Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nyc and subway

Where can I get an NYC subway map & metrocard outside of NYC?

spockette — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:23:43 -0800

I'm working on an art project, and I need to get a copy of the official MTA NYC subway map (the one you get for free in the subway station), and an expired metrocard. I am in the UK. How can I get a hold of these things outside of New York?

Help my pooch become a therapy dog!

coffeeflavored — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:18:03 -0800

How can I get my medium-sized dog to my place of work once a week if I live in Brooklyn and have no car? Can I sneak him onto the M train without being caught? On Monday I'll be starting a job as a bereavement counseling intern at a senior center in Boro Park in Brooklyn, NY. The center recently experienced the retirement of its therapy dog and is looking for a new one. My own dog, a Border Collie mix, is friendly, fairly gentle, and unusually even-tempered. With a little more training, I think he would be a perfect therapy dog. My supervisor told me that she'd like it if I could bring him to work on occasion since the presence of a friendly dog can encourage our clients to open up a bit more than usual and goes a long way in cheering seniors dealing with loss.

The problem is that I live in Williamsburg and can only get to work by taking the M train down to 62nd St. I'm unfamiliar with the M train around that area, but I've got a hunch that riders can get away with more illegal activity the emptier the train is (and the M train is EMPTY by that point) and the further the train travels from Manhattan into less-populated neighborhoods. Is this true? Does anyone here have experience with sneaking their dog onto the subway on a regular basis?

Otherwise, can anyone think of another way I could get my dog to Boro Park once a week to work as a therapy dog? I don't think he'll qualify as a service dog and he's too big for a crate or my lap, so the subway is probably out unless someone can confirm it would be A-OK. I can't afford a taxi, car service, or car rental. My friends have suggested that maybe I can bring him on a mysterious "Chinese bus" that can take me to Boro Park and on which all sorts of illegal happenings are allowed, but that sounds like crazy-person talk to me. Others mentioned cheap "Hasid taxis." This sounds even crazier. Please tell me anything you know about them if they do exist, though.

NYC subway station coordinates?

lupefiasco — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:10:40 -0800

Where can I find a listing of the coordinates (latitude, longitude) of all the New York City subway stations?

Getting to Newark from Manhattan

greta simone — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:41:15 -0800

Cheapest way to get to Newark airport from the city? I have a flight out of Newark at 9pm Monday night. I'll be running around Manhattan most of that day with only a small overnight bag, so luggage isn't an issue. I'm trying to find the cheapest way to get to Newark from where ever in the city I can get to by subway. I took the Blue Van into the city, which was cheap, but I don't think they do pick-ups to take you back to the airport. I prefer something uncomplicated, meaning I don't want to have to take two trains and then two buses or anything like that, but also cheap, so no NYC cabs straight there. Something in the middle would be best. I don't know exactly where I'll be in the city when it's time for me to leave, but I'm open and can catch a train anywhere.
Thanks for your help!

Billy on the Subway

sdsparks — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:31:22 -0800

Would I be silly to bring a largeish bookcase on the NYC subway? So I just bought a bookcase off Craigslist, your normal Billy from Ikea, dimensions:
Width: 31 1/2 "
Depth: 11 "
Height: 79 1/2 "
I need to get it from Park Slope to the Lower East Side and I can't figure out if its crazy to bring it on the F train. I keep going back and forth. 80 pounds won't be too heavy for two people right? Will the subway officials let me enter the station with it? Will it be too obnoxious for other riders? Will the F train be too full at 10:15 AM? I don't want to be a nuisance, I just want to save 50 bucks off the man with a van. So, thoughts? Sorry if this is too specific for MeFi, fell free to delete it if that's the case. Thanks!

New York Subway Fiction Suggestions

billtron — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:15:44 -0800

LiteratureFilter: Yo metafilterland. I'm on a quest for two things: literary representations of the new york city subway, the more personal and sensorial the better, and literary representations of a new york city without subways, circa before 1904. Non-fiction and suggestions are welcome as well, as are examples that use less stringent definitions of "text" (film, song lyrics, dance etc).

