NYC subway system

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Anyone familiar with it? Are there any websites in existence that help create destination routes via NYC subway?


A lot of out-of-towners I know that moved to NY love hopstop.com

You can input addresses and it tells you how to get from point A to point B.

EDIT: I would confirm with a subway map though, especially if traveling on a weekend when there are route changes.
I, however, am a native New Yorker, and have the subway map etched in my brain...lol... feel free to PM me for traveling info.
 
Hopstop is great. Google maps now also label maps of NYC with subway stops. Check it out.
 
Feel free to PM me for personalized directions/ suggestions. I'm happy to help! it can be a little intimidating for out of towners/
 
Feel free to PM me for personalized directions/ suggestions. I'm happy to help! it can be a little intimidating for out of towners/

Me as well. Would love to help out, as I moved out here six months ago and know how intimidating it can be!
 
born and raised new yorker here too. a nice tip for newbies is to remember the direction in which the train left the station. for example, if the train was heading downtown (numbers getting lower) and you need to go uptown from the subway, just remember that train direction and walk the opposite way on the street. it's pretty simple after that, and don't be scared... it's difficult to get lost in a city numbered the way nyc is.
 
Anyone familiar with it? Are there any websites in existence that help create destination routes via NYC subway?

Listen, make sure you are awarre of your surroundings when taking the subway. It is the most disgusting place on earth.. the people are nasty, the subway cars are nasty and its dangerous. what i would do if i were you is rent a car... or cab it everywhere you go
 
Listen, make sure you are awarre of your surroundings when taking the subway. It is the most disgusting place on earth.. the people are nasty, the subway cars are nasty and its dangerous. what i would do if i were you is rent a car... or cab it everywhere you go

Renting a car is really bad idea. A car is absolutely unnecessary within the city, and will prove a tremendous burden during an already stressful time. Parking lots are very expensive and parking on the street is a crapshoot depending on the neighborhood and time of day. Traffic is awful during the day, and driving in the city is very stressful if one isn't familiar with it.

Maybe you had a bad experience in particular on the subway, but many of the trains are being replaced. Even the cars that aren't new are cleaned very regularly, and I would argue your comments about them being "nasty." The same goes for the people. There will always be some exceptions in any size town, and one with over 8 million people has its fair share of crazies.

New York is also one of the safest cities in America, and the subway goes along with that. Now, I wouldn't want to be getting off a train in a suit deep in parts of Harlem or Bed-Stuy at midnight, but during the hours when one would be going to interviews the subway is relatively safe.

And yes, absolutely do be aware of your surroundings. Pickpockets still operate throughout the day, especially during busy hours. Keep wallets in front pant pockets (I personally keep my hands resting in my pockets, which dually serves to make sure nobody takes my stuff), and be suspicious of anybody hassling you or creating a scene nearby. But that's all just common sense. Be guarded.

Taking a cab everywhere, while definitely more convenient and sometimes quicker, is expensive. One could argue in the grand scheme of applications, it's barely a drop. But depending on where you're staying and interviewing, it could easily run $30-40/day just to get to and from the interview.

The long and short of it is, be aware of your plan before you step out on the street. And get advice from people who know the area well, not from people who are going to fear-monger you into thinking you're in the seventh level of Dante's Inferno. 🙂 If you can arrange it, try to stay somewhere within walking distance of where your interview is (unless your interview is at Columbia or Downstate - both are in neighborhoods that are pretty dicey when you're not directly on the medical campus). Not only is walking the best way to get around, it'll give you time to learn the neighborhood.
 
I go to college in NYC and its my third year. Subways are convenient, most are not that dirty, most of the time people aren't bad! And as everyone said, hopstop.com is awesome! i mean of course every now and then you get a bum that raps or plays guitar but just keep to yourself or your friends, and its kind of amusing! NYC is great!
 
So what do you New Yorkers say about getting to NYMC in Valhalla, NY (suburbs) from JFK airport? Cab it? Cab+subway? Laguardia is much closer but the airlines I'm flying (cheap flights) on doesn't have flights there.
 
