By Subway (Or Metro)
Subways, or metros, in some cities are by far the quickest way to move about. Networks of them lie under a number of our cities, and they operate day and night. Most of the time they are filled with people and can be used safely. There are a few warnings, however, that should be observed.
1. Naturally, avoid rush hours if you can. Subways are full from about 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and again from about 4:30 to 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. (These are the hours when pickpockets do their best work, too.)
2. Choose to sit in cars where there are other people, rather than empty ones.
3. For safety while waiting for a train, stand near the token booth if possible.
4. Hold your purse firmly and consciously — don't let it dangle. Men should carry wallets in inside jacket pockets.
5. Before riding the subway at night, ask a friend or colleague whether it is safe and whether there are areas of the city that should be avoided at night.
Subway or metro stops are clearly marked, and maps of the system are available at most stations. In some cities, the fare varies with the length of your trip and in others a flat fee takes you anywhere in the system. Increasingly city transit systems are doing away with tokens (special coins) and using fare cards instead. With fare cards, passengers usually pay by the distance traveled. You buy a card in a machine at a subway or metro station, and slide it into a turnstile or gate machine at the entrance. Your card is read, and you slide it once more when you exit the station at your destination. The fare is then deducted from the remaining value of the card. Save yourself trouble by buying tokens (or fare cards) in quantity if you plan to use subways regularly. Many cities also offer discounted daily, weekly, or monthly passes.
It is helpful to have a basic understanding of the system's navigation cues before you start. In Manhattan, for example, trains run generally either "uptown" (north) or "downtown" (south) before continuing on to other boroughs such as Queens or Brooklyn. In contrast, Boston's metro system (called the "T") labels trains either "inbound"(toward Government Center and Park Street stations) or "outbound," meaning away from them in either direction. Thus it is important to know if your destination lies between these points or away from them.
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