Looking for a good printable nyc subway map

(bb|[^b]{2}) — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:49:01 -0800

I'm looking for a good printable map of nyc's subway system. NFT has lots of great maps, but not a big one that covers the whole system and can easily fit in my back pocket. Any suggestions?

Can you identify this New York subway station?

dhammond — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:25:04 -0800

I'm flying to New York tomorrow to tape an appearance on The Maury Show and I need your help. Thankfully, it's not for a paternity test. I am appearing on a segment about the crazy online videos and I need a little background info on one of the clips we're using. Do any of you New Yorkers know at which subway station this video of a breakdancer kicking a baby in the head was shot?

I thank you, hive mind. And daytime television thanks you as well.

what's between between?

grumblebee — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:13:15 -0800

Is there a default understanding the word "between," if the speaker/writer doesn't say whether he's being inclusive or exclusive? For instance, if I say "Pick a number between 1 and 10," would you assume that 1 and 10 are okay picks or just 2 through 9? I suspect there isn't a RIGHT answer, but is there a common, colloquial understanding? I have Aspergers, and I get a feeling that this question would have an obvious answer to a "normal" person. But I'm so damn literal it has me stuck.

It came up today because, as NYCers know, the transit system is all screwed up. I'm on the 2 line, in Brooklyn, and I'd like to get to Atlantic Avenue (also on the 2 line). According to the MTA, " trains are suspended in both directions between the 34th Street-Penn Station and the Atlantic Avenue Station." So does that mean 2 trains are going TO Altantic and Penn but not between Atlantic and Penn? Or are the trains not even going to Atlantic and Penn?

I'm actually not all that worried about the train issue. That's just an example that came up today. My question is, is my confusion natural, or would a "normal" person just know what "between" means? And, if so, what DOES it mean?

Sometimes, when someone says "Pick a number between 1 and 10," I ask them if they mean INCLUDING 1 and 10. They tend to look at me strangely, as if I'd asked a really dumb, obvious question that I should know the answer to.

Local or Express?

2bucksplus — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 06:36:42 -0800

Help me optimize my daily New York City Subway commute! A good question for those who love transportation puzzles: Every business day, I travel from Union Square to Grand Central at 8:30AM and return at 5:30PM via the 4,5 or 6 train. These trains depart from opposite sites of the same platform. Given the frequency of the trains, and their comparative speeds (and the fact that the local stops along the way), am I better off:

1. Always getting on the first train that arrives, be it local (6) or express (4,5)
2. Always getting on the first express train that arrives, even if that means not getting on a local train (4,5)
3. Some other answer?

Why?

Now, say I just miss an express train (i.e. see it depart the station), am I better off:

1a. Getting on the next train to arrive, be it local or express (4,5 or 6)
2a. Getting on the next express train to arrive even if that means skipping a local train (4,5)
3a. Some other option?

Why?

I am assuming in this question that I always can board any train, but if I estimate that the express trains are too crowded 10% of the time, and the local trains are never too crowded, does that change your answer?

NYC subway secrets

UnnotciedTypo — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:42:47 -0800

Most visually interesting parts of the New York City subway system? So, I'm throwing around a project idea that will involve compiling a brief list of the most visually interesting sights that can be seen, specifically, in the tunnels of the NYC subway, from the windows of moving trains. In general, I'm hoping for interesting architecture in tunnels, where tracks of different elevations cross underground, or remnants of prior platforms or connections between systems are apparent. My criteria are simply that such features must not be located in stations, or on elevated or ground-level tracks, and that they be visible during casual travel (not on semi-restricted stretches, like the old City Hall station).
A couple examples that I've thought of include:

- The 145th Street trainyard on the 1 line.

- The abandoned 91st Street station on the 1/2/3 line.

- The stretch on the A train at 103rd Street, where both levels of the station can be seen at once (my favorite so far).

Any additions to this list, especially in boroughs outside of Manhattan, would be enormously helpful to me! Thanks!