So what do you New Yorkers say about getting to NYMC in Valhalla, NY (suburbs) from JFK airport? Cab it? Cab+subway? Laguardia is much closer but the airlines I'm flying (cheap flights) on doesn't have flights there.

Well, that's a bit more difficult since NYMC is out in the 'burbs. If money is a concern, the cheapest way to do it is AirTrain from JFK to the LIRR Jamaica stop and then take that to Penn in NYC (total about $10), head over to Grand Central (cab ~$7) and take Metro North's Harlem line to Valhalla (~$7 off-peak). So around $25 or so each way, assuming off-peak. But honestly, that's a huge pain in the ass and will take you several hours. You can probably find a car service for around $75 that'll pick you up at the airport and drop you off in Valhalla in under an hour. 3x more expensive, but certainly a lot quicker and easier. Depends which is more important.

Anybody who's done the trip before care to chime in?
 
I wish my hometown had a subway. *sigh*
 
Listen, make sure you are awarre of your surroundings when taking the subway. It is the most disgusting place on earth.. the people are nasty, the subway cars are nasty and its dangerous. what i would do if i were you is rent a car... or cab it everywhere you go


Those of us who are actually from NYC and take the subway every single day to get to and from school and work would appreciate it if you didn't talk about subjects you know nothing about.

I have never been on a subway car with anything visibly disgusting on it (no puddles of anything, or more than a few pieces of garbage people dropped). I've never encountered a "nasty" person on the train (but then again, I probably haven't taken the train with you) - when people need help, multiple NYers chime in to help them. I once was part of a conversation between a woman who only spoke Russian, one who only spoke Italian, and me who only speaks English trying to help the Russian get to Penn Station. She got there, for the record.

The subway is only dangerous if you fall asleep on the tracks, basically.

If you don't act like you're lost, stupid, and have lots of money on you, nothing will happen to you. Most people will be more than willing to help.

As for the original question: use the mta.info maps. It's very easy to figure out. Hopstop usually doesn't give the most direct routes. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask here.
 
also, Columbia's neighborhood (Morningside Heights) is absolutely safe. There are lots of nice restaurants if you want to grab a bite to eat, also.
 
also, Columbia's neighborhood (Morningside Heights) is absolutely safe. There are lots of nice restaurants if you want to grab a bite to eat, also.

It is, but P&S isn't in Morningside Heights. P&S is by the hospital up near Washington Heights, and once you get more than a block or two from the hospital/school it's not the safest place to be late in the evening..
 
It is, but P&S isn't in Morningside Heights. P&S is by the hospital up near Washington Heights, and once you get more than a block or two from the hospital/school it's not the safest place to be late in the evening..

Oops, totally forgot the med school was way uptown.

Now Weill - that's in a nice area.
 
Now Weill - that's in a nice area.

Yeahhh... especially overlooking the river... Gorgeous.. MSSM is also in a great neighborhood, and I heard a rumor on here that the anatomy labs are on a higher floor and overlook Central Park 👍
 
Yeahhh... especially overlooking the river... Gorgeous.. MSSM is also in a great neighborhood, and I heard a rumor on here that the anatomy labs are on a higher floor and overlook Central Park 👍

What's MSSM? Mount Sinai?
 
Those of us who are actually from NYC and take the subway every single day to get to and from school and work would appreciate it if you didn't talk about subjects you know nothing about.

.

hey jerky

I was taking the subway to school alone at the age of 10 up until the age of 17 regularly . I know what I am talking about. I havent been on a subway in a bit but unless they did a million degree turnaround and stopped stealing money from the mta the subway is still disgusting.. My mother was telling me.. she still lives there that it rained like 2 months ago all day.. and the whole subway system shut down because of flooding.. it took them like 2 days to get it working regular again. How would you like to be at the mercy of a system like that? Subways regularly stop in between stops for like 20 minutes for no apparent reason.. Prolly the upper east side line 4,5 ,6 works fine because people are affluent.. But if you are from brooklyn queens or the bronx and traveling.. its a nightmare.. a cattle car... My friend got beat up in the subway like 2 years ago in brooklyn.. if you have an interview at nYMc just rent a car and stay in westchester.. there is no reason why you should stay in manhattan..
 
