Getting around New York

Tips for Getting Around New York
New York is a great place so don’t be afraid to wander. New York is one of the safest cities in the U. S. It is easy to find your way around. In fact, you will enjoy wandering around the city streets taking in all the fantastic buildings sights and the fascinating people that make up New York. As a tourist we must respect New Yorkers and their ways. Some tourists seem to drive New Yorkers crazy:
Here are a few tips that you should avoid
• Like taking up the entire pavement so that other walkers can't pass;
• Coming to a complete stop at the top or in the middle of the subway stairs, or blocking the way down;
• Looking over a shoulder or down at a guidebook while walking straight ahead.
• New Yorkers like to walk quickly or appear to be always in a hurry.
• Respect New Yorkers – and you'll win their respect for tourists from the world over!
• On the other hand, if you need any type of help New Yorkers will be the first to run after you, offering their assistance. They really are nice folk, after all.
Keep a roll of 1$ bills handy for tipping. (doormen, taxis etc)
Keep the different values of dollars in separate compartments of your wallet – they are all the same colour and you don’t want to give someone 50$ instead of 5$ by mistake!
Taxi Tips:
• New York taxis are everywhere to be found in the city.
• They are a convenient except during heavy traffic periods.
• You can hail a cab anywhere in the city by simply stepping to the nearest curb and raising your hand as a signal for the taxis to stop.
How much is a taxi journey
Here are a few examples of price.
• Traveling from a location in Midtown to another in Midtown, will cost around $5-10.
• A journey from Midtown to downtown tip of the Island $10-20.
• Likewise a journey from Midtown to Uptown near Harlem will cost $10-20.
• A journey the whole length of the island from Downtown to Uptown will cost $20-30.
Tipping a New York Taxi driver is around 10% to 15%.
Yellow taxis cost a set fee from the airports (around 45 dollars plus tolls/tax).


Driving a car:
Hiring a car in New York car can be very expensive and petrol in the city costs far more than elsewhere in the US. If you really must rent a car, you'll need a license and a major credit card. The major car hire companies are also found in all three airports.
Something to take into consideration is parking, the biggest hassle of having a car in the city is finding parking; street parking rules are so complex parking is almost non-existent, it's just easier to park in a paid garage but pricey garages can charge up to $30 per day.
Buses & Metro’s (subway) are very good in New York City.
• A subway or bus ticket costs $2.00 and is good for any destination on the system and even includes a transfer from subway to bus. You can purchase subway or bus tickets (Metro Cards) from the attendants in subway stations, or from vending machines.
• City buses run 24 hours a day.
• Bus maps are available at subway and train stations.
• Well-marked bus stops have 'Guide-a-Ride' maps showing the stops and nearby landmarks.
• Between 22:00 and 05:00 you can ask to be let off anywhere along your route, even if it's not a designated stop.
• 20% discount is given if you purchase a Metro Card for multiple rides, that costs $10 or more. So what you get on $10 ticket 6 rides instead of 5, etc.
• Unlimited Ride Metro Card: Buy an unlimited number of subway and bus rides for a fixed price. Choose from a 1-Day Fun Pass, a 7-Day, 30-Day,
Take the 'A' (and the 'B' and the 'C'…) Train. Although the New York subway system is ancient –
• The trains are well-marked and surprisingly fast, often a better bet than cabs if you're trying to cross the city from east to west or vice versa, or traveling during the morning or evening rush hours.
• The subways do run 24 hours a day.
• The 7-day unlimited ride Metro Card is usually a good deal so you don't spend $2 on Metro Cards each time you hop on the train.
Disabled Travelers
New York is hard to navigate: streets are congested, What's worse, subways are either on elevated tracks or deep below the ground and there are few elevators to access them; buses, which all have wheelchair elevation systems and ride space, are definitely the way to go.