Using Taxicabs and the Subway in NYC

I think the main thing is that New Yorkers are exceedingly forgiving of people looking like rubes so long as you don't get in anyone else's way or waste their time. If you want to look at your big subway map, that's great--just make sure people can pass you. If you're not sure of the address when you get in the cab, at least say, "I'm going uptown, let me confirm the address--start the meter." All the rest of the info above is helpful, too.

Where the hell am I when I come out of the subway? (http://ask.metafilter.com/149903/Using-Taxicabs-and-the-Subway-in-NYC#2148084) Here's how I dealt with this when I moved here and came out of every subway station blinking like a startled mole: 0. Is the address you're looking for an intersection in the numbered grid part of Manhattan? If YES go to 1, if NO go to 9. 1. Is it daylight? If YES go to 2, if NO go to 4. 2. Is the sun directly above your head? If YES go to 4, if NO go to 3. 3. If it is morning, the side of you the sun is on is East. If it is afternoon, the side of you the sun is on is west. Proceed to 5. 4. Look at the subway entrance you just came out of. If it says Downtown, you are probably on the West side of the street, and if it says Uptown, you are probably on the East side of the street. If the sign specifies Uptown or Downtown, go to 5. If it does not, go to 6. 5. Avenues' numbers increase from East to West. Now that you've oriented yourself along the East/West axis, determine whether you need to go North or South. Proceed to 6. 6. Look at the numbered street signs on either end of the block you're standing on. The lower number is the South side of the block, the higher number is the North side. You should now know the direction you need to go in order to reach your destination. END. 7. Go back into the subway. Is there a map of the neighborhood located somewhere before you go through the turnstile? If YES go to 8, if NO go to 9. 8. Scrutinize the map, and look at the exit. The exit will tell you which corner of the intersection (NE, NW, SE, SW) it leads to. Find that corner on the map. Find your destination on the map. Determine your route, exit the subway, and take it. END. 9. Exit the station and blindly guess.

People in NYC are nowhere as rude or mean as they're being made out to be in this thread. Definitely not. New Yorkers love to give directions to tourists, because we love to be helpful AND we love to prove how smart we are. It never fails- a tourist will ask someone for directions on the subway, and 2 or 3 other people will jump right in, so they, too, can be a part of the conversation.

Someone needs to explain this "wear black" thing. Why? Do only rubes wear clothing that is from another section of the wardrobe than "stereotypical criminal" and "funeral"? Long answer: Yes. Short answer: Y

I'll nth the sentiment that as long as you rube it up (?) while not standing in main thoroughfares, everyone will be very understanding and kind. We really are nice! Just in a hurry. Reminders to not: -be walking on a main thoroughfare in the station and suddenly stop or turn around -get to the top or bottom of the stairs and just stop -go through the turnstile and just stop And as Salamandrous said: It might help to think of walking here like driving anywhere else. You would never just suddenly come to a stop on the freeway to check your map. You'd pull over. Same is true on the subway platform and sidewalks here. And for real, ask anyone for directions if you're lost. New Yorkers tend to assume that you know what you're doing and will therefore leave you alone (this is also known as "are rude"), but should you ask for help, most everyone will be ready and willing to help. Have fun!

Cabs: A cab with the light off means it's full. A cab with off-duty lit up means it's off-duty. Don't bother hailing those two. A cab with numbers lit is available for hire. Most cabs take credit cards. Some drivers will tell you that their machine is broken; don't fall for it. (The cabbies have to pay the credit card fee, so they don't like to take the cards. I think as an epidemic, this refusal to do so is mostly over, but just in case.) Taxi fares are available http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rate.shtml. I use the subway more than 99% of the time and only take cabs to the airport in the middle of the night. Subway and bus fare is $2.25 per ride unless you get an unlimited card. Buses will give you a return pass for free (you must use it within two hours) but you have to ask for it. Buses require a metrocard or exact change, no bills and no pennies. An unlimited metrocard is probably your best bet. If you're here for more than four days, get the unlimited weekly for $27--after 12 rides, you've got your money back. When entering the turnstiles, have your card in your hand and know which way to hold it (with the notch in the upper right hand corner, stripe facing you). Swipe at a medium-fast speed, don't be too hesitant or the machine won't read it. Also, pay attention to what side of the subway you enter--if you want to go downtown, but you enter on the uptown side, you will need to exit and enter again on the other side of the station--most stations do not have a way to get from one side to the other. If you swipe an unlimited card at the wrong side, you have to wait 18 minutes before you can try again. Getting on the train, allow people to exit the train before you try to get on. It's certainly polite to offer your seat to the elderly or pregnant women (make sure they're pregnant) or women with kids but you are not required to. (You do have to give up your seat for the disabled on buses.) A lot of women (myself included most of the time) might refuse your seat anyway; standing up on the subway is something we're very used to, and I don't mind after sitting at my desk for eight hours anyway. I ride the subway 24 hours a day.