hey jerky

I was taking the subway to school alone at the age of 10 up until the age of 17 regularly . I know what I am talking about. I havent been on a subway in a bit but unless they did a million degree turnaround and stopped stealing money from the mta the subway is still disgusting.. My mother was telling me.. she still lives there that it rained like 2 months ago all day.. and the whole subway system shut down because of flooding.. it took them like 2 days to get it working regular again. How would you like to be at the mercy of a system like that? Subways regularly stop in between stops for like 20 minutes for no apparent reason.. Prolly the upper east side line 4,5 ,6 works fine because people are affluent.. But if you are from brooklyn queens or the bronx and traveling.. its a nightmare.. a cattle car... My friend got beat up in the subway like 2 years ago in brooklyn.. if you have an interview at nYMc just rent a car and stay in westchester.. there is no reason why you should stay in manhattan..

I have the same amount of experiences. "Random 20 minute stops between stations" occured rarely, not regularly. I travelled from Queens to Manhattan every day. The 6 is very much so a "cattle car", by the way, despite the affluence of its riders. Oh, and half the 6 train occupants come from the Bronx, not just the UES. Rain usually flows downward, and thus into subways, and there isn't much they can do to avoid flooding when it rains that heavily. I grew up in NYC and have never known anyone to get mugged/beat up on the trains, and it hasn't happened to me, and I'm a small girl who regularly has taken trains at all times of night and day.

The MTA is the best-designed public transportation system around. You're being an alarmist, and I don't know where you get your examples from. Everyone I know has nothing but praise for the MTA.
 
I have the same amount of experiences. "Random 20 minute stops between stations" occured rarely, not regularly. I travelled from Queens to Manhattan every day. The 6 is very much so a "cattle car", by the way, despite the affluence of its riders. Oh, and half the 6 train occupants come from the Bronx, not just the UES. Rain usually flows downward, and thus into subways, and there isn't much they can do to avoid flooding when it rains that heavily. I grew up in NYC and have never known anyone to get mugged/beat up on the trains, and it hasn't happened to me, and I'm a small girl who regularly has taken trains at all times of night and day.

The MTA is the best-designed public transportation system around. You're being an alarmist, and I don't know where you get your examples from. Everyone I know has nothing but praise for the MTA.


whatever... taking the subway everyday is for suckers...

once i got out of that and i live in a decent place now.. its a miserable memory...
 
whatever... taking the subway everyday is for suckers...

once i got out of that and i live in a decent place now.. its a miserable memory...

"a decent place" - as if NYC is just some random eh-not-so-great city. Sayonara.
 
well, if your idea of great transportation is driving a gas guzzling lexus coupe on clogged highways to and from the upscale suburbs, i can see why you would hate public transportation.
 
I've ridden NYC subways my whole life. PM me if you need any info, but the MTA website, already posted, should suffice!

And I agree with the post immediately above mine. I prefer mass transit.
 
I'm from Cali and visited NYC when I was in middle school. I sort of got lost and totally got help from all the New Yorkers man... they aren't mean like that stereotype says they are. Johan is just a closed minded suburbanite... so if you are scared of everything in the world then... eh, I shouldn't be so mean.
 
My mother was telling me.. she still lives there that it rained like 2 months ago all day.. and the whole subway system shut down because of flooding.. it took them like 2 days to get it working regular again. How would you like to be at the mercy of a system like that?

I remember the day you're talking about. It was one day, and although the morning commute was completely out of service, the system was back to normal by evening hours that day. We basically had tornado conditions, and the roofs of several buildings were torn down. Lots of rain and torrential winds came very quickly. I had rain puddles INSIDE my apartment, and all the windows were closed. The weather was FAR beyond normal, so it's not surprising transit was affected. The fact that bad weather has to get THAT bad before the system shuts down is a testament to the system's resiliency.

