A Method of Transportation

Public transportation is the best alternative to walking when you can't reach your destination on foot. MTA New York City Transit operates the city's subway and bus system on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It's a cheap, green, and convenient way to see the sights across all five boroughs, and it runs around the clock.

Passengers with sight, hearing, or mobility impairments can use any bus service, and some subway lines are also accessible. Check out the MTA's Accessibility Guide and the Station Accessibility List for more details. See also our piece on handicapped-accessible NYC transportation.

You can get around New York City by subway and bus once you buy a MetroCard and load at least $5 onto it. When you first buy the card, you'll put $ 50 on it, not including the $1 card fee. The subway stations have automated machines (large machines accept cash, ATM bank cards, and regular credit cards; small machines do not accept cash) or booth attendants (cash only). Avoid the cost of a new card by continuing to use the one you have and topping it off.  

Subway and local bus rides cost $2 with a pay-per-ride MetroCard. 75 It costs to take the Express Bus. 75 Pay-as-you-go cards, unlimited MetroCards, and the $3 (cash only) SingleRide card are the options for riders. vending machine-only fare that must be used for a subway or bus ride (within two hours) and that allows transfers between buses but not subways Users can ride the subway as often as they like with an unlimited MetroCard, which comes in seven-day ($33) and thirty-day ($127) options. Seniors (those 65 and up) and people with disabilities receive a 50% discount on MTA fares and a 5% "bonus" credit on purchases over $5 with a Reduced-Fare MetroCard (you must apply for and be approved to receive this Reduced-Fare MetroCard, which features your name and photograph). at least $50 for unlimited ride cards Additionally, children under the age of two ride express buses for free if they sit on the lap of a fare-paying adult, and children up to the age of three who do not exceed the height limit of 44 inches are permitted free access on subways and buses. You can always check mta.info for the most recent MetroCard pricing information.  

Taking the subway is the most convenient and efficient way to get around New York City. Another great way to experience New York like a local is by taking the subway.

To sum up: • Subway trains run continuously, around the clock, every day of the week • For $2 For the price of one ride ($0.75) on a pay-as-you-go MetroCard, you can travel the entire city's subway system as often as you like, transferring between lines as often as you like, without ever having to pay for a fare again. With a pay-as-you-go MetroCard, you can switch between the subway and a local bus within two hours. (With an Unlimited Ride MetroCard, transferring is free, but you can't use it in the same subway station or on the same bus route for at least 18 minutes.) as well as not being valid for use on express buses. Subway stops on express lines are typically further apart than those on local lines (8-10 blocks is a common range).

For example: • Staten Island is not accessible by subway. You can either take a bus or the free Staten Island Ferry to get there. The Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George is connected to the rest of the island by the MTA Staten Island Railway. George to the southern tip of the island at Tottenville, making stops at several communities along the western side of the borough, and connecting with a large number of buses along the way.

Subway maps are available at no cost from information booth staff, the Official NYC Information Center, or right here in our Maps & Guides section. Additionally, the MTA offers a Trip Planner that will help you create a personalized route (although it is always a good idea to have a subway map on hand, just in case). MTA bus routes are also included in the Trip Planner. Be sure to check the most recent MTA service information at mta.info or by calling 511 or 718-330-1234, as subway routes and train schedules are subject to change at any time, especially on weekends and late nights during the week.

Traveling around the city via public bus is a pleasant way to see sights that aren't close to a subway stop. To add to this, a growing number of NYC buses are hybrid-electric and electric models, demonstrating the importance of mass transit to the city's efforts to green itself. Moreover, in 2018, the MTA declared its intention to transition to an electric bus fleet by 2040.

