Buying And Selling Metrocard Swipes
While the act of buying and selling swipes at the subway turnstile has been promoted by the MTA as being illegal, it is a practice that continues to be offered at most major New York subway stations, especially during rush hour. It usually performed by the purchase of an unlimited ride Metrocard and using it many times for different travelers. The Metrocard system has some internal security controls that block the Metrocard being swiped more than once in an 18-minute window in the same subway station, but this control is removed by using it at a different station or on the bus, where no such controls exist. On the flip side, many travelers leaving the station, after arriving there, may also just swipe in other travelers who use metrocards that are unlimited just for fun or as an act of civil disobedience. Homeless people can often be seen around the New York subway turnstiles requesting that this very action be performed for them, as it does not cost the Unlimited swiper anything. What these people may fail to realize is that only 28% of New York Subway riders actually use an unlimited travel Metrocard. Most use Metrocards that are Pay-Per-Ride so a swipe would reduce the value of their Metrocard.
Types Of Metrocards And What They Cost
Cost per swipe: $2.75.
You put a dollar value on the card and pay $2.75 at the beginning of each trip. The minimum balance for new cards is $5.50, the cost of two swipes.
You can combine time and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.
Cost: $33 or $127 .
You have unlimited swipes on the subway and local buses for either 7 or 30 days.
Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You cant pause an unlimited ride card once youve started using it.
You can combine time and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.
Cost: $62.
You have unlimited swipes on express buses, local buses, and the subway for 7 days.
Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You cant pause an unlimited ride card once youve started using it.
Cost: $3.
These are only available at ticket machines. They arent refillable. These are useful if you dont want to put the $5.50 minimum on a pay-per-ride card.
You cannot transfer between the subway and the bus with this fare. If youre transferring between buses, ask the driver for a paper transfer when you board the first bus.
Look At The Direction Of The Subway Stations
As I said before, if you look at the New York subway map you can see that there are subway lines that go in different directions by forking two or more times .
The first thing you should know before using it is to distinguish correctly between Uptown and Downtown. Sometimes in the same subway station the different entrances have different directions, that is, in many streets if you enter from one sidewalk entrance you go south and from the other side you go north.
Therefore, before going down to the subway, I advise you to look at the direction so you do not have to go out again to the street and change direction, because in many cases once inside the station you can not change platforms.
The directions that the New York subway can take are: Downtown and Uptown or Westbound and Eastbound .
Sometimes you will also see that they point to the district or neighborhood they are traveling to:
- Manhattan
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Dont Be Afraid To Transfer Between Trains
Youll know which lines are transferable based on the black and white bars on the map, which indicate multiple lines at a specific station. Look for numbers and letters listed on the route, and keep an eye out for pedestrian tunnels that are designed specifically to connect two stations. If you should miss your stop, dont panic. Stay on the train until to reach the next stop from which you can change your travel direction.
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The Difference Between Express And Local Nyc Trains
Every single New Yorker has a story about a local train going express, or getting on the wrong train at some point in their life. Youll feel foolish but its a rite of passage.
Each different train line has its own local and express trains.
Knowing which one is which is important because in many cases youll miss your stop if youre not paying attention because youre on an Express that doesnt make all stops and youll suddenly be way above or way below where you wanted to go and will have to double back.
How To Read The Train Lines
The NYC Subway train lines are grouped in different colors, however, they are called by their letter or number.
Once you are at the train station, its important to read the signs! Larger stations such as Penn Station, Times Square, and Grand Central Station have multiple lines, so you will want to make sure you swipe your Metrocard at the right turnstile.
Most trains also mainly go North and south through the City. The E, S, L are the only trains really going West to East unless you are leaving Manhattan.
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Express And Local Subway Trains
In Manhattan, you will often see trains with different names sharing the same line. In these cases, it is usually because one train is an express train and the other is a local train. Express trains will skip various stops along the route while local train will stop at each subway station. Most local stations are approximately about 9 blocks apart.
Understanding What They Say Over The Loud Speaker
Secondary to stories about express and local trains is the loud-speaker that comes on every so often for an update to the train youre on by the trains conductor. An accurate representation of what youll hear while riding a New York train is this:
ihidso odisajoo idjn oooo three four ndskaj A B kdsal express dkajl local kjsakjda all stops
It truly baffles me how in this day and age weve got sci-fi level tech flying around in our pockets, but we cant install a microphone and speaker that is from this century.
You will then proceed to see a few things:
Heres the secret to living in New York: Nobody knows what the conductor just said, really. Theyve just done this before and know that its not normally something good.
What has likely happened though depends on whether your train is moving or not. If the train is not moving, the announcement just explained that youre being held up for whatever reason and theyll be trying to get moving as soon as possible. If the train is still moving then the conductor has likely announced that the train youre on is no longer making all the stops it was going to, and its being asked to make up some extra time by skipping the next few stops.
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What Not To Do On The Subway
If youre traveling in a group, dont hold the trains door open for stragglers. While not frequently enforced, this is against the rules and slows everybody down. Stick together, and if you miss the train, another will be along presently. Once youre on the train, move to the center where you wont block the doors and, before you take a seat, make sure its not reserved for the disabled or elderly.
Remember that youre in a public space. Keep your hairbrush and makeup in your bag. While its not technically against the rules to eat or drink non-alcoholic beverages on the subway, be considerate of your fellow riders, especially on crowded trains.
Dont flash your cash. Its unlikely youll be robbed on the train, unless you fall prey to a pickpocket, but someone might follow you out of the station and relieve you of your green. Keep yourself safe from pickpockets just as you would anywhere secure your wallet, keep your hand on the opening of your purse and zip up your backpack.
