The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched an online portal to apply for Reduced-Fare MetroCards, which offer half-priced rides on the city’s buses and subways to seniors and New York City residents. The reduced fare is $3.50 (half the $7 base fare), and riders aged 65 or older can receive a senior discount or have a qualifying disability. The base fare for the local rail and bus system is now $2.90, but a senior or eligible transit rider would pay half that, or $1.45, if they enroll in the program.
On express bus trips, the reduced fare is $3.50 (half the $7 base fare). Riders can pay the reduced fare anytime except during weekday peak periods, 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. On Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, they can save up to 50 off the full one-way fare. Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride for free when they’re with a fare-paying adult on the subway and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses. On express buses, infants under two years old ride for free as well.
The MTA has also announced that eligible New York City residents receive a 50 discount on subway and eligible bus fares using the Fair Fares NYC MetroCard. Pay-per-Ride, weekly unlimited, and monthly unlimited options are all available. The reduced-fare program is managed by MTA New York City Transit.
Reduced fares are available for riders who are 65 years of age or older or have a qualifying disability. The discounted rate is half the base fare, so $1.35 for subways and local buses. Additional discounts are available by using multi-trip cards and having the convenience of using the reduced-fare card.
For more information about reduced-fare MetroCards for people who are 65 or older, visit the Buses and Subways page. Market Ride from Older Adult Centers to Fair Fares NYC for information about the discount MetroCard program for low-income New Yorkers.
📹 FIRST CLASS Train vs CHEAPEST Bus between DC and NYC
Watch this video to compare the cheapest vs most expensive trip between DC and NYC! You’ll see what it’s like to travel between …
What is the difference between a local bus and an express bus?
Local buses are designed to stop at all bus stops within a given town or city, regardless of distance. In contrast, express buses are intended to stop at major junctions between major cities, with the objective of ensuring efficient transportation between towns and cities.
What is the fare for senior citizens?
In March 2020, the Indian Railways terminated the practice of offering discounts on train fares to senior citizens. This resulted in the elimination of the 50% discount previously available to female senior citizens and the 40% discount previously available to male and transgender senior citizens. Consequently, senior citizens are now obliged to pay the full fare, in a manner analogous to that of other passengers. In accordance with the guidelines set forth by the railway, individuals aged 60 and above for males and transgender individuals, and 58 and above for females, are designated as senior citizens.
How much is the express bus in NYC?
The standard fare for most subway and local buses is $2. 90, while express buses cost $7. Payment can be made via contactless cards, smartphones, OMNY cards, or MetroCards.
How do I know if my bus is express NYC?
The MTA provides a diverse range of bus services, encompassing local, Select Bus Service (SBS), Limited (LTD), and Express buses. These buses have a reduced number of stops, designated priority routes, and passengers may board at any door. These buses are accessible for wheelchair users and can be located via the MTA mobile application. Express buses, which are similar in appearance to coach buses, operate between boroughs exclusively during weekday rush hours. To obtain real-time service information, maps, and schedules, users are encouraged to download the mobile application.
Is express bus fare more expensive?
The cost of an express bus service for adults is 60 cents more expensive than that of a regular bus or MRT ride, with fares ranging from $1. 59 to $2. 86 if paid with a travel card. In order to qualify for the Travel Smart Journeys initiative, it is necessary for commuters to register their details via the TransitLink SimplyGo online portal or the TL SimplyGo mobile application. Furthermore, they must have completed the requisite tap-in process at one of the following MRT stations within the preceding 30 days: Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok, or Hougang.
How do I get a senior citizen MetroCard in NYC?
To register for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard, one must visit a Customer Service Center situated in a subway station that is not their usual point of departure. Individuals aged 65 or above may obtain the card on the same day. Individualized assistance from a station agent is available for disabled individuals upon request. The Customer Service Center in Lower Manhattan is open from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. on weekdays, excluding holidays. Interpreting services are available for customers who are non-English speaking or have limited English proficiency.
Is Megabus cheaper than National Express?
Megabus is a budget-friendly bus service that provides a comfortable journey to the destination. National Express, while slightly more expensive, offers a more comfortable experience. Megabus is regarded as the Ryanair of bus travel, whereas National Express is more comparable to Singapore Airlines.
