Public Transport in LA, Chicago, NY?

[oltmannd]

I agree with most everyone.  NY and Chicago are very doable without a car.  In fact a car is a liability.  LA, not so much.  The places most people want to go visit around LA and are scattered around a pretty wide area and they are not well connected by rail transit.  It's geared mostly toward commuters, not tourists.  You might be able to figure out how to get about on the RTA buses and use some taxis.

The better California city to visit is San Francisco.  Lots to do there and it's very easy to get around by transit.  In fact, some of the transit is geared directly toward tourists.  You can even take a one day train/bus excursion to Yosemite National Park.

The only other US cities I can think of that have tourist friendly rail transit are Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and, to some extent, Seattle, Portland Oregon and Baltimore.

[blue streak 1]

If the weather is not bitter the Robert Treat hotel is about 4 blocks from Newark Penn Station. The roooms are small  and cheaper but what the heck?

[daveklepper]

As an ex-New Yorker born in 1932 and left in 1996 (with spots in-between in the Army, Massachusetts, Illinois), I would second the recommendation for a New Jersey hotel.   Great idea.

 

The PATH train to Manhattan from Newark's Penn Station is fast, convenient, and inexpensive.

[Crazy Ausie]

It is just on a year since my wife and I used just that method to explore the three cities you mention.as well as SanFrancisco and Washington DC.The only taxi we used was from JFK to our hotel- we did land just after midnight, and he soured our opinion of taxis in USA. NY has its subway which got us into the city and to Amtraks Penn station. Hardest thing to get used to for this Aussie couple was the number of similarly named stations owned by different operators and only in the same general neighbourhood. It took us three hits to find the right Penn station. We found Chicagos el before we found our hotel, it was raining and we were on foot, the road we had to follow was a hole in the ground but we did see a lot of city before we knew where we were. LA busses were pretty good but riding in them it still spooked me to have the driver on the wrong side of the bus.

The straight answer, yes, it is a very frealistic option, and we have obviously got a few more years behind us than you.

Crazy Aussie

[New Jersey]

Congrats and Happy Honeymoon! If you're visiting New York City consider actually staying in New Jersey. The hotels in Jersey City, Hoboken, and the towns on the Jersey side are a bit less money and just as comfortable - really. All North Jersey communities are connected to NYC by New Jersey Transit rail and bus lines, and there are cross-river ferries from Weehawken, Hoboken, and Jersey City (these three cities also connect to each other by light rail). Then there's the PATH - Port Authority Trans Hudson - or Tube trains. These run from Newark through Jersey City and Hoboken into New York City via under river tubes to mid-town (Herald Square) and downtown (World Trade Center). Suggestion: stay at the Hilton directly across the street from Newark Penn Station. If you fly into Newark-Liberty International Airport you can take the monorail from the terminal to the airport Amtrak/NJ Transit rail station, then a train directly into Newark Penn Station. To go into New York just board a PATH at Newark Penn Station. Newark also has a light rail system, the City Subway.

[Phaeton]

Public transportation is doable in all three cities. New York is the easiest. Underneath your feet is the greatest public transit in the world. You can get anywhere in the city with minimal difficulty and expense. Keep in mind that schedules might be significantly reduced late night and on weekends. Here is an excellent website that I use even though I am familiar with he system. You just enter where you are and where you want to go. It will provide the subways and/or buses to get you there. You can even specify how much walking you are willing to do.

http://www.hopstop.com/

Chicago is pretty easy also. You will likely rely more on buses than trains.

In either New York or Chicago, taxis are plentiful and in many cases might provide the most convenient choice.

Los Angeles is the most challenging. Public transit is not as well developed as the others. The other issue in L.A. is that the distances are much greater. It is the destination where I would most consider renting a car. I have not heard of anyone needing an international driver's license in many years. Check with the big car rental companies. Don't worry. If you insist on driving on the wrong side of the street, you will just be in step with about half of the people that live here.

Mark

 

 

 

[schlimm]

There is one more website that is useful for Chicago, the RTA (overall agency for transit and rail and suburban buses): 

http://goroo.com/goroo/showHome.htm

Also, taxis are not too expensive and are especially good in the evening.

[artpeterson]

Hi and Congratulations!

Urban transit (bus and heavy rail) operator in Chicago is the CTA; their website is www.transitchicago.com

Gives fares, schedules, maps and other useful info.  A good ride to see the CTA and experience the character of the system is the Brown Line.

Commuter rail in the Chicago/NE Illinois region is operated by Metra.  Their website is www.metrarail.com

Similarly, provides the info you need to navigate the system.  Metra Electric provides good access to the Museum of Science & Industry (a few blocks east of the 55th-56th-57th station).  BNSF line to Aurora offers a good mix of passenger and freight.

Hope this helps - travel safe!  Art

[Phoebe Vet]

A man and his wife were walking down the street in Manhattan when suddenly the man threw himself down spread eagle in the road by the curb.  He yelled: "Martha; I found a parking space.  Quick, go buy a car."

Many people who live in NYC don't even own cars.  They rent on the rare occasions when one is needed.  Have you ever seen street pictures of Manhattan?  Notice that 90% of the cars are yellow (Taxis)?

[daveklepper]

You made the right choice.   A car is not needed in any of the three cities.   Do plan on using transit mostly outside rush hours.   Transit conditions during rush hours in Chicago and New York are just like the London Underground.  Still, better than siting still in traffic jams.

[henry6]

Congratulations in advance, and the best of luck to both of  you.  All three cities have comprehensive transit and commuter systems.  Information, schedules, etc. can be found by googleing or binging or however you search on line.  I am very conversant in the NYC area as I do plan and escort railfan trips in Metropolitan NY and Philadelphia.  Even so, websites for www.mta.com will show you NYC's subway system as well as the Long Island and Metro North Railroads with maps and schedules. www.njt.com will help in New Jersey.  www.Amtrak.com of course for Amtrak.  I am sure Chicago and L.A. have similar accesses.

[tbdanny]

Hi all,

I mostly post on the Model Railroader forums, but I figured this would be the perfect place to ask this.  My fiancee and I are planning a honeymoon in the United States, in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.  One of my main concerns at the moment is getting around - we're not planning to hire a car in any of these locations, given the paperwork involved in getting an international licence and that you lot drive on the wrong side of the road .  We're planning to rely mostly on public transport and feet to get around, and I was wondering if this was a realistic option?

Thanks in advance,

tbdanny