First of all, do not do that thing you do in the French Quarter where you say "Looking good!" to the ladies. You'll get your head bitten off. Next, wear black and walk fast. Buy the unlimited Metrocard. Have phone numbers of lots of Mefites on your phone and call them when you get lost, preferably from a seated position on a barstool. Lastly, I didn't look too much like a hick (or did I?) and I'm from Kentucky. If I can do it, you can do it.

Here's more information than you ever really wanted to know about how to read a taxi meter to make sure you're getting the right fare (this will keep you from getting scammed as in holgate's comment). By the time I post this massive thing, much of this may already have been repeated by others. Take a look at http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/3580386432_5e44b7ed4a_o.jpg of a NYC taxi meter, as well as http://www.yellowcabnyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/meter.jpg. Though each one is laid out a little bit differently, they each have three main sections:RATEFARE $EXTRAS $There is also a little light that says "HIRED" when a cab is in use. When you get into a cab for a ride within the limits of New York City, once the cabbie has started the meter, this is what you want to see:RATE: 1. This is the Standard City Rate, the rate for all cab rides within the city, with the single exception of rides between Manhattan and JFK airport, which use Rate 2. If you are going anywhere in the city except JFK, and the RATE section reads anything other than 1, you are being charged the wrong fare.FARE $: At the start of your ride, this should read 2.50, and under the Standard City Rate should increase in increments of $0.40.EXTRAS $: This will vary depending on the time of day you get into the cab. Every ride (no matter what) will have Extras of at least $0.50 (it's a state tax). On weekdays, from 4pm-8pm, the EXTRAS should start at $1.50 (state tax + rush hour surcharge). Every day between 8pm and 6am, it should start at $1.00 (state tax + night surcharge). There is no surcharge for luggage.The "HIRED" light should be lit.You should familiarize yourself with the Taxicab Rider Bill of Rights:As a taxi rider, you have the right to: Pay for your ride with credit/debit card;Go to any destination in NYC, Westchester, Nassau, or Newark Airport;Direct the route taken: The most direct route or one of your choice;A safe and courteous driver who obeys all traffic laws;A knowledgeable driver who speaks English and knows City geography;Air conditioning or heat on request;A noise free trip: no horn honking or radio;Clean air. smoke and scent free air;Working seatbelts for all passengers;A clean taxicab: interior, exterior and partition;Be accompanied by a service animal;A driver who does not use a cell phone while driving (hand-held or hands free);Decline to tip for poor service.Keep in mind that you likely won't find a cab that is in complete compliance when you get in; the point is that they should comply if you ask them to. (I've never had a cabbie say no to such a request.) This is very important: if you see a cab that is available (only the center light on top is lit), get in as soon as it pulls over. Do not wait for the cab to approve your destination. An available cab is required to take you wherever you want to go within the New York City, Westchester and Suffolk Counties, or to Newark airport. (A cab that is off duty, with its "off duty" lights lit, may pull over for you, but is not required to take you.) Always take your receipt. It will show you the fare and rate you were charged, and will give you the cab's medallion number should you need to make a complaint. And speaking of complaints, you should call 311 to report a cab if:it is available, but the cabbie refuses to take you to your destinationthe cabbie will not comply with your requests to turn down music, get off the phone, etc.the cabbie charged you the wrong ratethe cabbie does anything dangerous for you or other passengers (e.g., falling asleep at the wheel)

Also, try your best to avoid the subways at rush hour, in either direction. If you must take the subway during rush hour, please move quickly. Remember that we live here, and have to get to work. :)