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 NYC’s 3,700 buses operate throughout the five boroughs
on more than 200 routes. You are usually within a few
blocks of a bus stop.
Cost
The cost is $1.50 per ride, no matter the distance.
You can pay your fare with a MetroCard, a token, or
exact change in coins. The driver does not give change
and fareboxes do not accept dollar bills or pennies.
A MetroCard can save you money on multiple rides. Options
include the $4 one-day Fun Pass; the 7- ($17) and 30-day
($63) unlimited ride cards; and a pay-per-ride card
($10 for 11 rides but you may put any amount onto a
MetroCard).
Transfers
If you pay your fare with MetroCard, you may transfer
free from bus to subway, subway to bus, or bus to bus
within two hours of the time you paid your fare. Unlimited
Ride MetroCard includes all transfers, at no charge.
Where to Get a MetroCard
There are 3,500 MetroCard merchants throughout the
city including NYC's Official
Visitor Information Center and many subway stations and
hotels.
Routes run uptown/downtown and crosstown from 6am until
shortly after midnight, with waiting time between each
bus approximately 5-15 minutes, depending on the time
of day. Keep in mind that while buses are a great way
to see the city and get to your destination, the ride
can be slow going when there is a lot of traffic – if
you have the time and patience, sit back and enjoy the
ride!
There are many transfer points (for example, taking
the bus up First Avenue to 34th Street and transfering
to a bus going west, to 5th Avenue at the Empire State
Building), making it easy to get to most destinations.
In Manhattan, these crosstown transfers are at the following
streets: 8th/9th, 14th, 23rd,34th, 49/50th, 57th, 66/67th,
72nd, 79th, 86th, 96th, 110th, 116th, and 125th.
The Metropolitan
Transit Authority (MTA; 718/330-1234, non-English
718/ 330-4847) is the source for route and schedule
information for subways and buses throughout the five
boroughs. Free bus maps are available in the Official
NYC Guide at NYC’s Official
Visitor Information Center, on buses, at subway
stations, and by calling 718/330-3322, 9am-5pm, weekdays.
Tips
Bus Stops – How to Locate a Bus Stop: Bus stops
have a tall, round sign with a bus emblem and route
number; some have bus shelters. Most also include a
"Guide-A-Ride," which is a rectangular box
attached to the bus sign pole that displays a route
map and bus schedule.
Boarding the Bus: As the bus pulls up to the stop,
read the destination sign on its front. Board at the
front of the bus. You can pay your fare with a MetroCard,
a token, or exact change in coins. The driver does not
give change and fareboxes do not accept dollar bills
or pennies. If you use a MetroCard, position it with
the cut corner on the upper left and feed it into the
farebox; the farebox will take it internally and then
give it back to you.
Transfers/Making Connections: If you pay your fare
with a MetroCard, you may transfer free from bus to
subway, subway to bus, or bus to bus within two hours
of the time you paid your fare. Unlimited Ride MetroCards
include all transfers (it’s calculated electronically
on your MetroCard; you don’t need to get a paper transfer),
at no charge. If you pay your fare with coins or a token,
you may transfer free between buses with intersecting
routes. Ask the bus driver for a transfer when you pay
your fare.
Getting Off the Bus: Most buses stop every few blocks.
Buses marked "Limited" make fewer stops. Push
one of the yellow tape strips located between the windows
to signal the driver to stop. You can also ask the driver
when you board to alert you when you reach your stop.
When the bus stops, a green light will appear over the
rear door. Exit at the rear by touching the yellow strip
on the door; the doors will automatically open. If they
don’t, push hard on the handles.
Bus Tours
Bus tours are a great way to get around while learning
about New York City's culture, attractions, and history.
Among the many are D3 Busline - Night
Tours, Gray Line New York Sightseeing/Coach USA sightseeing
tours by double-decker bus, full-size coach, or
the Gray Line New York Trolley, Harlem, Your Way!
tours of Harlem's cultural institutions and
landmarks, Insight Seeing
New York tours, and On Location Tours,
Inc., which tour TV's famous sites, including
Friends, Seinfeld, Law & Order, and the Jeffersons.
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