How is the commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan??? I never rode a train in my life, is it confusing?

Question

Also how long does it take?

Answer 1

It's not confusing if you follow subway maps and directions, but if you don't know what you're doing, you can get lost though it's not very likely.

The commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan shouldn't be too long, but it depends on train arrival and departure times. And since you never rode a train in your entire life, you're in for a ride!!! hehe, that's how I felt when I first rode a train.

Oh yeah, and make sure you hold on to the pole inside if you're standing up because sometimes you can stumble if the train driver takes off really fast.

Answer 2

No, not at all.  You have to know three things:

1) Where in Manhattan you're going

2) What train serves that destination ("A," "2" train, etc.), or the train closest to it.

3) How to get to that train, including any transfers.

Example: your destination is served by the "2" train.  The closest train to you is, say, the "L" train.  You would have to take the "L" train to a station served by the "2" and transfer: that is, get off your "L" train and walk to wherever the "2" is (transfers are free).  The "2" will ultimately take you to your destination.  

Travel time will vary, depending on where you're going: Canarsie to the Upper West Side will take longer than Brooklyn Heights to Wall Street.

If at any time you feel lost, ask a conductor or a station clerk (they used be called token clerks, but NYC Transit did away with tokens a while ago).  Nine times out of ten they're very helpful.

Since you've never been on a train before, I strongly recommend sitting the entire ride, if possible.  The train can take sharp starts and curves, which could cause you to lose your balance.  If the train is crowded, and it can be during rush hours, try getting on at the end cars (front or back)--they're sometimes less crowded.  If you must stand, be sure to hold the rails while the train is moving.

The subway is one of the crown jewels of New York, and like everything else, you always remember your first time.