I am going to NY in October and want to get around as quickly as possible. We're going from Wed. through Sunday. I am extremely claustrophobic -- at what times should I AVOID the subways? (I can tolerate them within reason.)

Is this for real? Assuming it is - weekdays from around 8 - 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. will be the worst on most lines but, it could be bad at any given time depending on any given situation (Met/Yankee game letting out (assuming their in the playoffs at that time), theatre letting out, any number of other events, parades, street fairs, tour groups etc. in the area). On the weekends, it's totally hit and miss and hard to predict but the bigger tourist areas (Soho, Village, Times Square) will usually get hit more.

Also you need to define claustrophobia. For a New Yorker, so long as your face is not pressed up against the handrail in the middle of the train, it ain't crowded.

I, too, am extremely claustrophobic... and I hate subways. Even so... I travel a lot, and have ridden on the subway/metro/tube lots of times in many cities in many different countries. The worst is in London, I think... when you are already underground in the tube, and THEN you have to get packed in on an elevator to go even further down. Ack! Hate that. The trick for the subway is to snag a seat if you can (you get a little more personal space), but if not... definitely stay close to the window. Just look out the window and try to forget how many people are squeezed in behind you on the train.

Never count on getting a seat in the subway in NYC - unless it's after 10 pm or so. You might - but not likely in the center of Manhattan.

If being packed in will bother you - avoid the subway from 7:30 to 9:30 am and 4 to 7 pm. Other times, take your chances.

You may do better with taxis and walking. If you are extremely claustrophic as you have written, then you should have a Plan B of not using the subways at all. It's a tough call for us to make for you. But "extremely claustrophic" would rule out subways in my opinion.

What about buses - are you claustrophobic on them? They'll get just as packed as the subways - but you're above ground and can see the outdoors (versus just a tunnel) when you look out the window.