How to easily understand New York's public transport and not get lost in a huge city

New York City public transportation is the best way to get to your destination quickly and without traffic jams. In order not to get lost in the transport system of the city - and this is the metro, buses, trains, ferries - we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the publication's recommendations Tourist.

Neither local residents nor visitors will be able to do without public transport in New York. After all, the city is literally drowning in traffic jams, and there are very few parking spaces in it. “Often times, the New York subway is the only way to get to work,” the source notes.

By the way, most public transport is managed by the company. MTAwrites the publication.

Why tourists need public transport

A tourist cannot do without underground and ground transportation if he wants to see most of the sights. The car is unlikely to help him in this task - because in New York it is easy to get lost even to a local resident.

You can find public transport and build the most convenient route using route planner from MTArecommends the source.

Since the New York public transport system is very complicated (it has many different lines of the same color, which have different work schedules depending on the time of day, as well as an insane number of routes), this publication will help to understand it.

How to pay for travel

In New York, a universal payment system has been introduced in public transport.

You can purchase a special travel card to pay for your metro, bus, and Staten Island railroad.

“MetroCard is a rechargeable contactless card for travel on buses, subways and trains of Staten Island, etc. The cost of the card itself is $ 1. The card can be replenished from $ 5.50 to $ 80 for exactly as many trips as you need to make, ”the source notes.

By the way, with the help of MetroCard you can change from a metro to a bus for free or from a bus to a bus for two hours.

You can also purchase a Single Ride paper ticket for one trip, which is valid for two hours.

“The paper pass has a magnetic black stripe on the back. Single Ride ticket costs $ 3 and is sold only in vending machines, ”the newspaper explains.

You can buy an unlimited card for 7 or 30 days. It is worth noting that such cards are not valid for high-speed rail PATH *, AirTrain and in express buses.

“The 7-Day Unlimited Pass can be used until midnight for seven consecutive days from the first day of use. Unlimited MetroCard can be replenished with tickets for one trip, ”the source explained.

Regular MetroCard, special unlimited cards for 10 trips or 30 days of MetroCard JFK AirTrain are valid for traveling in JFK AirTrain. It is worth considering that the usual unlimited cards in the JFK AirTrain do not work.

On the subject: MetroCard may not be useful in 2020 year

The JFK AirTrain Unlimited Travel Card for 30 days can be used until midnight for 30 days from the first day of use. The JFK AirTrain unlimited travel card for 10 trips can be used until midnight for 6 months from the first day of use.

“Cards can be easily replenished using automatic machines, or you can attach them to bank cards thanks to the system EasyPay... Thus, you can avoid the constant need to replenish cards at the machines before entering the metro station. To do this, you must first create an account on the EasyPay website and then follow the instructions, ”the newspaper writes.

It is also recommended to remember that MetroCard has an expiration date - it is indicated on the back of the card.

Cost of trips on MetroCard:

The cost of MetroCard itself is $ 1;

The basic cost of one trip is $ 2.75;

Single Ride with one trip on the balance will cost $ 3 when buying through a ticket machine;

Unlimited for 7 days - $ 33;

Unlimited for 30 days - $ 127 $;

The cost of one trip in an express bus is $ 6.75;

Unlimited for 7 days in express bus - $ 62;

Unlimited JFK AirTrain on 10 trips - $ 25 (discounted rate is not provided);

Unlimited JFK AirTrain for 30 days - $ 40 (discounted rate is not provided).

For pensioners and disabled people, a preferential rate applies:

Subway and bus ride - $ 1.35;

Unlimited for 7 days - $ 16.50;

Unlimited for 30 days - $ 63.50;

The cost of one trip in an express bus (except rush hours) is $ 3.35.

Where to buy MetroCard:

In ticket machines (MVM).

When using the machine, you can select Russian. Large stationary machines accept cash, credit and debit cards, and in small machines only cashless payments are possible. Large stationary machines return change only up to $ 9 and only in coins.

“According to the MTA official website, a one-trip ticket with a card, which costs $ 3, can only be purchased for cash in large stationary machines. With such a ticket, you can change from bus to bus within two hours, but it is forbidden to change from metro to bus, ”the source notes.

In special kiosks at the stations.

