I am moving to newyork in a short while and i want to know about the transportation facilities available there

Question

i heard that newyork is a very expensive city!! my job requires me to travel a lot throughout the city and i also dont have a car.

so i would like to know about the train and bus fares. could u please give me a basic idea about the costs? i would also like to know if the trains and buses are regular and if they can be accessed from anywhere in new york?

thank you!

Answer 1

I am assuming you mean NY City rather than elsewhere in the State of New York.

One should never drive a car within Manhattan unless they can't avoid it.  Traffic gets so heavy in areas that it could take 1/2 hour or more to go several blocks.  It is faster to walk or take the subway.

NYC subways and buses operate 24/7 although some routes operate only during the day into early evening.  In that event other routes will provide service.

The subway and bus fare is $2.00 each way.  

Buses will accept coins or the MetroCard for payment of the fare.  No dollar bills are accepted.  

The subway accepts the MetroCard.  Those can be purchased at machines in each subway station or attended booths (ones painted blue) in each subway station.  The machines will accept cash or debit/credit cards.  The booths are cash only with a minimum purchase of $4.

The main fare payment media is the MetroCard which is a thin plastic card upon which you can load value to pay the fare.  There are several different versions:

Pay per ride - This is the baisc card.  This will give you a free transfer between subway and bus or bus and subway within a 2 hour period from the time the fare was paid.  If you put either $10 or $20 on the MetroCard you get a 20% bonus (1 extra ride for $10 and 2 extra rides for $20).  

Fun Pass:  Cost $7.  This is valid for unlimited riding on the subways and bus lines for a whole day (basically until 3 AM the next morning from the day you use it).

Weekly Unlimited:  Cost $24  This is good for unlimited riding on the subways and bus lines for 7 days from the day you first use it.

30 day Unlimited:  Cost $76.  Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 30 days from day of first use. This card is insured against loss when purchased at a vending machine with a credit or debit/ATM card.

Note:  The unlimiteds are not valid on Express bus lines.   Only the pay per ride ro a 30 day Express Bus unlimited are.

Read more about the MetroCard at the 2 links in the source section.

The subways and buses are regular.   Check the subway map online (maps are also available at each subway booth

for free).  

There are timetables for each bus route and subway line.  The link for the online versions are below.  

You can call the MTA info line 718-330-1234 and ask them if they will mail you the subway and various bus maps (and timetables if you want).

Good luck

Edit:  Leaving at night?  It depends on how late and where you are leaving from and going to.  Taxis can be harder to get in some areas after a certain hour.

Answer 2

NYMTA web site. Has all the info you need. maps, fares for the trains and buses. Plus more.  Go to www.mta.nyc.ny.us.com