"Out of Towners"
We are planning a trip in June from St. Louis & need info on subways of NYC. We were in Montreal & Toronto last year & the subways were unbelievablely clean & safe even at night. We have never been to NYC & have seen all the bad hype in movies about the subways. Not sure what area of town we will stay in , but would like to be able to traverse the city by subway if it is safe to do so. I realize that as tourists we need to be aware of our surroundings even if all appears to be fine.

The New York City subway system has had its ups and downs over the years, but for the past decade, it's been mostly up. The subways are clean, graffiti-free, and many of the most-used stations have been modernized; a few rebuilt. I've had no qualms about using the subway at night.

Train are crowded -- don't go thinking it's going to be you and a handful of other people in the car, especially on the Lexington Avenue (4,5,6) and Broadway (1,2,3) lines. Things get better after 9:30 a.m., but rush hour begins in earnest again by 4 p.m.

You can view a map of the Manhattan prtion of the subway network at this URL: http://cpcug.org/user/rpike/mansubmap.gif. Maps are usually available at any token booth. This year, a new one-day and three-day pass has become available; you'll likely want to take advantage of it.

All of that said, as a tourist you may find the subways of limited usefulness. It's great for going from Midtown to Greenwich Village or Wall Street, but lousy for going crosstown (few lines run east and west).

Other than taxis (whose cost can add up FAST), the subways are the ONLY way to travel in New York City. Some of the stations are sleazy, but that's because they're in sleazy neighborhoods! Be aware they can be terribly crowded during the rush hour, so be ready to be pushed around -- and watch your pockets! Since three totally separate companies ran these lines for decades before they were centralized, connections may seem insane, so work out how you will get from point to point BEFORE you go to a station. Make VERY certain the train you get on will stop at the station you want to go to. Don't expect much help from fellow passengers; read the map AND the train ID before you get on.

Neal's right. The subways are much cleaner and safer than a few years ago. They are, though, very old and noisy, so be prepared for that.
There is a new tourist card called "fun Pass" that allows for unlimited travel (on the subway or buses) from the time you first use it until 3:00 AM that evening. It's only $4.00, so you will have saved money after only 3 trips (single fare is $1.50 system-wide). You can get the Fun Pass wherever Metro cards are sold, but we got ours at the new Times Square Visitor's Center. Be sure to get a subway and bus map when you buy your pass.
One interesting note regarding the buses - even if you have exactly $1.50, they don't take dollar bills, unlike a lot of other city bus systems.
Paul makes a good point about the crowds at rush hour (especially if it's raining) and being careful to avoid express trains that don't stop where you want to. I would take one exception to what he posted, though. In June, the best way to get around the city (other than taxis and subways) is to walk. That way you will see the most, experience the most, and have a chance to walk off all those great meals you'll be having!

They're not as clean as the Toronto or DC subways but incredibly helpful if one is going up and downtown (e.g. from Village to Times Square, over and up the East side for dining, etc. The "fun pass" is a one day unlimited "Metro card" (like a debit card for subways). The great thing is that it may be used for buses OR subways and when you board either one you may transfer to the other (for free) within two hours. I suggest getting a small pocket size subway map at a news stand - comes in very handy.

First of all, it is safe for tourists to travel using subway in New york. As previous posters said, it is very useful for getting downtown or uptown and to many outer borough sites (ex. Shea stadium) As someone who took subway every day for several years and never encountered a problem, here are a couple of things safety-wise tht you might want to consider. Between 7-10 am in the morning and 4-7pm the trains, particularly those going through Manhattan are crowded. Safety is not an issue. During the middle of the day and late at night, after 10 or so, I would advise to wait for a train in view of the clerk's booth and ride in the central car with the conductor. also avoid taking the train during these off-hours into shady neighborhoods. If you follow these simple precautions, you'll be fine.

I love to walk, and I use the bus, not the subway, when I get tired (avoiding rush hours). You can see more from a bus and I feel safer. However, I've taken the subway many times, at night, on my own, and have never had a problem. The express trains in particular are ideal when you have to go all the way downtown or uptown.

Quick note -- Brian is correct about walking around New York. Walking is the best way to visit any city, any time of the year. Use the subway to get between different city sections, then use your feet to REALLY experience New York!