10 tips for tourists on how to ride the subway in New York

Photo: depositphotos.com

Visiting New York for the first time, you will certainly take the subway. If you are not careful, you risk never getting to your destination. Metro in New York is one of the largest metro systems in the world in terms of distance and number of stations (468), and one of the few underground subways operating around the clock.

About what you should pay attention to quickly get to your destination in the New York subway, writes WikiHow.

1. Before starting your trip, go to MTA website, look at the map and find your departure and arrival stations. Check out service advisories. Most stations also have special lists of service changes. Use a subway map to quickly decipher notifications.

2. Make sure you have the appropriate ticket. A typical single fare is $ 2,50 (when using a MetroCard) or $ 2,75 (when using a one-time SingleRide ticket: it is valid for one trip for two hours from the date of purchase).

3. Calculate the time it takes to arrive at your destination by looking at the subway map or using TripPlanner +. The path between the stops takes, on average, 4 minutes, and besides, it lasts from 5 to 20 minutes while the train is waiting.

4. Find out what the entrance to the station looks like. The entrances, which are always open, are marked with green lamps, known as the Globe Lamps. Outputs or not always working inputs blink red lights or do not have any lights at all. Some private properties have entrances to the subway. However, some entrances are privately owned, which are not always visible from the outside.

5. At your departure station, you can ask the attendant at the station, if there is one, for a portable metro map. In addition, subway maps are located on almost all walls of stations and in all cars.

6. Buy a plastic MetroCard either from the station attendant or from MetroCard vending machines. The minimum purchase price for a new MetroCard is $6,00 (for 2 trips), including the $1.00 new card cost, and you can then reload your card at station kiosks and MetroCard vending machines. Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards include one free subway-to-bus, bus-to-subway, or bus-to-bus transfer within 2 hours of your first ride. SingleRide tickets are non-stop and must be used within 2 hours of purchase. Unlimited-Ride MetroCards can be used once every 18 minutes. If you attempt to reuse Unlimited-Ride MetroCards within 18 minutes of boarding, the turnstile screen will display “just used.” Your best option may be the 7-day ($30) or 30-day ($112) Unlimited-Ride Metrocards, depending on the length of your stay in the city.

Photo: depositphotos.com

7. Getting on the right train can be difficult for a tourist. Distinguishing signs of the train line are present at the top of the platform (indicating the type of route, destination and restrictions in service, if any), ahead and on the sides of trains (the color of text and signs may vary, depending on whether it is old or new train) , on signposts at entrances and in waiting rooms. Make sure you go to the line with the correct number or letter, and check that your arrival station is running continuously. The subway in New York is different from other metros direction signs Uptown / Downtown / Queens / Brooklyn / Bronx / Manhattan. This does not indicate the destination (as in London, Paris, etc.), but indicates the direction of travel.

8. Many tourists make the mistake of taking the express train when they need to take the local train. Local trains, as a rule, stop at each stop along a given line, and express trains skip some stops. In addition, express trains usually stop on internal platforms / tracks or at a lower level. Sometimes platforms are designed only for express trains going in one direction. So be careful.

9. Do not stop looking at other passengers for more than one instant. A closer look can be taken as a sign of aggression, and you can get an aggressive response. It is likely that the person you are staring at will be very scared.

10. If your MetroCard for some reason does not work after several unsuccessful attempts at the first turnstile, try other turnstiles. Ask the station attendant for assistance if one is available in the area. If the station attendant cannot help you, he will give you an envelope (Business Reply Envelope: BRE) to mail the card to. MetroCard processing will take 4 to 6 weeks. For faster service, you can visit the MetroCard customer service center located in Manhattan. If it's not there, run your finger along the black stripe to make sure it's not bent and try again. In this case, either someone else can trick you, or you must stop trying and buy another MetroCard.

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