easy access bus & subway
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For years, all MTA buses were wheelchair accessible with a lift at the back door, but now the lifts are at the front of the bus, as well as seating for the elderly or disabled. The MTA also has electric buses which pollute less and have the wheelchair access lift and spaces at the front of the bus as well. The new articulated buses (the double buses with the accordian-like attachment in the middle) also have the wheelchair lift and wheelschair space in the front of the bus. Subways Be careful on some of the newer subway trains, Some have a spring-loaded seat in the corners of each car. The seats are not down when you board the train, you have to push them down to sit down. But sometimes if you do not have a good grip on it as you are pushing it down, it can spring back up and smash fingers or hands. That has happened to me, and while it did not break or fracture my fingers, it was a sudden and unexpected OWWW!! Subways and other train stations are more wheelchair acccessible than ever.
Elevators are have been installed at major train depots
throughout the city. Check out MTA's Accessible Transit Guide. For more information please contact the MTA online or by phone. I provide similar information on my home page (I'm just more long-winded on this page). There are reduced fares for NYC transit, not just for seniors or children. Click here to find out: And if you are planning to use public transportation, I highly advise checking the service advisory from day to day. It can be very frustrating and time consuming when you set out to go somewhere, only to find out that certain trains, buses or routes are out of service or running at a snail's pace. The advisory is not just for NYC buses and trains, but for the Long Island Railroad/Buses, MetroNorth trains, bridges/tunnels and other bus companies. Access the advisory by clicking here: Again, All MTA buses have wheelchair lifts or ramps. If you are getting around NYC soley by MTA buses and have not bought any Metrocard/s, make sure you or your PSA have plenty of US coins (no pennies). The general fare is $2.50. I find that 10 quarters for each way is the easiest. The bus fare units do not take bills nor will the bus driver give you change. Make sure to ask the driver for a transfer at the time you board the bus and pay your fare (the driver will not give you any transfer/s unless you ask). There have been instances where passengers stated that they forgot to get a transfer when they boarded and the driver has given them. But the problem with that is some folks board with a transfer and later, try to get another transfer, which is cheating the MTA. The bus transfers are free and are good for 2 hours. After you go cross-town, you may want to go downtown or vice-versa, and the transfer saves you an extra fare within the 2 hours to be used on buses only. If you use a Metrocard, a transfer goes onto it's smart chip and is good for 2 hours and you can use that transfer on buses and in the subway. Unable to use public transit? Then use Access-A-Ride. For Long Island, there is the Able-Ride program |
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