Gravy Train

The Ultimate NYC Transit Apps

As of August 2014.

I have been both civically and professionally obligated to investigate New York City transit apps. As a self-proclaimed train brat who breaks into a sweat/run as soon as those green lanterns come into view, apps are my only recourse to quelling this inexplicably primal panic. (What trauma surrounding train-missing lurks deep in my marrow? A question for another time and another’s couch — er, blog — I suppose.)

So here’s my regimen. Not daily, but when I’m going somewhere I’ve never been (and sometimes just for jollies). I know it’s an elaborate procedure, but really, each of these apps serves a different purpose and comes into play at a different part of a journey. There’s little more satisfying than a perfectly-timed, perfectly-executed commute. And we weary city rat-racers could use a little satisfaction.

Step 1. Citymapper

iOS; Android; Web
Available for eight cities worldwide (New York, D.C., and Boston in the U.S.).

Features (iPhone):

  • Geolocation (nearby stations and area map) and search for location by exact address, venue, or area
  • Save trip for (limited) offline access
  • Semi-customizable homescreen
  • Sync trips and places with personal web dashboard
  • Line status and service disruption push notifications (related to your commute specifically, or to any rail line)
  • Weather at current and arrival locations (plus a “Rain-Safe” option)
  • Set custom arrival time and get estimated departure time from your selected location, taking walking time into account
  • Realtime arrival tracking
  • “Meet Me” location sharing (via Messages, AirDrop, Mail, or Facebook)
Citymapper (08/2014)

Citymapper is the most comprehensive transit app I’ve seen: in New York, it offers the standard fare — times and directions for buses and subways — as well as locations of Citibikes and travel information for other rail lines that stop in the City; walking; biking; cabs with fare estimates and routes; and Hailo integration. Oh, and Teleporter and Catapult estimates.

I think Citymapper is the best one-stop shop and the most location-accurate route-planning app. I have gotten caught once or twice in a recommendation for a train that wasn’t actually running, but I don’t hold it against ‘em.

Step 2. Roadify

iOS; Android
Available for Amtrak and 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

New York Metro includes departures and directions for New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, and even Roosevelt Island transit, as well as Bike Share and Car2Go booking options.

Features (iPhone):

  • Realtime, really accurate departures
  • Waze-like user reporting, points, and thanks
  • In-app commenting and @MTA Twitter feed monitor
  • Directions (customizable departure time)
  • Favorites (routes, stops, destinations)
  • User accounts
Roadify (08/2014)

If I lived farther from the train, I’d use Roadify daily. It does offer directions, but its hyper-accurate departure reporting is what really makes it compelling.

Step 3. ExitStrategy NYC

iOS; Android
Subway and bus, New York City only.

Features:

  • Geolocation
  • Offline access
ExitStrategy NYC (08/2014)

Now this lil’ guy is my latest and most thrilling discovery. It’s a gem. A brilliant premise; simple, unadorned, but entirely effective execution. Tap a station, select the line and direction you’ll be traveling, and see which doors within numbered subway cars will get you to the exit you need. Yes. IT’S TRUE. ExitStrategy NYC delivers down-to-the-door specs for exits on each subway line and at every station. And all offline, meaning, available for incessant check-ups while underground! Neighborhood maps, although limited, display the exact location of station entry relative to the train.

So. Goodbye, embarrassing u-turns. Begone, straggling. Sayonara, struggling-to-find-the-stairs-or-correct-exit. Hello, instant subway domination. You are beautiful.

Safe travels!

Originally published at fuzzproductions.com.