What age is free on the NYC subway?
The cost of subway and bus rides is $2. 90, with the option to pay with a MetroCard or contactless payment with OMNY. Unlimited ride MetroCards offer unlimited swipes for a certain length of time for $1. Up to three children under 44 inches tall can ride for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. MetroCards can be purchased at any subway station or Transportation Hub, and vending machines accept cash, ATM cards, and major credit cards. Tellers can only accept cash, and cash payments can only give up to $9 in change.
If paying by credit, machines with foreign billing addresses may ask for a billing zip code. MetroCards can be shared with up to four people per card, and can be swiped separately or with the first person following through the turnstile.
Can you pay cash on express bus NYC?
New York City has 61 Express Bus lines, primarily operating during peak hours and weekdays. The fare is high at $6. 50 and can be paid with MetroCard Pay-Per-Ride, MetroCard Bus Express Plus, or cash. These buses are indicated by the X and are primarily used by commuters.
The public bus system in NYC is easy to navigate. They run vertically along Avenues, with each Avenue having its own line. They also run horizontally, East-West, along streets. Crosstown buses are found in central Manhattan areas.
To access Bus Maps and Subway Maps, download the updated MYMTA App. This app provides access to Bus Maps, Subway Maps, and GPS-based directions, which require data or Wifi. The app is recommended for those looking to travel from point A to point B.
Is ez link card cheaper than bank card?
In Singapore, the EZ-Link and SimplyGo systems are utilized for the purpose of facilitating cashless payments for public transportation. The EZ-Link system is a cashless system that requires the purchase of an EZ-Link card and subsequent reloading of funds for bus and MRT rides. SimplyGo enables users to settle their fare for public transportation directly via their debit or credit card. Nevertheless, older EZ-Link cards lacking compatibility with the SimplyGo system will be gradually discontinued starting June 1, 2024.
What is the difference between express bus and local bus in NYC?
The typical express bus route connects Manhattan to one of the other four boroughs. Local buses make stops at intervals of between two and four blocks along the route. Some routes feature limited-stop buses at major cross streets.
📹 How to Ride the Bus in New York City (MTA Bus)
UPDATES: The express buses no longer accepts coins/cash. The Select Bus Service (SBS) now accepts OMNY. So you …
There are two very important aspects of the Express Bus that you did not mention. First, once you board an Express Bus, you cannot get off the bus until it gets to the other borough. For example, if you board a BxM bus in Manhattan, the earliest stop you can get off the bus is the first stop in the Bronx; intra-borough trips are not allowed on Express Buses. Second, you cannot board an Express Bus that originated from another borough. This one is obvious because the bus stop will say “Drop off only” for the Express Bus. This is to enforce the rule I just mentioned; intra-borough trips are not allowed on Express Buses. So if you are in the Bronx and a BxM bus coming from Manhattan stops at your bus stop, you are not allowed to get on because the only trip you can possibly make on this bus is another stop in the Bronx (the borough you are already in) and that is not allowed. These rules are to prevent (impatient or rich) people from using the Express Bus as a swanky expensive local bus service (which will slow down service) and to prevent the possibility of people getting on and off the bus at the same stop (causing collisions at the the front of the bus because there is no back door) by making stops “pick up only” in the origin borough and “drop off only” in the destination borough.
I’m a New Yorker that only take public transit have not owned a car in years. You got it down! You explain it clearly and great article quality! I have not looked at your other articles but you should do one on each of NYC transit systems. Like how to get to Newark airport, taking a ferry, navigating Port Authority bus terminal, etc.
This article covers nearly everything you need to know about taking the bus in NYC. I am really impressed how thorough it is! Please pay special attention to the part about SBS buses. The only thing I would add is that now in 2023 OMNY cards are much easier to find (at drug stores). I prefer the card because it is faster and safer than taking your expensive phone out of your pocket or bag, waking the phone up, and putting in your thumbprint or password to open your credit card app. Or waving your credit card around. But that’s just how I roll. You do you.
