Getting around the Big Apple - New York City

Dance Magazine, June, 1998 by Peff Modelski

Getting into and around New York City takes some energy and skill. DO some homework ahead of time so you know your options. Make reservations when it's possible, especially on your first trip or if you are traveling with a group.

GETTING INTO THE CITY

Three major airports serve New York City; La Guardia and John F. Kennedy (JFK) International are both in Queens, an outlying borough; Newark is across the Hudson River in New Jersey. While the best way to arrive is to have a knowledgeable and adept New Yorker pick you up and drive you to Manhattan, most of us are not so fortunate. All airports provide several public methods of getting into and out of Manhattan at varying costs, and these are far better than trying to drive yourself. Traffic is heavy and drivers are aggressive; parking is expensive--if you can find any. Always allow plenty of time for this travel in case of heavy traffic or other delays. Ask your taxi driver or other carrier for an estimate of time and cost, add 15 percent tip (and sometimes tolls) to the estimated fare. The (free) Big Apple Visitor's Guide gives you a chart of estimated and maximum fares and distances. Once you collect your luggage at the baggage claim, follow signs to Ground Transportation. You will find reservation counters for shuttle services where you should check prices and special offers. Directly outside will be taxi and shuttle pickup points. Most shuffles cost about $15 and will take an hour or more t reach your destination. Shuttle operators will help you with your bags and they should be' tipped at least $1 per bag.

Olympia and Grey Line buses offer nearby shuttle service from the airports into Manhattan with stops at Grand Central Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal at West 42nd Street, or your hotel.

If you're traveling with little children and lots of luggage, call a licensed car service ahead of time, Check the telephone yellow pages, but the number for Tel Aviv car service is (800) 222-9888 from out of town, and (212) 777-7777 when you get here. The highly advertised Carmel, (212) 666-6666, has pretty good rates, and they often have specials.

Avoid gypsy cabs; only yellow medallion cars with numbers on the roof may pick up passengers. Yellow cabs should cost about $40 to $50 to get to your hotel, plus tip. This may be a bargain if you share the cost with other members of your group. Taxi drivers often will not help you with luggage. Taxis have limited trunk space, so a limo or a van shuffle maybe a better choice if you have much baggage. Many New York taxi drivers are immigrants who don't speak fluent English so be clear about your destination. The number of the cab must be visible to the passenger seat; make a note of it in case you leave something behind and must trace the lost item. Taxis may be hailed from curbside or by a doorman in front of a hotel. The initial fare-just to get into a taxi is $2, and the meter runs after that. You are expected to tip the doorman for his service, and the taxi driver for his.

There is a shuffle service between La Guardia and JFK airports; they and Newark have shuttle service during limited hours to nearby bus, train, or subway stations. Newark's PATH trains or NJ Transit will take you comfortably from Newark's Penn Station to New York'5 Penn Station for less than $2. New York's famous MTA subway and buses will do the same. Try to avoid travel with luggage during heavy commuting hours.

Train travelers arrive at Grand Central Station, Lexington Avenue and E. 42nd Street, or at Penn Station, Seventh Avenue and W. 33rd Street, then proceed by car or subway. There is a shuttle bus between the two stations. Bus travelers arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal between Eighth and Ninth Avenues and W. 40th to 42nd Streets, (212) 564-8484, which is connected underground to the Times Square W. 42nd Street subway station.

New York's famously dirty, noisy, rapid, and convenient subway rumbles underground, and more than 3500 air-conditioned buses operate around the clock on the surface. Each ride costs $1.50 in tokens (or in small change for buses only) or by MetroCard. Purchase either at subway stations or at some newspaper and deli kiosks. You are allowed one free transfer to other lines such as bus to subway or downtown bus to crosstown bus.

There are helicopter services, commuter ferries, and connecting rail and bus services. Check the front pages of your telephone directory once you are in the city.

TRANSPORT IN THE CITY

New York is really easy to get around in even if you don't live right next door to the Joffrey or Alvin Ailey Center, Steps On Broadway, or the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Buses and subways run every few minutes until 1:00 A.m. and then less frequently. Request a map from a subway or bus attendant and use it to find routes, connections, and transfer points. MTA's Web site, www/mta.myc.ny.us/nyct /Subway, shows routes, timetables, and temporary closings due to construction. Read all the signs about rerouting of lines during the summer repair and replacement cycle. Note that not all stations are open all hours or on holidays or weekends. Watch for lighted circular signs that indicate that a station is open. "Uptown" trains are generally northbound, while "downtown" trains are generally southbound. Hint: If you are lost, look for a subway station and check its neighborhood map. They are the best.