At kiosks it is possible to pay only in cash. $ 50 denominations are accepted only for replenishment of cards from $ 30, and $ 100 denominations are accepted only for replenishment of cards from $ 70.

“Simply put, if you want to buy a card with a couple of trips for $ 6.50, don’t give the cashier a banknote of $ 100 value, it’s better to exchange it,” the source advises.

At mobile points of sale.

Schedule and location of points of sale in Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island и Manhattan available at the links.

At stationary points of sale

They can be found using search engine from MTA *.

In addition, as the source writes, on May 31 a new payment system was launched on May 2019 Omny. It allows you to use contactless credit and debit cards, electronic wallets, rechargeable prepaid cards and smartphones.

“The fare is paid by attaching your bank card or smart device at some subway stations and on MTA buses in Staten Island,” the newspaper notes.

Prospects for the development of a fare system

In the near future, the system will become universal and will allow you to pay for travel in all types of public transport. At the same time, MetroCard will work until the OMNY system works everywhere.

On the subject: Instead of MetroCard: New York Metro Launched Fare

“By the end of 2020, it is planned to introduce the system on absolutely all bus routes, at all metro stations and launch it on the Staten Island railway, as well as launch a mobile application,” the newspaper writes.

In 2021, according to plans, New York will introduce a new system of fare payment on the Long Island and Metro North railways. In the same year it is planned to introduce a new contactless OMNY Card.

By 2022, OMNY ticketing machines will appear at metro and railway stations.

And it will be possible to say goodbye to MetroCard cards in 2023, the source said.

To date, Long Island Rail (LIRR) tickets are best selected through an official route planner from MTA *.

“In the planner, you can enter the departure and arrival station and see how much the ticket will cost depending on the distance of the destination and the time of day (tickets are more expensive during peak hours). The tariff schedule for Metro-North tickets is also quite extensive, ”the newspaper said.

Schedule along the lines and ticket price available by links.

By the way, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance, since buying them on board you overpay from $ 5.75 to $ 6.50. In addition, tickets on board are not always available. If you buy a ticket for cash, then do not use banknotes with a face value of more than $ 50.

The most convenient ways to buy train tickets:

• Via the MTA eTix mobile app available for iOS и Android. For payment, the account must be linked to a bank card.
• You can purchase all types of tickets at official points of sale. In such points accept cash, debit and credit cards and others.
• Through ticket machines. “The gray, red and green vending machines accept up to $ 50 bills, coins and bank cards and only issue change in coins up to $ 17.75, which is definitely worth considering. Blue ticket machines do not accept cash, ”the message says.

Metro

Metro is the fastest and easiest way to get around New York. This is the only way you can bypass huge hours of traffic jams.

“The New York metro stations are pretty dirty, but the train runs are fine-tuned,” the source writes.

The metro was launched in 1904 and is one of the oldest in the world. Today it is one of the largest in the world in the number of lines (27) and stations (472). At the same time, the Tokyo Metro is the leader in passenger traffic, and the Shanghai Metro takes first place in the total length of lines.

New York subway operates around the clock seven days a week 365 (not all lines). The mode of train running in the daytime and from 00: 00 to 06: 00 is different.

“Each subway line in New York is identified by either a letter or a number. Don't pay attention to colors. Aside from limiting subway use to the Midtown area, relying on colors is a surefire way to get lost, ”the newspaper warns.

Recommendations for metro users

Almost all lines in Manhattan run north or south, and the direction is always clearly indicated on the platforms and in train announcements. In general, the “direction of the Bronx” and the “direction of Queens” are identical to the northern direction (“Uptown”), while the “direction of Brooklyn” is identical to the southern direction (“Downtown”).

The direction (for example, “Uptown, the Bronx and Queens” or “Downtown and Brooklyn”) is indicated above the entrance to the station.

“Therefore, be careful when entering the station. If the direction is not indicated, then this entrance can be used for both northern and southern routes, ”the source emphasizes.

It is also worth remembering that some routes are express trains.

“That is, trains don't stop at every station, so make sure to get on the correct train. Local and express routes use different routes, and there is almost always a local route that complements the express, ”the source specifies.

And finally: for more convenient movement around the city, use the New York Subway MTA Map mobile application for iOS и Android.