Public Transportation in New York City

Everything’s expensive in New York, they say—and they’re right. But on the up side, it’s one of the few cities where you don’t need a car, and might even be better off without one. You can ride two hundred blocks for two bucks. The system can be daunting to outsiders, though, so here’s a basic rundown. It can’t help you find your stop, but it might help you choose the best method to get there.

Subway – not just the best place for street musicians and strange insane people, but a fast, cheap option to get nearly anywhere in the city, even out to Brooklyn and Queens. Subway stops become more sparse as you get away from midtown, and changing lines will be inevitable, but you can’t beat the $2 fare or the quintessentially New York experience. The subways are for the most part safe, if occasionally overcrowded, not the graffiti-covered grime pits you’ve seen in the movies. Service remains regular even at night, and even at odd hours you’re often no more than ten minutes’ wait from the next train.
One aspect of the subway that some outsiders may find confusing is what seems to be multiple names for the same train—the 4-5-6, for example, or the N and the R. Make sure that your line does not, for example, split into two along a place that affects your journey. Is your stop an express stop? If so, can you take advantage of the express version of the line?

Buses – An equally well-priced option for the cost-conscious consumer, and goes many places trains don’t, particularly when off the beaten path. On the other hand, a bus has to contend with Manhattan traffic. Still, buses are safe and will get you where you need to be. The potential for overhearing odd conversations and rants from oddballs is lower but still in evidence; some street crazies seem to prefer the sunshine.