Subways regularly stop in between stops for like 20 minutes for no apparent reason.. Prolly the upper east side line 4,5 ,6 works fine because people are affluent.. But if you are from brooklyn queens or the bronx and traveling.. its a nightmare.. a cattle car... My friend got beat up in the subway like 2 years ago in brooklyn..

I can honestly say, trains that stop for "20 minutes" between stops are incredibly rare, as capn jazz has said. I've been taking the subway for close to 30 years, and the only times I've been stuck in a tunnel for more than five minutes was when some jackass pulled the emergency brake on the train in front of us.

Actually, the 4/5/6 are the worst of them. They consistently get the worst rating from the Straphangers Campaign for ridiculous overcrowding and slow, slow service. It is a cattle car during rush hour. I grew up on that line, and it hasn't gotten any better since the 80s or 90s.

Now I live in Brooklyn, and the service here is infinitely better. Even during rush hour, I'm rarely packed into a train to the point where I can't move or hold a book up. Some days, I even get a seat. Usually it's crowded, but not smushed.

You just admitted that you haven't lived here for years, and you obviously hold a grudge for some reason... At least be fair to others and don't spread biased misinformation.

if you have an interview at nYMc just rent a car and stay in westchester.. there is no reason why you should stay in manhattan..

That much is definitely true, if a car can be had for less than $100/day (check hotwire.com for good airport rates). An interview at NYMC is best served by staying in the Valhalla area.. But that goes for any med school interview.
 
That makes you at LEAST 40! 😉 Are you changing careers?

ahhaahahahah... nah... it makes me almost 30. 🙂 I should clarify my statement by saying I've been taking it alone for almost 20. I'm 27, but yeah, I'm a career-changer. Always wanted to go to med school, though, just had to sort a few things out first.
 
Thread hijacking time:

Are you applying to only NYC schools? I'm in Chicago for college, but I'll be applying to every NYC school in existence, as well as all the Chicago ones. I need trains!
 
I remember the day you're talking about. It was one day, and although the morning commute was completely out of service, the system was back to normal by evening hours that day. We basically had tornado conditions, and the roofs of several buildings were torn down. Lots of rain and torrential winds came very quickly. I had rain puddles INSIDE my apartment, and all the windows were closed. The weather was FAR beyond normal, so it's not surprising transit was affected. The fact that bad weather has to get THAT bad before the system shuts down is a testament to the system's resiliency.



I can honestly say, trains that stop for "20 minutes" between stops are incredibly rare, as capn jazz has said. I've been taking the subway for close to 30 years, and the only times I've been stuck in a tunnel for more than five minutes was when some jackass pulled the emergency brake on the train in front of us.

Actually, the 4/5/6 are the worst of them. They consistently get the worst rating from the Straphangers Campaign for ridiculous overcrowding and slow, slow service. It is a cattle car during rush hour. I grew up on that line, and it hasn't gotten any better since the 80s or 90s.

Now I live in Brooklyn, and the service here is infinitely better. Even during rush hour, I'm rarely packed into a train to the point where I can't move or hold a book up. Some days, I even get a seat. Usually it's crowded, but not smushed.

You just admitted that you haven't lived here for years, and you obviously hold a grudge for some reason... At least be fair to others and don't spread biased misinformation.



That much is definitely true, if a car can be had for less than $100/day (check hotwire.com for good airport rates). An interview at NYMC is best served by staying in the Valhalla area.. But that goes for any med school interview.

umm dont you watch the ****ing local news.. people getting shot on subway platforms.. mugged.. beat up.. how can you say thats safe.. you are listening to the bull**** that the politicians are feeding you..... and there are also wmds in IRaq.... and I dont have ag rudge.. I am being truthful... and NYC is a dump... its not a great city at all.. a dump.. BUT MY METS Are still there.. They lost a tough game tonite at shea..
 
Thread hijacking time:

I'm in Chicago for college, !

the subway and NY is so great you moved to chicago for college... what not enough great schools in ny between columbia nyu queens hofstra stonybrook and sju?
 
Not only nyc schools but a lot of my top choices are in nyc
 
Unless you

A) Act like an idiot (flashing money, tallking trash to people, wearing a white power t-shirt)
B) Go to a very bad part of NYC (the uptown ACE comes to mind)

the subway is perfectly safe, espically before 11 PM.


