Advice on NYC

[Neeper]

Going to be in NYC on Tuesday. I am staying in upper Manhattan I believe. For those who have been there, what do you recommend for transportation? Should I take the transit or cab it everywhere? Is it worth it to rent a car? I would love to rent a car, but I figure it's too crowded to find parking and such.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Going to be in NYC on Tuesday. I am staying in upper Manhattan I believe. For those who have been there, what do you recommend for transportation? Should I take the transit or cab it everywhere? Is it worth it to rent a car? I would love to rent a car, but I figure it's too crowded to find parking and such.

I suggest walking or taking a cab. Probably the easiest, most straight forward way of doing things. Transit can be a bit complex, and do you really wanna spend anytime in the NYC subway system? lol

[Neeper]

I don't mind song the subway. I've done London and Rome, so it can't be THAT bad. It's probably the best and cheapest way to get around.

Anyone ever been to Times Square for NYE? I am doing that for sure. Anyone have advice that?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Neeper

I don't mind song the subway. I've done London and Rome, so it can't be THAT bad. It's probably the best and cheapest way to get around.

Pfft... The Rome subway system is pitiful. Two lines in an X. The CTrain covers more of Calgary than the Metro covers of Rome... That said, the bus system in Rome is 100x better than Calgary.

Now London... That is one hell of a subway system. That would be a better comparison to NYC.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

I suggest walking or taking a cab. Probably the easiest, most straight forward way of doing things. Transit can be a bit complex, and do you really wanna spend anytime in the NYC subway system? lol

then you suggest wrong, my friend.

Taking the subway is by far the easiest way of getting around quickly in New York. Taking cabs is not only expensive, but can be somewhat of a hassle (especially around rush hours when they are not only slow but somewhat of a bitch to get). A typical cab ride will set you back 10 bucks pretty quickly....now maybe all that oil money you folks in Calgary makes that palatable, but you'd be far better off spending your money on other new york delights.

Walking is of course always a great option, as you get to see the city, but taking the train is part of the New York experience. It might be confusing for the first day, but once you figure it out, it's actually fairly easy.

Might I also suggest the bus. Buses are stupidly easy, as they either go north/south or east/west. The only problem with them is that they can be rather slow in the middle of the day. Don't even think about taking a crosstown bus in the mdidle of the day, as you could walk the route twice as fast.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Going to be in NYC on Tuesday. I am staying in upper Manhattan I believe. For those who have been there, what do you recommend for transportation? Should I take the transit or cab it everywhere? Is it worth it to rent a car? I would love to rent a car, but I figure it's too crowded to find parking and such.

neeper, forget the car. It would be the stupidest decision you would make. Driving in Manhattan is easy....it's when you want to stop, that's when the problems start. In many places it will set you back about 14 dollars an hour for parking in a garage. And don't think you will magically find a space on the street, you won't

Take the train, the bus or walk. New York really has an amazingly developed transit system, and taking the train is almost always the quickest option. Take 15 minutes to figure out the map, and you're golden.
Besides, these are all part of the New York experience....do you really want to experience the city by sitting behind an inch of glass?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

The only way to truely experiance a city is through walking and taking the transit system. A few years ago my father and I were walking around Halifax, and he commented "it all makes sense now, you can drive around all you want you don't realize how things are in relation to each other, I always knew the Cambridge Suites was here, but I didn't know where it was in relation to Spring Garden Road, or the Metro Centre, you just kinda drive until you find it". For the record they're all practically next to each other. All the pieces fall into place when you walk or take transit, you miss the details when travelling at 50 kmh, or trying to find a parking spot.

I love Montreal, but would hate it if I had to drive it, I'd never know where anything was or where it is in relation to everything else if I didn't walk take transit. I've spent a night in Toronto, I'm framiliar with Younge St, and around the CN Tower area, but other than that I just didn't have time, and was driven.

Calgary I was mostly driven around, and didn't have an extended period to truely enjoy the city (mind you 17th ave was cool) I definately want to spend more time there.