How Much Does A Ticket Cost And How Do I Buy It Are There Any Passes
A single New York City subway ticket costs $2.75. If you plan to use public transportation frequently for your trips around the city, the best way is to buy the MetroCard, a rechargeable card valid for the subway and bus.
As in other cities around the world where a similar system is also used, the MetroCard is a public transportation card for getting around the city using New York’s bus and subway network.
The particularity of the Metrocard is that it can be recharged to:
- Single rides
- Unlimited rides for 7 days
- Unlimited rides for one month
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How To Navigate The Nyc Subway Wrap
Now you should be able to navigate the NYC Subway with ease! I know it can still sound a little confusing, but once you look at the Map and use the CityMapper app, you will be riding the Subway like a pro!
If you ever feel confused, just remember to read the signs or ask for help! Most seasoned subway riders or conductors will be able to help you get to your final destination! Now have an amazing time in NYC!
For additional New York Guides including 4 Day New York Itinerary,Top Free Things to Do in NYC, Insta-Worthy Places in NYC, Best Things to do in NYC at Night, and more NYC fun click here!
Did you book your hotel yet? Here is a Detailed Guide on Where to Stay in NYC including how to choose a neighborhood!
Figuring Out Local Versus Express Subway Lines
Before we tell you which one to use, here is how you can figure out if you even have the choice:
Many subway stations just have one track for each direction . You can call these stations Local, in the sense that only trains making every stop will stop at that station.
So if you get down to the platform and you only have a wall on one side and one track on the other, you dont have to worry about Local v. Express, because Local is your only option at that station .
On the other hand, if you enter a bigger station and get down to the platform level, you might see two tracks one on your left and one on your right. That means you now have a choice between an Express train and a Local train.
But how will I know which one is which?
Dont worry, each train platform is marked clearly with black banners hanging above your head. Unfortunately, there arent that many banners per station, so if you dont see one in front of you immediately, just walk in either direction for a bit until you see one. They are usually positioned close to the stairs.
Here is what an Express sign might look like:
This sign tells you two important things:
Here is an example of a Local sign:
Here, you can see that this train is also going Downtown via 8th Avenue, but that it is running on the Local track.
So which one should you use?
But thats not all:
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Get Used To The City & Subway With A Map
New York is a big city, and it may seem confusing or chaotic when trying to figure out how to use the subway, but heres the deal First take some time understanding and getting used to the subway. Get hold of the subway map, and take a look at it. Familiarizing yourself with the subway routes beforehand will make things a lot simpler later.
Get Yourself a Metrocard: Its evident that to travel around the place you would need a ticket or something on those lines. Well, in case of using the subway, a metrocard is what you need. There are different types ofmetrocards that you can pick from. They are
SingleRide Card: This kind of card costs around $2.25 and is good for one use. Putting more than $10 on your card in one go, will also allow you a bonus 7% on it.
Pay-Per-Ride Card: This one works well if there are a group of people traveling together, since 4 people can ride on one card of this kind. In case of this card, the commuter is able to put anything between $4.50 to $100 on the card
Unlimited Ride Card: This card can be used for up to a month, and is best recommended for people who intend to stay for a long period in the city. Apart from the subway, the Unlimited Ride Card also permits riding the city buses. This card can be purchased for a period of either 7 days or that of 30 days. The former costs roughly $29, while the latter is for $92. each of them is valid until midnight of the period it has been purchased for.
Getting Around By Subway In New York
First off, you probably wont escape the New York subway. Its the cheapest means of transportation and the most practical to get around. Its also the fastest. Taxis are expensive and youll waste of time in traffic. Buses are as cheap as the subways but once again, the ride will be longer because of the traffic and the red lights Therefore, taking the NYC subway is the solution!
The NYC subway works 24/7. Its very useful, you dont need to rush after a night out to catch the last subway. Obviously, the subways are less regular nighttime but its still useful. Moreover, the subway covers the five boroughs of New York . Sometimes, some stations are closed for renovation but in this case, there are bus shuttles.
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New York City Subway Nomenclature
New York City Subway nomenclature is the terminology used in the New York City Subway system as derived from railroading practice, historical origins of the system, and engineering, publicity, and legal usage. Important terms include lines, or individual sections of subway, like the BMT Brighton Line services, like the B, which is a single train route along several lines and stations, such as Coney IslandStillwell Avenue, which connects multiple lines and services.
Lines and services on the New York City Subway are often confused with each other. Lines are physical train tracks, while services are the routes that use the tracks. This distinction is also made on other systems, including the Washington Metro and historically Taipei Metro, although the exact terms used differ.
Wait Until Everyone Gets Off Before You Board Your Train
Now I know chivalry is dead, so dead that I dont even know what it really means, and that we all are in a rush, but even New Yorkers dont trample over people, usually. Plus, Im not even asking you to get up for a pregnant lady or an elderly person , even though that would be super nice. All Im asking is that you wait until everyone exits before you push your way onto the subway car. Yes we all want to make the train, but there are sensors on the door so I promise that the doors wont close and the train wont depart while people are entering the train.
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Know Which Side Of The Road To Enter The Train Station
Trains generally run on the same side as the road traffic above ground.
If you want to go downtown, head to the side of the road that has its traffic driving downtown and enter the station on that side.
You will see at the Station entrance if its a Downtown train or an Uptown train or it might mention which stop it ends at so you know which way its going. When you search on Google Maps it will actually tell you which direction train you want and will use the same terminology for which train it is as you will find on the stations to make things easy!
Many stations allow you to enter and then choose once youre down there but some have divided stations and you have to go above ground again to change sides, so its easier to get it right the first time.