Some quick info: • The MetroCard is accepted on all city buses, along with exact coin change (no pennies or bills). When taking a bus, always double-check the front sign to see if it stops at every stop along the route or if it's a "limited stop" bus. • Board the bus at the front and pay your fare there. On SBS (Select Bus Service) routes, however, there are payment kiosks conveniently located on the curbside immediately adjacent to each bus stop. It's possible to stay on the bus for free if you pay the fare only once, and you can ride any local bus in the area for free within two hours of paying your fare. Whenever the bus driver is starting a new route and isn't on a predetermined schedule to return to the terminal Check to see if your route provides overnight service, but know that many buses operate around the clock, every day of the week. When and where the bus will stop can be seen on the schedule and route map posted at the stop. • During peak hours, buses may arrive every 5-15 minutes.

• If you have a smartphone, you can scan the QR code at your bus stop's sign or go to the MTA Bus Time page, or you can find the six-digit stop code on the sign and text it along with the route number to 511123 to find out when the next bus is expected to arrive.

• Buses have regular stops every other block along avenue routes and every block along cross-street routes. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., local and express bus drivers will stop wherever passengers request, so long as doing so is safe (and, for express buses, only when dropping off passengers).

• You can get information about MTA services by visiting mta.info or calling (718) 330-1234.

The MTA's Trip Planner is the most up-to-date and trustworthy resource for route and fare information.

If you have a MetroCard, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tram from East 60th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in the East River between Manhattan and Queens and enjoy a bird's-eye view of Midtown East on the way. The first trams didn't roll until 1976. As a direct service organization, it's open every day of the week (Sun. –Thurs Saturday and Sunday, 6am-2am –Sat , 6am-3:30am) for over 2 million riders per year, with no cost for transferring between the subway and MTA buses. When accompanied by a paying adult, up to three children under the age of 12 and no taller than 44 inches each ride the tram for free. Check out rioc.ny.gov for more details.  

The NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission is in charge of licensing and regulating the city's fleet of yellow taxicabs and green Boro Taxis. If your feet are tired, your bags are heavy, or both, calling a taxi may be the best option.

Here are the quick facts: • Taxis are always open for business. Get in taxis with lit up top numbers; they're working. Getting in and out of the cab should be done at the curb. When asking a hotel's doorman to call you a cab, it's customary to leave a $1 tip. Minimum fare for a meter ride is $2. 50, plus an additional 50 cents for every fifth of a mile or for every minute traveled, whichever is greater • Each ride costs an extra $0.50 for the MTA state surcharge and $0.30 for the improvements surcharge. A daily 50-cent surcharge is added to the meter between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays), and a $1 surcharge is added between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Taxis accept all major credit, debit, and prepaid cards as well as cash. Depending on the quality of service received, a 15-20% gratuity should be left for the driver at the end of the trip.

Anywhere in New York City, hailing a yellow taxi will bring you to your destination. Above the E line, in northern Manhattan, green taxis are available for both street hails and reservations. 96th St  and W 110th St and the rest of the boroughs To learn more about taxis and limousines, check out the TLC's online resources.

If you've misplaced something in New York City, call 311. You can find more information about TLC's fares and other services on the company's website, and the website also includes information about specific destinations.
Drivers in New York City are obligated to transport customers anywhere they need to go. Within the five boroughs, drivers are prohibited from refusing service to anyone on the basis of race, disability, or destination. Call 311 or go to nyc.gov/311 if you'd like to lodge a discrimination complaint.

In addition to traditional taxis, there are many other options for transportation. These include local car services and increasingly popular app-based options like Uber and Lyft. Kid Car is one airport transportation option that guarantees car seats for families.

Use Google Maps or one of the many navigation apps available, such as Waze, if you intend to drive around New York City. Please be aware of parking restrictions. For instance, the ParkWhiz app is used by the venues on our site to list nearby parking spaces, allowing you to compare parking rates and locations as well as make reservations. Zipcar and Enterprise are two alternatives to the major car rental agencies if you find yourself in need of transportation around the city. wherein members can reserve cars for as little as an hour and as long as a week (for Enterprise) or 14 days (for Zipcar), around the clock, seven days a week. There are reserved parking spots in the city for users of either program, as part of a pilot program that will continue until the middle of 2020.

