New York Public Transport Guide

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Subway & Local Bus

• $ Single Ride: $3.00 (Flat fare)
• 🔄 Free Transfers: Subway ↔ Bus (within 2 hrs)
• 📅 Weekly Cap: Free after 12 rides (~$36)

🚍

Express Bus

• $ Single Ride: $7.25
• 📅 7-Day Cap: $67.00 max
• 📍 Coverage: Outer Boroughs ↔ Manhattan

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LIRR & Metro-North

• 📏 Fares: Distance-Based ($5 – $30+)
• 🏙️ CityTicket: $5.25 (Off-Peak) / $7.25 (Peak) within NYC
• ⏰ Peak Hours: 6-10am & 4-8pm (Weekdays)

OMNY “Fare Capping” (Automatic Savings)

You don’t need a weekly pass! Just use the same card or device for every ride. After you pay for 12 rides ($36) in a week (Mon-Sun), all remaining rides are FREE.

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Payment Logic

• ✓ OMNY is King: MetroCard machines are mostly gone. Tap your phone or credit card directly at the turnstile.
• ! The “Unlimited” Hack: Do NOT look for a 7-day pass. Just use the same card/device. After 12 rides ($36), the rest of the week (Mon-Sun) is free.
• ↺ Free Transfers: You have 2 hours to transfer free between Subway ↔ Bus.

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Subway Smarts

• ⚠️ Empty Car Rule: If a train is packed but one car is empty, DO NOT enter. It usually means broken A/C or a bad smell.
• ⏱ Express vs. Local: Express trains skip many stops. Always check the map—if your stop is a white dot, express stops there. If black, only locals do.
• 🚻 No Restrooms: 95% of stations do not have public toilets. Go before you leave the hotel.

🧭

Navigation Hacks

• 📱 Google vs. Citymapper: Use Citymapper for NYC transit. It tells you exactly which subway car to sit in for the fastest exit.
• 📶 WiFi/Cell: Most stations have free WiFi, but tunnels often don’t. Load your directions before the train moves.
• globe Uptown/Downtown: In Manhattan: Uptown = North (Higher Street #s). Downtown = South (Lower Street #s).

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Bus Rules

• ✓ SBS (Select Bus): Enter ANY door. Tap your OMNY card on the reader inside the bus near the door.
• ! Stop Request: You MUST press the yellow tape strip or red “Stop” button, or the driver will skip the stop.
• 🚪 Exit Rear: Always exit through the back doors to keep the front clear for boarding.

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Night & Safety

• 🦓 Zebra Board: Look for the black-and-white striped board hanging over the platform. The conductor (a real person) always opens their window there. Stand near it for safety.
• 🟡 Waiting Areas: Late at night, wait in the designated “Off-Hours Waiting Area” (yellow sign) usually visible to the ticket booth.

⚠️

Local Etiquette

• 🎒 Take it off: Remove your backpack on crowded trains and put it between your feet.
• 🚶 Escalators: Stand Right, Walk Left. This is the golden rule of NYC commuting.
• 🚫 Door Blocking: Step off the train to let people exit, then step back on. Do not lean on the doors.

Local’s Pro Tip: The “Wrong Side” Mistake

Many older stations have separate entrances for “Uptown” and “Downtown” on opposite sides of the street. Check the sign above the stairs before you pay! If you swipe into the wrong side, you cannot cross over without paying again (unless you exit and find an underpass, which is rare).

✈️

JFK International

🛫

LaGuardia (LGA)

🛬

Newark (EWR)

Use this for getting A to B (Subway & Local Bus).

Bundles that save money on entry fees.

Book these individually to skip lines.

NYC’s bike share. Blue bikes are everywhere (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx).

• 💰 Single Ride: $4.99 (First 30 mins)
• 📅 Day Pass: $25.00 (Unlimited 30-min rides for 24h)
• ⚡ E-Bikes: Extra $0.41/min surchage.

A commuter boat with sightseeing views. Great for DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Wall St.

• 💰 Single Ticket: $4.50 (App/Machine)
• 🎟️ Unlimited 2-Day: $15.00 (New for 2026!)
• ☕ Onboard: Café serves coffee, wine & beer.
• 🌇 Best Route: “East River” at sunset.

Prefer a guide? These are the top-rated ways to bike or sail the city.

• ⚠️ Check First: Only ~30% of stations have elevators. You must check the map before you go.
• ♿ Boarding: Look for the Blue Wheelchair Symbol on the platform or designated boarding areas.
• 📏 Gap Fillers: Available on request for bridge plates between the platform and train.

• ✅ 100% Accessible: Every single NYC bus has a kneeling feature and a ramp.
• 💺 Priority: The front seats are reserved for seniors and disabilities.
• 🔊 Announcements: All stops are announced via audio and visual displays.

• ⚓ Staten Island Ferry: Fully accessible with large elevators.
• 🌊 NYC Ferry: 90% of landings are accessible (Check route maps).
• 💡 Elevator Status: Always check MTA Elevator Status before leaving your hotel.

Visitor Pro Tip

If an elevator is out of service, find a Station Agent immediately. They can authorize a free transfer or call an accessible vehicle to take you to the next accessible station. Visitors can also apply for a temporary Reduced-Fare MetroCard at major transit hubs.