5 things to know to use New York buses like a local

1/ Use the unlimited subway card

• To get around New York freely, get the OMNY subway card. It gives you access to the entire MTA network, New York’s transit authority. Here’s the bonus: after 12 trips in a week, you ride free for the rest of that week.
• The subway card also works on all New York buses, so you can hop on whenever you need to.

2/ Always carry exact change

• If you’re not using an OMNY card and buying single tickets, have exact change ready. Bus drivers don’t give change.
• Without exact change, the driver will let you know, and other passengers won’t be happy either—you’ll delay the bus. I learned this the hard way once! 🙂

3/ Use Express buses

• Like the New York subway, some bus routes have two types of service: local buses that stop at every stop, and Limited Stops buses that stop only every 10 blocks. This saves time on long trips, since local buses crawl through every stop and traffic light.
• Two Manhattan lines offer both local and Limited Stops service: M4 on Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue and Broadway; M98 from Washington Heights to the Upper East Side

4/ Consider Crosstown buses

• To travel east to west, use the Crosstown buses. Unlike most buses that run north to south, these cut across Manhattan horizontally. Great for avoiding extra walking.
• Main Crosstown buses in Manhattan: M50 on 50th Street, M42 on 42nd Street, M34 on 34th Street, M23 on 23rd Street, M14 on 14th Street, M8 on 8th Street, and M21 on Houston Street.

5/ Watch out for air conditioning

• New Yorkers love air conditioning, so bring a light sweater. On buses, the AC can be intense—sometimes it feels like riding in a freezer.
• Tip: air conditioning is always stronger at the back of the bus than at the front. If you’re sensitive to cold, sit up front.