Although walking and public transportation are both great options for getting around New York City, you also have the option of riding a bike, pedicab, or ferry. Change your route and you might get a new perspective on the City.

Besides being beneficial to your health and the environment, bicycling around the city can be a more efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation than driving a car. Popular cycling destinations in New York City include Central Park, Riverside Park, and Prospect Park, as well as the bike paths along the Hudson and East rivers and on many bridges. Bicyclists can find a downloadable bike map and a guide to biking in the city from the New York City Department of Transportation, and there are also resources available from Transportation Alternatives.

Since its launch in May 2013, Citi Bike, New York City's bike-sharing system, has seen rapid adoption. About 24,000 bicycles can be accessed from 1,500 stations around the clock, 365 days a year. Get a bike unlocked at one location, go where the wind takes you, and drop it off at another. We offer single-use, 3-day, and annual passes.

Businesses that rent bicycles by the hour, two hours, half a day, or a full day can be found in abundance in and around the aforementioned prime cycling areas. Guided tours and route suggestions are available from companies like Unlimited Biking, Bike and Roll New York, and Blazing Saddles.

A pedicab, also known as a "bike taxi" or "bicycle rickshaw," is a type of vehicle propelled entirely by a driver rather than the passenger. In the more populated areas of Manhattan, taxi drivers won't make you look for them.

New York's extensive ferry system connects the island of Manhattan to the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island as well as the state of New Jersey across the harbor.

The Staten Island Ferry, which has been run by the city since 1905, is a common part of many people's commutes to and from the island, and riding it is also a must for any visitor. The free ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan's Whitehall Ferry Terminal has been operating since 1905. The trip spans 5 miles and takes 25 minutes, and passengers can enjoy breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, and Lower Manhattan.

Multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens; two in the Bronx (Soundview and Throgs Neck); and one on Staten Island; as well as Roosevelt Island, Governors Island, and Rockaway Beach are all served by the NYC Ferry system. A boat ride will only set you back as much as a subway ride would, with discounts of up to 50% for seniors and people with disabilities, and free passage for kids under 44 inches. Visit the NYC Ferry website for a timetable and map of the routes.

New York Waterway (NYW) runs four commuter ferry routes between Manhattan (along the Hudson River at West 39th Street and at World Financial Center and Pier 11, near Wall Street) and various points in New Jersey, in addition to a number of harbor and sightseeing cruises. Transportation to and from the ferry terminals in Midtown, Downtown Manhattan, and New Jersey is provided by free shuttle buses.

With its many attractions and convenient location, New York City is a popular port of call for cruise ships. New York City cruise passengers can sail to the Caribbean any time of the year, as well as the Northeast, Canada, Bermuda, England, and many other locations.

New York City's infrastructure has undergone recent upgrades that make it safer for cruise ships to dock there. The newly renovated Manhattan Cruise Terminal in Battery Park City welcomes some of the world's most illustrious ships, while the brand new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook is home port for Cunard and Princess Cruises' luxurious fleet, including the Queen Mary 2 and the Regal Princess. Details about each terminal are provided below.

88 and 90 Piers, 1111 12th Avenue, Manhattan (at W 55th St Brooklyn Terminal, Pier 12, Building 112 (at Clinton Wharf), 72 Bowne St., New York, New York 10019 (212) 641-4454 located on Ferris Street ZIP Code: 11231 (Brooklyn, New York

212-641-4440

It's easy to get around New York City with a pet dog or cat, but there are some guidelines to follow.

Traveling with pets on MTA buses, subways, trains, and taxis is permitted only if they are contained in a container or carrier. In addition, harnessed service animals are welcome on public transportation. Taxi drivers have the option to pick up passengers whose dogs are not contained in carry cases. Several pet-taxi services operate in the city, and they can help you get your pet where it needs to go, even if it's not allowed on regular public transportation.

Driver for your pet: (212) 696-9744
K9 Cars: 718-683-2152

See our in-depth guide for more information about bringing your pet to New York City.