History of the NYC Subway

New York City boasts one of the oldest subway systems in the world. Although it has evolved greatly over the years, it still manages to meet the transportation needs of the nearly eight million people who live there.

Riders on the New York City subway

History

NYC subway platform

Horse-drawn stagecoaches and street cars served as New York City's first form of public transportation from 1827 until approximately 1870, when electric trolleys began replacing them. The subway first opened in 1904.

Geography

NYC subway serves the Brooklyn borough

By 1915, four of the five New York City boroughs (Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens) all sat along the New York City subway route. Staten Island remains the only borough to not receive subway service.

Features

The subway began using tokens in 1953. The system remained in place for 50 years until 2003, when tokens were replaced with electronic Metro Cards.

Benefits

In the late 1960s and mid-1970s, the subway introduced reduced fare rates for senior citizens and the disabled.

Famous Ties

Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers got their name from people in the neighborhood who reportedly dodged streetcars to cross the road. In fact, the team was originally called the Trolley Dodgers.

References

• MTA NYC Transit
• Public Transportation: New York Travel Guide