That is soooo useful！I’m the newly enrolled international NYU student. I felt so confused about riding buses because its diversified payment methods and bus types and routes before, so I met trouble and felt intimidated boarding a bus again. Now I get it that the select bus service is different from other types in terms of paying tickets. That’s valuable!!! Now I can feel confident riding a bus again haha. Thank you!
Another tip: some bus lines, such as the M15 (the busiest line in the system), will have local and select divisions. I was in New York the other week and I got on a SBS M15 instead of the local one and I ended up six blocks further than my destination before I could get off. The local bus would have stopped at the exact block I wanted.
Another superb addition to your living in/traveling to NYC series. The quantity of info, the quality of that info and the ease at which you make understanding all that info with your narration and supporting graphics is truly amazing. Thank you for all your hard work and producing this valuable resource.
thank you so much for this excellent clear article! I love to use public transportation wherever I travel but knowing how board the bus or train without being THAT PERSON who doesn’t know what they’re doing and holds everything up gives me anxiety. I wish all “how to ride…” articles were as clear as yours! I have ridden the subway in NYC a number of times but it’s been a while since I’ve ridden the bus and this was a great refresher.
I’m a transit buff and I have something to say that you missed in your article! If it’s snowing or raining hard, MTA (sometimes) will send out 40 foot (short or standard buses) on articulated bus lines (the buses with the rubber extension thingy in the middle). The, short, 40 ft, “standard” buses might run on +selectbusservice routes and will not have the teal, blue, and gold color that are on buses designed for +selectbusservice. So you have to look carefully at the destination luminators on the sides and top of the bus.
I visited New York several times between 2002 and 2010. My favourite bus trip was to take the Subway R line to one stop before its terminus at Bay Ridge then get the bus, I think it was the S79, over the bridge across the narrows to Staten Island Mall. While I was there I would get lunch and then take another bus, S44 I think, the the St George ferry terminal then the ferry back to Manhattan and eventually PATH back toJersey City and my hotel. As for the fare system, Americans do seem to like to make things complicated. Here in London it’s considered normal to thank the driver when you det off a bus, but that does not seem to be the case there. We have express buses but there are only three routes. One of them runs onlyat peak times and in the peak direction but the other two run all day. Unlike your express routes the dares are the same as for normal buses. I think buses are an underrated form of transport.
here’s a wiki link describing the history of NYC buses & its routes. Most of the routes are run as “MTA New York City Bus”; which is operated by New York City Transit Authority/TA/Transit & its subsidiary Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA), these were taken over by NYC before 2005. There’s also some routes that are displayed on each side of the bus as “MTA Bus”. The routes currently operating under “MTA Bus/MTA Bus Company” were previously administered by the New York City Department of Transportation & operated by seven private companies at the time of the city’s takeover. The local routes under “MTA Bus” are mostly concentrated in Queens, with 1 route in The Bronx (Bx23), 2 in Brooklyn (B103 LIMITED + B100), and most express bus service from Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx to Manhattan. Also, all Bronx express buses serve north of 59th St within Manhattan. Most BxM routes serve the Upper East Side, some serve parts of the Upper West Side, some serve parts of East Harlem, & Inwood; (which Inwood is @ the very top of Manhattan.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTA_Regional_Bus_Operations 1: all BxM, most BM & most QM express routes are run under MTA Bus & operated by MTA Bus Company. The 7 express routes displayed with an *X*: 3 from Queens (X63, X64, X68) & 4 from Brooklyn (X27, X28, X37 & X38) run as New York City Bus & are operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT). 