Living In USA

By Taxi
Because at first they feel uncertain, most people are likely to travel by taxi (also called cabs) when they arrive in any new place. Here, taxis definitely come under the heading of luxury travel. Furthermore, taxis have an aggravating way of being hard to find, not only at the busy hours of a day but also if the weather turns bad. In most cities you can telephone to get one (see the local phone book for numbers); but in others, including New York, you usually hail them on the street or find them at a "hack stand" (special parking areas reserved for taxis).

Generally speaking, taxis are metered throughout the country, but there are some cities (e.g., Washington, D.C.) where they operate on a distance zone system. Nothing is uniform in the United States. You will need to ask a friend, a colleague, or hotel personnel about the rules; they vary from city to city. Also be sure to use a well-known taxi company to avoid being overcharged.

Although drivers do not always comply, the regulations are as follows: they must stop if the taxi is empty and not showing an off-duty sign; they must drive anywhere within the city limits; they may not ask your destination before you get in and then refuse to take you; and they may not charge more than is registered on the meter except for trunks, for bridge, tunnel, or ferry tolls, or for late-night special fees. Off-duty signs are often indicated by lights on the taxi roof, but it is wise to ask someone how to tell when a taxi is off duty and can therefore be expected to pass you by. It varies from city to city.

There are various sizes of cabs. Often they are not permitted to carry more than four people — sometimes as few as three — but some can carry five or six passengers. If you find yourself sharing a cab with several strangers (legal in some cities but not in others), you will often be expected to pay full price, unfair though that may seem.

In heavily congested areas the driver may not be allowed by law to get out of the cab to open doors or help with luggage. Do not assume the driver is being discourteous — it may be a safety measure.

If you want to make a complaint about taxi service, note the driver's number and name (posted somewhere inside the cab). Be sure to get the name of the taxi company also — there are many companies in all cities. When you write to the company, be sure to keep a copy of your letter.

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.

By Bus
Trams or trolley cars are now rarely found in U.S. cities; generally the public travels by bus or subway. More and more cities are requiring passengers to have the exact change in hand as they board the bus — or else "tokens" (small coin-like pieces similar to the French jeton) that can be bought in advance. Drivers used to have the double job of making change at the same time that they were driving their huge buses through traffic. The exact-change rule eases the driver's work and speeds service for everyone. It also reduces the number of robberies that were taking place when drivers had a great deal of extra money for making change.

In many cities bus and subway tokens can be used interchangeably and are bought at subway booths. It is a great time saver to buy tokens in considerable quantity and keep them in a special purse or envelope so that you can get at them easily. Otherwise, you may have to wait in long lines during rush hour or get caught without change just when you need to catch a bus. If you are using two buses (or a subway and a bus) to reach your destination, you can request a "transfer," a small slip of paper that allows you to pay one fare for the entire trip but use two (or sometimes more) vehicles to complete your trip.

Bus stops are usually located at busy corners and are clearly marked. Normally, the bus schedule is displayed at the stop, and in most cities you can request printed bus schedules from the bus driver or company. In some cities you can telephone to ask for the best route to go from one point to another, and most have Websites with printable maps and schedules. If time allows, the bus driver will often give quick directions or at least tell you when to get off the bus.

Schoolchildren and people over sixty-five years of age can get special passes in most cities so that they can ride at reduced rates during certain hours of the day.

Transportation
Americans move around a city on foot or by bus, taxi, car, or (in some cities) subway (sometimes called the metro) — just as is done in cities the world over. The rules for doing so, however, are different in every country.

On Foot
If distances are short, the quickest way to get from one place to another may be on foot. Traffic in our cities and towns is often very heavy, particularly during morning and evening rush hours at the beginning and ending of the workday. So city people often get to their destination most quickly on foot if distances permit. Many people also walk as a form of exercise.

Jaywalking, which means either crossing in the middle of a block or crossing against the traffic light, is illegal in most communities, and you could be fined if caught. You will see many people taking chances, but do not follow their example. It is not worth it. Most pedestrian injuries are the result of jaywalking.

If you come from a country where driving is on the left, be especially careful to look both ways for oncoming cars and have your children practice doing the same. Many people are hurt by failing to do this before stepping off the curb. Unlike in London, our cities do not have helpful signs reminding people that the traffic may be coming from the opposite direction from what they are accustomed to or expecting. The widespread use of one-way streets makes it advisable for everyone to be extra cautious about crossing our city streets.