Aussie needing NY subway info
 

My husband and I are visiting NY for 3 weeks in December this year. This is our second visit - we last visited in 2005.
This time we are staying with a friend, who lives on E 83rd between 1st and 2nd.
My question - is it advisable to take the subway to East 86th station at night?
If not, I'm happy to take a taxi. Can anyone tell me how much it would roughly cost for a taxi from, say, Times Square to my friend's place, at around 9.30 or 10 at night?

I don't see why it would not be safe to take the subway.

Here is a cabfare calculator in any case:

http://www.nyccabfare.com/

The subways are safe till at least 11PM and will cost $2 per person. A cab will prob cost around $15 including tip.

The first thing I would do would be, make sure you have a New York pass.Great value for subway ,attractions,museums etc.
I wouldn't have any fear on the subway at that time of night these days.On my first trip there twenty years ago things were a bit hairy but as long as you keep your wits about you, then catch the subway.
Regards the taxi...I would walk a few blocks from times square toward 1st and 2nd just to get a clearer go with traffic.About $10-12 would be roughly the fare.
While you are there go on a Liberty Helicopter ride.Excitement plus and a great way to admire NY close up in 10-15 unforgettable minutes.

I would think that was perfectly fine, even quite late. I would have done it even 20 years ago, when it was a very different (and much less safe) city. Just pay attention, and look like you know where you are going.

The 86/Lex stop is safe and will be very busy at that time of night. Don't waste money on cabs -- not necessary and ridiculously expensive. Other than from the airport, I rarely take a taxi in Manhattan (subway is much faster, and bus more pleasant, although slower).

Your friend lives in an upscale area and the 86th St subway station is safe at all hours. We don't take the subway after midnight - not for safety reasons, but because the traisn run only about once every 15 minutes - and we don;t want to wait.

At 9 or 10 pm the trains will still be fairly crowded -esp in holiday season with all the stores staying open late and shoppers galore.

Agree with what's been said (it's safe but later at night trains are less frequent). Don't discount buses. Since you're b/w 1st & 2nd, the 2nd ave. bus heading downtown and the 1st ave. bus heading up to get home are very convenient and closer to the apt. Buses will take longer than subway, but if you're not in a rush (and on vacation you shouldn't be) what difference does it make? A 14 day and 7 day unlimited metrocard give you both subway and bus rides.
http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm#unlimited

Doesn't mean you won't want to occasionally take a taxi, but at Xmas time, taxis can be hard to find.

Thank you everyone for all your tips and advice. Sounds like we'll be taking the subway! Just wanted to make sure that there would still be lots of people around. Thanks again.

Oh and thank you for the bus information - a bus going up 2nd Avenue sounds perfect.
We don't mind if it takes longer - everything in NY is an experience... even waiting in lines and riding in buses :)

Buses go UP 1st Avenue(that is they go from the lower number streets to the higher)

Buses go DOWN 2nd Avenue (from the higher to the lower)

Ah okay, got it - Thanks!

FYI - most streets in Manhattan are one way only. The avenues (major streets) typically (except Park - and parts of Broadway) are one way.

Side streets - with numbers uptown (from 1 to 200+) and names downtown - are mostly one way. Every 10 blocks or so there is a main street (34th, 42, 57, 72 etc) that is extra wide and has 2 way traffic. These are the streets with the crosstown buses.

I just looked up the M15 bus timetable (First/Second Avenues).
Does anyone know if the streets listed are the only places it stops at?
e.g. E 42 St, E 96 St.

I'm guessing the listed stops are just to show the times... I would need to stop at E 83rd, or as close to it as possible.

There are two kinds of buses on most avenue route.
1) the regular bus that stops every two blocks or so.
2) the Limited bus that stops at the cross streets where you can connect to crosstown buses. (These also happen to be where the north/south subway lines stop.)

The schedule probably won't list every bus stop, just the Limited, ones for ease.

There's also something called an Express bus, but that is not a regular city bus, but a more expensive bus that goes "express" to the other boroughs.

the reason regular buses are so slow is because the stop every other block! if you want to find a bus, just walk along any main Avenue (or a major cross-town street) and you'll come up on a bus stop within less than 2 blocks.

Forgot to mention--the regular and limited buses will both have the same route number.

Your M15 has regular and limited service. As the bus is arriving, check the route sign above the front window. An uptown M15 might show "M15 to 126th St"
If it's a regular bus, it will then show "LIMITED." there also should be a pink LIMITED sign on the dashboard.

There are signposts at the bus stops, with blue signs indicating which bus routes stop there. (Some even have route maps and scheduled, but not all.) Limited stops will have purple signs.

Here's info at the official site:

http://www.mta.info/nyct/bus/howto_bus.htm

One note about the schedule -- other than indicating the frequency, buses do not arrive and depart at the time indicated (they are impacted by heavy or light traffic). I live on First Avenue, and I swear by the M15 for medium length trips. For short trips I walk, and for longer trips use the subway.

Agreed - you ignore the times onthe bus signs. All they really tell you is buses should be 4 minutes apart or 7 minutes or 10 minutes. Exactly when they really arrive is anybody's guess. The same with the subways.

Since you're staying for three weeks, you can buy a 30 day unlimited metrocard for $81, or a 14 day and a 7 day for 47+25=$72.

Why not spend the extra nine bucks and give your card to someone who can use it for a week or so after you are gone. I'm sure that the recipient would appreciate it.

:)