player, etc.) or magnet, as this can demagnetize the MetroCard, preventing the gate from opening when you want to pass the gate with your MetroCard. If your MetroCard has been degaussed, consult the station agent. If the station officer cannot do anything with that card, you will receive a business reply envelope that you can use to send your MetroCard.
• Bring some extra cash for emergencies. This is always a good idea if you are in a big city and even if you are not going to ride the metro. The town is a nice place, but there are criminals and someone could try to steal your money. To be on the safe side, keep an extra $ 20- $ 50 in a very safe place, such as your shoe, in your shirt, or in your bra.
• If you are on a new train and have an emergency (medical, fire, criminal), there are red buttons scattered around the walls of the subways so you can contact the conductor directly for help.
• Read the metro rules posted in the stations, trains and online and avoid things like occupying more than one seat, playing loud music, etc.
• If you have to stop to find your way, make sure you do this out of the flow of pedestrians and away from stairs. Otherwise, you could potentially block traffic and be pushed or possibly injured.
• Do not pull the emergency brake unless there is an emergency in the station. Subway stickers provide detailed instructions for dealing with fire, medical, police and evacuation situations.
• Keep your reading material under control and close to your person. Do not open the newspaper on the train - keep it neatly folded. If it's too busy, read your article later.

Necessities

• A route map of the metro (optional; these are available in stations and rail cars)
• A MetroCard
• The ability to walk. There are no lifts in many stations
• A computer (optional)