Backwards water drops on third rail

rustcellar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:15:31 -0800

In the rain at my outdoor subway station in Brooklyn this morning, I observed once again a bizarre phenomenon: water drops appear to drip upwards from the third rail to the wooden cover above it. My wife saw this too. What's going on?

GPS for Urban Living?

ml98tu — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:46:05 -0800

I'm moving to NYC soon and given my history of getting lost half the time I leave my house, I'd like to get a GPS to help me navigate my new city. However, I'm sort of stumped to as to whether or not I can actually get what I want... I'd like it to have support for public transit. I know this is probably not entirely possible, since I'd imagine the unit can't communicate with satellites while underground. I'd like to be able to enter my destination, have it tell me where the closest stop is and what the best route is (to the subway, and which subway line(s) to take once I get there), and then when I exit the subway, it would tell me how to get to my final destination. It would be similar to DC Metro's Trip Planner, but in the palm of my hand. If it can't do that, is there some sort of map I can load or some other software I can buy for a normal GPS that will do something similar?

Or do I have to get creative? For example, I have an older Palm OS so perhaps this software might work? Another possibility is that I think my cell phone (Verizon LGVX8100) will support VZNavigator, but that doesn't appear to have transit information. If anyone has experience with those or knows of some other device/software that will solve all my problems, by all means let me know.

Overall, I think I would prefer GPS since it will have common things like the closest grocery store or bank, but will also allow me to input specific addresses. I have a tendency to wind up places and not know where I am, so something that can pinpoint my location would be useful too. I'm not too concerned about cost.

I've looked at this thread which was helpful but not quite what I had in mind. I've also looked at this CNet article and the accompanying reviews and this recent story on GPS subway support.

I understand that getting lost is half the fun of learning a new city, but it is particularly frustrating and if I'm on a time-table, I'd like to not be late. Thanks for any suggestions or input, I'm pretty open as long as it will keep me from getting lost.

What are these stickers?

idledebonair — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:53:00 -0800

What are these stickers I keep seeing on the NYC subway? I keep seeing these star and triangle stickers in NYC subway cars. What do they mean? Where do they come from?

What is the mysterious fourth rail for?

pithy comment — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:33:39 -0800

I'm relatively new to New York and ride the subway every day. When I'm on the above-ground lines I notice another "fourth" rail in between the two running rails that doesn't look like it is used, but is securely tied down. Sometimes there's even a fifth rail, also in the middle. Usually this rail doesn't run continuously and it occasionally curves or has other oddities. What is this fourth rail for? Here's a picture. I know it isn't the third rail.

How do you avoid getting electrocuted on a subway track?

jchgf — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:34:44 -0800

After reading this NY Times story of a man jumping on the NY subway tracks to save a man who had fallen there after a seizure: How do you avoid getting electrocuted on a subway track? From the MTA NYC Passenger Safety FAQ: "No matter what situation arises, keep off the tracks. Tracks contain 600 volts of live electricity. If you drop something on the tracks, go to the station booth and tell the agent."

So how exactly did Wesley Autrey avoid getting electrocuted?
What part of the track exactly must you avoid if such a situation arises?
Is electrocution automatic if you touch the electrically-conducive part?

This question is a bit close to chatfilter and I don't intend to jump on a subway track ever, but I am genuinely curious and the question seem to respect the guidelines as I've read them. If it doesn't, please delete.

How to get US-only online retail item in Canada and make a Christmas wish come true.

KevCed — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 20:12:54 -0800

I need help obtaining a specific NYC souvenir for Christmas. I can't find an online retailer that is willing to ship this item to Canada, and both of my AmeriFriends are already here for the holidays! It's a women's Manhattan subway map t-shirt. I can find the men's version of the shirt with Canadian shipping, but this gift is for a girl; nay the girl.

EBay, Craigslist and extensive googling for this item have yielded no retailers willing to ship to Canada. Most retailers respond to a request with the claim that shipping is outrageously expensive. Most that have bothered to respond say that they can't/won't special order a woman's style shirt for me. So, short of joining a mail redirection service, as advised in this AskMe which is too expensive for this one time thing, what are my options?

