The last two days I served jury duty. To get to the courthouse I used the subway to get to Times Square and then an N or R to Canal Street. I saw, literally, dozens of people checking subway maps at 96th St, 42nd St. and Canal Street, to make sure they would get to their destination. Subway and bus maps have the answers but you could have difficulty finding the answers, especially the first time you use the system. A solution - ask someone for help. You will find the greater majority of people are more than willing to assist. So don’t be afraid to ask - it is almost a certainty that you will get answers. We may looked rushed and harried but most of us are willing to take a few moments to assist a visitor in helping them find their way around the city.

I tried asking a few police officers for advice on the NYC subway system and they both told me that they still don't understand it and I'd be better off with the maps. So much for asking for help.

Those police officers were morons. Don't ask them. They have other things on their mind, like where their next dunkin' donut is coming from.

Ask people. They will help you.

Hey Babs I would suspect their next Dunkin donut is coming from Dunkin donuts.

Good point!

xxx, most NYPD officers don't live in Manhattan, and many don't live in the city at all. Next time, ask a civilian. As RQF notes, most will be happy to help you if they can. We don't bite.

As was noted above most of the police don't live in Manhattan. In order to provide for their families they have to live 60-75 miles from their jobs because of the lousy salary they make. Many of the officers are just called into Manhattan from their regular commands in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, etc. because of special events, so they don't know the area. I'm sure Babs would not consider civilians new to any area, and who didn't know their way around, morons. She just seems to want to propagate a stereotype for group of hard working individuals who would not hesitate a second to step between you and someone wishing to do you harm. And be ready to do it 24 hours a day 7 days a week. And for lousy pay to boot.

Getting back to the original thought...
YES,YES,YES
NYC is full of closet Fodorites, with both pride in our city, and in our ability to know everything (*wink, wink*)
Please do ask for help. I'll be the one on the subway (or elsewhere) asking YOU if you need help.

One of my favorite travel memories and cautionary tales) happened on the NY subway. In 1987, I was on my own on a business trip (as a 25-year-old woman), and I had a friend running in the Marathon. I knew it started in Brooklyn, so I went to Penn Station and got on the right train. The further we went out of town, the less confident I became. Plus, I got nervous because eventually the only people in the car were myself and a young black man. I kept hopping out of my seat to check the map on the wall. Finally after several up and down trips, the man spoke to me and asked where I was going. I told him I was headed for the start of the Marathon, and he said, oh yeah, you get off at _____. Then he asked if I was from out of town, and I said I was from California, and he started asking about my car. It turned out he was a total car freak and was fascinated by a place where everybody drives all the time. I can't remember who came to their stop first, but I'll never forget his kindness, and my ill-founded paranoia. I have consistently found New Yorkers to be friendly and helpful-- much moreso than people in Southern California, where we live very insulated lives in those cars.

So, rqf, next time I'm there I'll be looking for you!

Topping

Uh, the marathon starts on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Bridge.

Sorry-- it's been 14 years. You are, of course, correct.

I never knew that that any subway line went to Staten Island???

HeeHee!! I'm researching for my trip to NY. After reading all the great information here, one thought I sure get is, "Oh wow! I might just bump into rqf or caitlin when I'm there!!"