Taking the Skytrain in Vancouver at night was amazing, something you can't enjoy behind the wheel of a car (on a smaller scale like coming across the bridge on the bus into Halifax, just a different experiance than driving, you're up higher and you don't have the worries of watching the other cars, etc).

I've never been to NYC, but when I go (I'm sure I'll make my way there at some point) I'm definately NOT driving. While I don't feel like I've had the "Boston experiance" taking the subway then having to walk to Fenway was one of the most surreal experiances of my life. I'd definately want to take the subway to Yankee Stadium (despite how I hate the Yankees so). Taking a cab to a sporting event just seems wrong and disenfranchised.

I took the skytrain to GM place, C-Train to the Saddledome, bus to the Corel Centre, and metro to Molson/Bell Centre. Alas drove to ACC, and cab to Skyreach (now Rexall) Place. I feel like I missed out on something in Edmonton and Toronto.

Moral of the story is, if you want to go to a sporting event you need to sit in the cheap seats to get a feel for the truest atmosphere, by extention you need to take public transit to get there.

[Shazam]

Do not rent a car. You'll be eaten alive. No one there follows any kind of traffic rules. Lanes are not followed, lights are not obeyed, people left turn anywhere they want, no one yields at all.

And make sure you know this: Cars have the right of way there. Be careful.

[Neeper]

Alright... public transit it is!! Thanks for the advice guys. I might just rent a car for one day and drive too experience it. I love driving crazy! I'll fit right in. I'll be checking in while on holidays.

[arsenal]

Have fun neeper!!
Look forward to seeing your pics

[Dynamic]

The Skytrain in Vancouver is awesome. I took that thing from the 1st staion in Surrey to Downtown Vancouver and its definatley one of the coolest setups in the world. Met many interesting people that Grey Cup weekend, and almost got fined for not being able to find my ticket (man the skytrain police operate with more precsion than a swat team). But ya.......that is one cool ride above the city of Vancouver.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by fotze

Don't drive unless you plan on driving less than once a day. The parking is nuts, plus you won't see much, also you rarely park your own car, you give your keys to the dude and he takes your car somewhere in the back. Walk and subway are fine, the buses are good but I didn't figure them out, my wife did it for me. If you plan you visits right you can do mostly walking.

The subway wasn't crime ridden or scary at all int he parts I saw, also wasn't crowded either. They are a civil engineering marvel how you can see a train beside you start to descend lower than yours into the depths.

As cheezy as it is the double decker bus was great to get some good photos cause you don't have to worry about anything else.

Go to the Joey Mullen bar and take some pics for me, I've never made it. My wifes favorite restaurant is a malaysian one called Penang, stop there if the mood is right.

There is also some cool American Warewolf in London type bar called the Slaughtered Lamb.

Obviously a little late to the discussion, but I agree with everything fotze said here.

The train was a lot easier to use and cleaner than I thought it would be.......no Bloods and Crips waiting inside to beat you up and steal your wallet or anything like that.....and me and my buddies used it at all times of the day. Definitely use it instead of a cab for longer trips.

And fotze.......the Slaughtered Lamb? I think I might have gone there late one night. Just a little pub in Greenwich Village, isn't it?

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Pfft... The Rome subway system is pitiful. Two lines in an X. The CTrain covers more of Calgary than the Metro covers of Rome... That said, the bus system in Rome is 100x better than Calgary.

Now London... That is one hell of a subway system. That would be a better comparison to NYC.

you should try the Seoul train system...talk about nuts!! green line, pink line, purple line...switch from this line to that line...get off green line walk up stairs around corner through tunnel get on purple line

It is easy to navigate but just a massive system and the sheer number of people using it makes the c-train at 6:30 look comfortable

[Neeper]

The Subway has been great! It's literally 20 steps from my hotel on the #1 Line at 103rd Street. NY is great, but the smog is killing me. Feels like I smoked a pack of cigarettes the night before when I get up in the morning. But man, this city is incredible. So many things to see and do, but so little time.