The Desperation Guide to NYC's MTA.

What do you do if you're hopelessly lost in the concrete tunnels of the subway system? Here are a few "if all else fails" pointers.

1) Get to Times Square.
Most of the trains will hit the Times Square-42nd street station. The ones that do not will hit Grand Central-42nd street, from which you can take the S train to Times Square. You'll be in the tourist center of the city, with a large station in which to study your map. Whatever color or number train you need, you'll be able to catch either there or with a short trip on the S.

2) Go by color.

This advice only works if you're staying within the general bounds of the major tourist sites. If you are, most all of the trains of a given color will hit the major spots. For example, all the yellow trains hit Union Square, and none of the red ones will pass Columbus Circle. Warning, though: If you get farther away from the center, the trains split off and go different directions, so be careful!

3) Use your resources.
Before you go, you can check hopstop.com for detailed public transportation directions. They don't always give the most efficient way, but they will keep you abreast of service changes for construction (a big deal right now.) If you're out somewhere and lost, text google maps. They'll text you back with addresses, directions . . .really. It's pretty cool. Less high-tech: Each platform has signs listing all the stops a train is making, and will usually post signs about service changes as well. Listen for the announcements, though, because it can get a bit convoluted.

4) Buy a day pass.
Or a week pass, if you're in the city for longer. They're relatively affordable, and you can swipe as many times as you want within that frame of time (i.e. you can get turned around, get off at the wrong stop, or just pop outside to see what's there without worrying about running out of subway swipes).

5) Ask for help.
Really! New Yorkers are much nicer than they're made out to be. If you're nervous, every station has a subway attendant that gets paid to answer your questions. I'd personally go for the average joe on the street, though-those subway attendants can have some nasty dispositions.

6) Basic boroughs.
If you're in Manhattan, "to the Bronx" or "to Queens" generally means you're going north, while "to Brooklyn" generally means you're going south. If you're stuck in one of the outer boroughs, you can't go wrong with the direction labeled "to Manhattan." (If you see this and you thought you were already IN Manhattan, you need to get on. You're pretty lost.) Eventually that one will get you to one of those hubs I was talking about, and you can figure it out from there.

7) Take the local.
It will take longer, but you're less likely to get turned around if you take a local train-simply because if your stop is not on the express track, you're very likely to overshoot it and lose your bearings.

8) Basic safety.
I've never been robbed or pick-pocketed on the subway, but of course basic common sense applies. Don't flash around your cash, keep your bags under your feet or in your lap, stay in a group if you're nervous. The preachers, beggars, and performers are not going to hurt you. If you don't want to be bothered, I suggest cultivating a disinterested, glazed-over look. If you're enjoying it, hey, drop in a dime.

9) Avoid being out and about late nights.
It's just a rough time on the subway. The trains run slower, the service changes are more common and stranger, and you may wait 20 minutes for a train that never comes. If you can afford it, take a cab.

Learn more about this author, Mandy Hackman.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about A visitor's guide to New York City's subways?
We want to hear your view. Write now!