NYC Subway Questions

All “Streets” run east-to-west (crosstown) and all “Avenues” run north-south.

If the Street numbers are getting higher you are walking North. If the Street numbers are getting lower you are walking south. So if you are on standing on 6th avenue, look left, it’s 41st st, look right it’s 40th st – towards the higher-numbered street is north.

This system works about everywhere above 14th street, and hardly at all below 14th street, and then you get into named streets and you’re sunk. :slight_smile: Just joshin’ ya - you’ll do fine!

All that said, Manhattan Island does not lie on true north-south – its northern tip points approx NE - an angle that New Yorkers completely disregard when discussing directions. This might be why tourists did not find the compass points very helpful and the program was not expanded.

Don’t make too big a deal about “letting the people off before you get on” thing. It’s a dog-eat-dot world out there.

Don’t eat things that smell. Don’t groom yourself or do anything that makes noise.

“Don’t talk to people” is not what you need to know. You need to know “Don’t talk”.

Don’t talk to your friend. Don’t talk to your mom. Don’t talk to your imaginary pet fly.

Just don’t speak. If you have to speak keep on topic and keep your voice down and direct your words as closely as you can to the person you’re speaking to.

Don’t wear your backpack on your back. Drop it by your side.

Don’t think of your time on the train as a good time to practice your French Horn.

That’s the etiquette.

I highly recommend it and I used it for my travels there at first. I found it particularly useful when coming up to street level from being underground in the subway, it’s easy to get twisted around on the stairs and passages. Also helpful when exiting the building. True north is not important, just what is the general direction of uptown.