How to Read a New York City Subway Map

Visitors come to New York City and one of their biggest concerns is riding the subway. People are afraid of the conductors, they’re afraid of the other passengers, they’re afraid of getting mugged, they’re afraid of homeless people, they might as well be afraid that the ceiling’s going to collapse on them! Being afraid of the New York City subway system is just foolish because it’s not dangerous. Reading maps can be a little confusing if you don’t know where you are, though, so it’s important for you to get well acclimated and make sure you move ahead with confidence.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Metrocard

1. Know your stop. If you’re already in the subway and you try to read the map, you should first of all be sure you’re heading the right direction (i.e. “uptown,” “downtown,” “cross-town” or you could end up “outta-town!”), but then once you know where you are going you need to know where you are on the map. The great thing about these maps is that all the lines are color coded. So if you’re on the A, C, E line, then you know that that’s Royal Blue and these lines show up really well on the subway map.

2. Know your particulars. You may end up having to hop off one train and get on another one mid-ride. For that reason you should know where this is going to take place. If you are on an express train but you are heading to a local stop, then you need to make sure you’re able to land that local train when you need it. Express stops on the subway map are a white dot; local stops are black dots. Express stops happen at major thoroughfares; if you know what’s going on above ground, this will help you get acclimated down below. On the 1, 2, 3 & 9 (red line) trains, the 1 and 9 are local and the 2 and the 3 are express. If you’re standing on the platform, at most stops, the local train will be closer to the exit and the express line will be on the innermost track. There are exceptions at station stops (don’t ask me why), but knowing where you’re going and what’s going on is key.

3. Know your stop. If you are getting off at 77th St on the 6 (green line) Local train and it’s rush hour headed anywhere you need to be near that door when it’s time. If you leisurely get up and don’t pay attention, you could end up riding the train to the next stop and walking or having to cross to the other side to go back downtown. Bummer.

4. Ask. New Yorkers are generally nice. Rude people are generally commuters or failures in their lives. But if you approach someone with a cogent question, most New Yorkers are more than willing to help.

Tips & Warnings

• Riding the train is fun and easy.
• Don't be afraid to ask!

Resources

• MTA Subway Map

[Zazell]

on 1/5/2009 The subway is so much fun. New Yorkers are very helpful to us when we got a little lost. Can't wait to go back! Great article.

[Altair4]

on 12/11/2008 I use to live in NYC, Park Slope Brooklyn to be exact. I dont think the subway is the same now, I wouldn't know which train goes where? I still remember when the trains had single & double letters Like the A train and there was the GG. My dad was a conductor on the D train. He passed befor he could retire,sad! But great inf I gave you 5* & recomend.

[jester512]

on 12/4/2008 but that's the beauty of the NYC subway; no matter how far off you go, you will always end up back where you started eventually!

[ebnickiea]

on 8/27/2008 thank you for the info--I live in NY and I have never been abole to understand these maps

[HardworkinJudy]

on 8/23/2008 I tease my kids that I could get lost in a paper bag - no sense of direction, but when I lived in NY I never got lost for more than a block, on one subway stop. lol I did carry around a subway map though. Thanks for the tips.