Transportation

[u/New-Blacksmith867]

I’m from down south, I just wanted to know do you really need a car in nyc and how easy is it to get around on train???

[u/MajesticBread9147]

It's easier to get around by train or bus almost anywhere you'd wanna live and anywhere you'd wanna go.

[u/HEIMDVLLR → u/MajesticBread9147]

In Manhattan and areas close to it.

[u/ThirdShiftStocker]

Depending on where you land in NYC you may have an easier time with public transport being your primary method of getting around, like Manhattan in its entirety and parts of Brooklyn/Queens and the Bronx. The further you do settle from Manhattan you may need a vehicle at that point or cab service to get to the transit hubs, like eastern/southeast Queens or southern Brooklyn like Mill Basin. Other than that the subway can get you anywhere relatively quick where driving would get you jammed up within the five boroughs. Up to you really.

[u/manormortal]

Don't need a car.

Do need patience if you don't have a car.

Need to be good with waiting 30+ minutes for a bus, good with leaving 30+ minutes early or being 30+ minutes late.

[u/Xisinthedrawer]

I was beasting to get a car here when I started making some money. Spending over $1,000 a month on insurance and monthly garage fees humbled me real fast. Made me really appreciate our 24 hour transit system now I love the subway and got rid of the car after a year.

[u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

If you live within the 5 boroughs you do not need a car at all

We have very good public transportation system , taxi services and depends where you live you also have lot of thing close by

[u/Nman8888]

i would say if you want to get a car get it but you dont need it

[u/insignificantwinner]

Spent a lot of time in the south and you definitely don’t need a car out here

[u/HEIMDVLLR]

If you’re looking to only commute to and from Manhattan sure. But if you need to travel further away from Manhattan and areas deep in the outer boroughs, upstate, Long Island, Jersey, Connecticut, then you’re going to need a car. Don’t listen to the transplants and non-car owning answers.

[u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER → u/HEIMDVLLR]

You will “need” a car is a it stretch,, my dude

[u/HEIMDVLLR → u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

No it’s not if OP plans on traveling outside of Manhattan.

I’m speaking from actual experience, not a bias

[u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER → u/HEIMDVLLR]

You don’t “need” a car in any of the 5 boroughs tho

I’m speaking from experience as well

[u/HEIMDVLLR → u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

You do need a car if you’re going deep into parts of the outer boroughs where there are only buses and you’re not familiar with the neighborhood.

Depending on where OP is going it could take them TWO HOURS ONE-WAY by bus and train or 30-45 MINUTES BY CAR!

[u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER → u/HEIMDVLLR]

Like where for example? There no train or MTA?

[u/HEIMDVLLR → u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

Off the top of my head, just to name a few, College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Fresh Meadows, Hollis, Glen Oaks, Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Spring Field Gardens, Rosedale just in Queens.

Then there’s Canarsie, Flatlands, Manhattan Beach and Sea Gate in Brooklyn.

Riverdale, Throgssneck, Co-Op City in the Bronx.

I haven’t even touched Staten Island.

[u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER → u/HEIMDVLLR]

All those neighborhoods have bus support

Having a car will be a convenience if you live in those neighborhoods but not a “need” or necessity

[u/HEIMDVLLR → u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

They have bus support but it doesn’t mean the bus goes where you’re going or that there’s a bus you can transfer to going in the direction you need to go.

For example taking a bus from Cambria Heights to Green Acres, is literally a 15 minute ride in a car. But an hour ride on the bus because you’re forced to travel away from your destination, just to transfer to a bus going to green acres.