I live on long island, have been going to the city for many years, and now go to NYU. I know the subway, and as long as you are aware, its fine.
I second hopstop.com Its not always the best route, but its pretty good.
 
It is, but P&S isn't in Morningside Heights. P&S is by the hospital up near Washington Heights, and once you get more than a block or two from the hospital/school it's not the safest place to be late in the evening..

I've walked around there as well as lots of places in NYC; and never had a problem nor felt intimidated.

The subways are safe, relatvely clean and the people are friendly and helpful...as long as you are nice to them and don't look like a scary freak.

If you need to travel on the subways in NYC, you'll be fine...just plan ahead and know how to get where you're going.
 
umm dont you watch the ****ing local news.. people getting shot on subway platforms.. mugged.. beat up.. how can you say thats safe.. you are listening to the bull**** that the politicians are feeding you..... and there are also wmds in IRaq.... and I dont have ag rudge.. I am being truthful... and NYC is a dump... its not a great city at all.. a dump.. BUT MY METS Are still there.. They lost a tough game tonite at shea..

You are insane. I watch the "***ing local news" (read it sometimes too, imagine that!), and there are SO FEW CRIMES on subways. Yes, there is crime, but in a city of 8 million that is unavoidable. Newsflash: NYC is THE SAFEST BIG CITY. Want a source?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2466498

I left NY not because the subway system was inadequate or because there weren't any good schools, but because I wanted to be completely independent and not have a crutch of home being 20 minutes away on the train. And it worked. The only place I considered moving to was Chicago where, surprise surprise, there is an extensive public transit system. Even so, it's nowhere near as good as NYC's.

In summary, you're wrong, sad, angry, and ridiculous with regards to safety and trains in NYC.

Edit: and are you seriously calling SJU a good school? It's where SJHS students go after their parents have to promise them a car just for going to college.
 
umm dont you watch the ****ing local news.. people getting shot on subway platforms.. mugged.. beat up.. how can you say thats safe.. you are listening to the bull**** that the politicians are feeding you..... and there are also wmds in IRaq.... and I dont have ag rudge.. I am being truthful... and NYC is a dump... its not a great city at all.. a dump.. BUT MY METS Are still there.. They lost a tough game tonite at shea..

hahahaha... Right, because the news programs don't exist solely to sensationalize things. See: Fox News.

I can say it's safer than it was because I do follow the news and what happens in different areas. It's a big city, there is going to be crime. You have to accept that. But compared to national averages, New York is far below most other cities in everything except robbery (more than average - not surprising for a major tourist spot) and assault (at the average). Compare it to Detroit: http://www.areaconnect.com/crime/compare.htm?c1=New+York&s1=NY&c2=Detroit&s2=MI (those are based 2005 FBI stats).

Stating your opinion and then calling yourself "truthful" is far from accurate. Maybe you think it's a dump, but one man's trash is another man's treasure. And considering you're making false assumptions about my political views with zero evidence to base those assumptions on, it just further devalues your argument. If it's such a dump, why support one of its teams? Surely there's a better city more deserving of your undying loyalty.
 
Thread hijacking time:

Are you applying to only NYC schools? I'm in Chicago for college, but I'll be applying to every NYC school in existence, as well as all the Chicago ones. I need trains!

hahaha... I'm applying all over the place. Actually I want to leave the area, only because I've lived here for my whole life and I want a change of pace. I love it here and hope to raise a family here, but I don't feel one can truly appreciate somewhere unless they've lived somewhere else..

With that said, it'd be pretty hard to turn down any of the schools around here.. 🙂
 
hahaha... I'm applying all over the place. Actually I want to leave the area, only because I've lived here for my whole life and I want a change of pace. I love it here and hope to raise a family here, but I don't feel one can truly appreciate somewhere unless they've lived somewhere else..

With that said, it'd be pretty hard to turn down any of the schools around here.. 🙂

my guess.... once you leave.. you wont come back...
 
hey NYers...