The item is in the USD $20-$25 range. I know where to get it in person in NYC (wasn't able to buy it in person in secret). Are there any MeFites who would be willing to buy and mail this souvenir for PayPal payment?

Other suggestions to avoid this kind of US-only problem in the future would also be appreciated.

NYC subway station where Michael Jackson's "Bad" video was shot?

MaudB — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 01:58:03 -0800

I just watched the Scorsese-directed, 17-minute video for Michael Jackson's Bad, released on 1987, and I'm trying to figure out which subway station it was shot in. Most stations looked different back then, of course - there's been a lot of fixing up and adding of art since then. It looks like maybe it could be the 2nd Ave F stop, but it could also be the Broadway/Roosevelt/74th St multi-train express stop in Jackson Heights, Queens. Or.... where? Does anyone know? I haven't been successful finding anything about it via web searching.

The Potentially Rehabilitating Junky's Purse

blueneurosis — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:14:33 -0800

So I found something of considerable value on the Queens bound F-Train...now what? I spotted a tiny purse with no one around it. I looked around, seeing that no one seemed to be rushing back on board to snatch it, so I did what anyone with a longish ride would do.
I opened it up.

What I found:
-100 dollar bill and a penny
-vicodin prescription note (with number that gets a hospital's rehab answering machine, which was full of messages)
-one photography receipt for a roll being developed
-rolling tobacco papers
-social security card that matches the vicodin note's name
-loads and loads (29!) of single wrapped alcohol prep wipes
-three packets of sweet and low

So, gentle reader, what do I do?
If I return the bag to the MTA (the subway people), there's no way of knowing if the contents will get back the owner. They have been on an ad blitz to show that they really do have a lost and found department, though.
Should this person be a full-on junky, which the 29 prep wipes makes me think, giving the purse back in person would be a bad idea, as would giving a junky money.
If this person is legit about wanting to recover, they'll need the money, the prescript, and the social security card.

Geographically, this person is all over the place. The stop I got on and noticed the purse was in Brooklyn, the prescripton and roll of film receipt are both from Harlem, and the address on the prescript was in the lower 30s of Manhattan.

Since when has trying to do the right thing been so murky?

How do I use the subway in NYC?

benjh — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:12:38 -0800

How can I find the best resources for travel in New York City? I've Google searched, I've looked, I've scoured, I'm stumped.

I've been to NYC a couple of times. I am going back for business in December. Usually, I use the Subway to get around, but I've typically been on the 1-2 Subway line between hotel and work, and haven't done as much exploring, or at least as much as I would like to have.

Between the MTA site and other sites, the subway system is confusing me. Is there a resource to a good way to travel the subways, and find the routes I need.

As an example, I'm a fitness guy, and my membership is to Gold's gym. I would like to go to the Gold's while I am there, but it is about 1.5 miles from my Hotel (going from Penn Station to 54th Street).

Any help appreciated. Also... for your New Yorkers, anything I should definitely see while I am there?

Some like it hot

nyterrant — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:33:10 -0800

Why are New York subway platforms so hot? I know it's summer, but yikes. NYC subway platforms are at least 10 degrees hotter than above ground. I've been on many subways in many cities, and never have I experienced the furnance-like tempertatures found in New York. Can anyone point to a reason it's so hot down there?

RideGuide in NYC

mojohand — Wed, 10 Nov 2004 08:28:56 -0800

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Web site has a really neat application - RideGuide - that enables you to enter the addresses of your start point and destination and times, and it will crank out the subway and bus connections you need to get where you want to go.

Is there a New York City equivalent?

screechy subway sound what is it

mkultra — Mon, 23 Feb 2004 11:05:31 -0800

What's that noise that NYC subway cars often make when pulling out of a station? It sounds like a metal-on-metal screech, but has a definite three-note tonal quality (A-G-B?) to it. It seems like some kind of white noise/noise-cancellation, but I'd love to know the skinny.