Why the subway is the best way to travel in New York

It’s the cheapest form of transportation

Yeah so the prices were raised a couple years ago but come on. You can’t get any cheaper than paying $2.75 for a ride to wherever, whenever unless you’re walking. A flat rate whether you are taking an express or local train. Other public transportation such as the city bus make you pay more than double the price if you want to take the express. A cab from Columbia University to Washington Square Park will knock you back $35.44. There goes your dinner plans! If you take the subway, you’ll spend just $2.75. What’s that? Pocket change.

Great for people watching

Depending what time you take the subway, you’ll see different crowds. In the morning, it’s filled with people in suits rushing to work. Around lunchtime is when the tourists are high tide, filling up the subway cars with their giant backpacks and maps spread wide. Around evening time is when people are usually dressed up nicely to go out for dinner and a show. Throughout all hours of the day, I can guarantee you will pass by at least one person with bright colored hair, a gorgeous human who makes you do a double take, or experience a heartwarming moment of someone helping out a fellow passenger in some way.

It’s fast and convenient

I’ve been taking the subway for years and years and have only been stopped and really been delayed once. Sometimes they are one or two minutes late, but another train usually arrives within five minutes of the last one departing. Subways also run 24 hours a day seven days a week. So even on holidays when the traffic is heavy and you need to get across town, the subway is there for ya.

Live entertainment

Whether you’re waiting on the platform for the next train to arrive or you’re sitting on the subway racing through the dark tunnels, there is most likely a drummer, violinist, singer, dancer, or even a bagpiper there to entertain you. Some people perform in the subways because they need the money and others just want to spread their name and maybe even some joy. Yeah, not all New Yorkers are unsmiling rude people.

You won’t get frustrated sitting in traffic

Unlike above ground transportation, the subway can get you where you need to go without any annoying honking or head jerking driving skills of Uber drivers. Take a cab and you’ll hit traffic. Take a bus and you’ll hit traffic. Drive your own car and you’ll hit traffic. This is New York City after all, the city that never sleeps. At any given time, you’ll be sitting in traffic and kicking yourself for not taking the subway. Traffic free (and cursing at each other and honking free too), the subway is the way to go.

You’re never alone on the subway

If you’re like me and watched one too many CSI episodes when you were younger, you get freaked out when taking cabs alone. This is just another reason to love the subway. You feel safer being surrounded by people and police stationed in the major subway stations. Just knowing that there are always at least few other people standing on the platforms or in the same subway car as you makes you feel surrounded and safe.

Feeling like a true New Yorker

New Yorkers have a reputation for being impatient or standoffish. Sometimes this stereotype rings true and you will encounter (more likely observe) these people when on the subway. After taking the subway enough and realizing that you just want to reach your destination as quickly and quietly as possible, congratulations- you are a true, stereotypical New Yorker.

So grab your Purell, fill out that Metro card and explore. Or, you know, just go to work.