10 Tips for Surviving the New York City Subway

Image via Complex Original

NEVER keep your wallet in your back pocket. There are sly pick-pockets lurking on trains all over the city. To avoid getting jacked, move the wallet to your front pocket or a zippered interior slot in your bag or backpack. Also, a tip for anybody head-deep into their smartphones: Don't stand near the door while openly jamming to your music or intensely reading something. The more gutsy theives have been known to grab electronics and purses right out of people's hands, as the doors are closing. 

Some unlucky dude was killed a few days ago while hanging out between two subway cars (he was also taking a shit, but that's beside the point). Stay in the subway car and enjoy the ride.

There is ALWAYS work happening on the subway tracks. Often times, this means that trains stop on different tracks and might skip stops that are usually on the normal route. Stay alert and read the signs.

Express trains are the shit; every New Yorker swears by them. For out-of-towners, however, we recommend sticking to the local route for the simple reason that express trains can often head into different boroughs without the conductor offering explicit notification. The bottom line here is knowing where you're trying to go, before actually stepping on a train. 

The subway system in NYC can be mind-boggling. Luckily, a cadre of intrepid entrepreneurs have created some great apps designed to get you going in the right direction - and on the right train. We suggest EmbarkNYC, Exit Strategy NYC and SubwayTime.

Nothing is more disgusting than watching someone wolf down an extra value meal on the train. It stinks up the whole car and can really test the nerves of fellow commuters. Take the extra few minutes before getting on, or wait the 20 minutes to stink up your own damn apartment. 

Sounds simple enough, right? Last year, 133 people fell onto the tracks, leaving 44 of them dead. Don't test fate, keep off the edge. And yes, we do realize this sounds like one of the advertisements you'd see down in those tunnels. 

We've all been thrown around on the train a few times, and trust us, landing face first into a homeless dude's lap isn't fun. Trains tend to stop fast and hard and we suggest that you plan to hold on tight for the duration of your journey.

You might feel tired and overworked (or extremely drunk), but sleeping on the train is a really bad idea. Pickpockets tend to prey on sleepers and pervs have been known to take cell phone videos of chicks who nod off. Stay awake, people, for the safety of everybody. 

Here's the quick breakdown: You can use a Metrocard to transfer within 2 hours of first swiping your card. A transfer is qualified as a change of line going in the same direction (downtown to downtown, uptown to uptown, etc.). You can avoid this rule if you transfer bus to subway or subway to bus. So, in theory, you could take the train down to the village for lunch and take a bus back for the price of one ride. Not bad!