2: all (M) local routes run as New York City Bus & are operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT), and its subsidiary Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA) 3: all (Bx) local routes run as New York City Bus & are operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT), and its subsidiary Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA); *except the Bx23*, which the Bx23 runs under MTA Bus & operated by “MTA Bus Company” 4: all (B) local routes run as New York City Bus & are operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT); except the B103 *LIMITED & B100* which these two routes run under MTA Bus & operated by “MTA Bus Company” 5: all Staten Island buses (local routes “S” & express routes “SIM”) run as New York City Bus & are operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) Queens local routes under New York City Bus & operated by New York City Transit Authority (NYCT): Q1, Q2, Q3✈(*JFK*), Q4, Q5, Q12, Q13, Q15/Q15A, Q16, Q17, Q20A/Q20B, Q24, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q36, Q42, Q43, Q44 SBS, Q46, Q48✈(*Laguardia*), Q54, Q55, Q56, Q58, Q59, Q76, Q77, Q83, Q84, Q85 & Q88 Queens local routes under MTA Bus & operated by MTA Bus Company: Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10✈(*JFK*), Q11, Q18, Q19, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q25, Q29, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q40, Q41, Q47✈(*Laguardia*), Q49, Q50 LIMITED*, Q52 SBS, Q53 SBS, Q60, Q64, Q65, Q66, Q67, Q69, Q70 SBS✈(*Laguardia*), Q72✈(*Laguardia*), Q100 *LIMITED*, Q101, Q102, Q103, Q104, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113 *LIMITED & Q114 LIMITED*; Q114 local service replaces Q114 *LIMITED evenings & late nights)
Staten island limited buses only run rush hour way plus different numbers. So a S44 local, the limited version is S94. The S94 will run to the Staten Island Ferry in the AM rush and to the Staten island mall PM rush. The S89 runs to NJ and the S93 will run the whole day between bay ridge Brooklyn and College of Staten island every weekday even non rush hour
hey Urbane Caffine & everyone else who’s watched this article, it’s true that the free transfer works from subway to local bus, also local bus to subway & local bus to local bus (different route #’s for the local buses) . Free transfers not applied if using a 7-day ($33) or 30-day ($127) unlimited pass between local buses & subway, or if transferring from local bus or subway, to an express bus 👍. Couple additions though: A. The free transfer is actually good for slightly over 2 hours; like maybe 2 hr/15 to 20 min B. Just found out today that you can also transfer free from express bus to express bus; as lough as the transfer is made in the 2 hr/15 to 20 min time frame from when you originally paid the $6.75 fare & that the route #’s for the express buses are different 1. My mom today had $19 on her metrocard, she 1st used it on the QM2 express bus from Queens to midtown/Manhattan to pay the $6.75; now left with $12.25. She then used her same metrocard with $12.25 left, to then transfer for the BM3 express bus to Brooklyn & its was a 100% free transfer 👍. 2. Say you’re starting with an express bus, if you have a 7-day pass ($33) or 30-day pass ($127) + cash value ($6.75) on the same metrocard, it’ll take the $6.75 1st. When you then transfer to a local bus or the subway, it’ll take the unlimited pass 👍. 3. Say you’re starting with a local bus or subway, if you have a 7-day pass ($33) or 30-day pass ($127) + cash value ($4) on the same metrocard, it’ll take the unlimited pass 1st; the $4 in value stays there.
Thanks Thea for making a article about the buses in NYC. I don’t think there’re a lot of articles about that. Never knew what the letter of a bus route means until now… that make senses. Question: have you ever waited at a bus stop, and you saw the bus, but the bus skipped you? Do you have to wait at the bus to come to you to the bus stop?
This article is about as detailed as I can see an this is coming from a born and bred NYER but one thing you forgot mention forSBS is that if you don’t have the receipt as proof of payment their are inspectors that check and if you do not have the receipt there’s a $100 summons and they are at random stops
Bonsoir à tous. Merci. Complètement dégagé des bosses entrantes, des noms des bus internes à New York, et intéressé par la répartition des projets, les bus entre la France et New York, un des plus beaux designs de l’interne français des bus et une atmosphère intéressante.Dans la pratique, la plus grande préoccupation est la sécurité des citoyens et du conducteur, l’écoute des dirigeants et mon respect envers tout le monde. Succès. Merci.
You make great amazing article, thats very useful n informative.. But 1 BIG PROB, you talk like you are making MTA tutorial article. You shud talk like you talk to friends in cafe, it will make it easier to understand, flow better n not too formal. Youtube is about informally, you talk like you work for the MTA. Learn to talk like Casey Neistat n go outdoor, dont be cook up in your apt. I guarrantee if you chg, youre article will blow up to 100k subs.. 👍😁