Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Take a Free Ride
The Alliance for Downtown New York's
Downtown Connec-
tion
offers a free bus service that provides access to down-
town destinations, including Battery Park City, the World
Financial Center, and South Street Seaport. The buses, which
run daily, every 10 minutes or so, from 10am to 7:30pm, make
stops along a 5-mile route from Chambers Street on the west
side to Beekman Street on the east side. For schedules and
more information, call the Downtown Connection at
&
212/
566-6700,
or visit
www.downtownny.com
.
Tips
park, and then north on Madison, continuing east on 68th to York
Ave.); 67th (westbound on the East Side to Fifth Ave., and then
south on Fifth, continuing west on 66th St., through the park and
across the west side to West End Ave.); and 79th, 86th, 96th, 116th,
and 125th (east- and westbound). Some bus routes, however, are
erratic: The M104, for example, starts at the East River, then turns
at Eighth Avenue and goes up Broadway. The buses of the Fifth
Avenue line go up Madison or Sixth and follow various routes
around the city.
Most routes operate 24 hours a day, but service is infrequent at
night. During rush hour, main routes have “limited” buses, identifi-
able by the red card in the front window; they stop only at major
cross streets.
To make sure that the bus you're boarding goes where you're
going, check the map on the sign that's at every bus stop, get your
hands on a route map, or
just ask.
The drivers are helpful, as long as
you don't hold up the line too long.
While traveling, look out the window not only to take in the
sights but also to keep track of cross streets so you know when to get
off. Signal for a stop by pressing the tape strip above and beside the
windows and along the metal straps, about 2 blocks before you want
to stop. Exit through the pneumatic back doors (not the front door)
by pushing on the yellow tape strip; the doors open automatically.
Most city buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Buses also
“kneel,” lowering down to the curb to make boarding easier.
BY TAXI
If you don't want to deal with public transportation, finding an
address that might be a few blocks from the subway station, or shar-
ing your ride with 3.5 million other people, then take a taxi. The