I could use some help here. I have an interview at NYMC towards the end of October. No tickets have been booked yet, but i'm planning on flying from CA into JFK (open to other suggestions though).

From there, I need to get to Valhalla, where I'm staying with a student. My interview is on 10/25, and later that day, I'm planning to go back to Manhattan and spend some time w/ my brother and have some fun.

I would be leaving on Sunday AM or also open to Sat. PM.

Can you offer some suggestions. From the one post above about getting from JFK to NYMC, it sounds pretty complicated and more expensive than i thought ($50 round trip). What else can i do? Fly into westchester directly? those tickets are more expensive, but i guess I'd be saving on train/plane. But then I'd have to get from Westchester to Manhattan, and then back there to depart.

I'm open to any/all suggestions. Thanks
 
hey NYers...

I could use some help here. I have an interview at NYMC towards the end of October. No tickets have been booked yet, but i'm planning on flying from CA into JFK (open to other suggestions though).

From there, I need to get to Valhalla, where I'm staying with a student. My interview is on 10/25, and later that day, I'm planning to go back to Manhattan and spend some time w/ my brother and have some fun.

I would be leaving on Sunday AM or also open to Sat. PM.

Can you offer some suggestions. From the one post above about getting from JFK to NYMC, it sounds pretty complicated and more expensive than i thought ($50 round trip). What else can i do? Fly into westchester directly? those tickets are more expensive, but i guess I'd be saving on train/plane. But then I'd have to get from Westchester to Manhattan, and then back there to depart.

I'm open to any/all suggestions. Thanks

rent a car and drive there.... and stay in westchester..

getting to westchester from jfk is a pain in the ass.. got to take a train into the city(manhattan) and i think take metro north up to westchester.. just rent a c ar
 
rent a car and drive there.... and stay in westchester..

getting to westchester from jfk is a pain in the ass.. got to take a train into the city(manhattan) and i think take metro north up to westchester.. just rent a c ar
i second this motion
JFK to valhalla i believe is just a whitestone or throgs neck bridge away plus some highway
when in doubt, google map it
 
rent a car and drive there.... and stay in westchester..

getting to westchester from jfk is a pain in the ass.. got to take a train into the city(manhattan) and i think take metro north up to westchester.. just rent a c ar

Don't most rental companies require that you be 25 to rent a car? That's not an option for some people.
 
Don't most rental companies require that you be 25 to rent a car? That's not an option for some people.

Not necessarily. Most, if not all, will rent to someone under 25. They'll just charge you a horrific fee to cover the additional insurance. Often almost doubles the per-day cost.
 
Not necessarily. Most, if not all, will rent to someone under 25. They'll just charge you a horrific fee to cover the additional insurance. Often almost doubles the per-day cost.
The cheapest method of transportation is probably a combination of 2 trains, the subway, and then a cab afterwards.
 
hey NYers...

I could use some help here. I have an interview at NYMC towards the end of October. No tickets have been booked yet, but i'm planning on flying from CA into JFK (open to other suggestions though).

From there, I need to get to Valhalla, where I'm staying with a student. My interview is on 10/25, and later that day, I'm planning to go back to Manhattan and spend some time w/ my brother and have some fun.

I would be leaving on Sunday AM or also open to Sat. PM.

Can you offer some suggestions. From the one post above about getting from JFK to NYMC, it sounds pretty complicated and more expensive than i thought ($50 round trip). What else can i do? Fly into westchester directly? those tickets are more expensive, but i guess I'd be saving on train/plane. But then I'd have to get from Westchester to Manhattan, and then back there to depart.

I'm open to any/all suggestions. Thanks

I've never actually made the trip from JFK to Westchester, but have you considered flying into LGA? It *might* make your trip cheaper (but possibly longer, because I doubt you'll find a direct flight from anywhere in CA to LGA). From LGA, you can take the M60 bus to 125th st & Park Ave (the metro north stop is on park right? NYer's correct me if i'm wrong), and then take the Metro North from the 125th st. stop to Valhalla.

Just a suggesting a possibility...
 
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