Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Pack your baggage carefully. Use suitcases with omnidirectional wheels that allow you to move in every direction as you navigate the confines of the station and the subway car. Choose the smallest suitcase possible and avoid taking more than one, as handling several in the rush to board and disembark the subway is inconvenient.
Plan your route beforehand. Consult the map of your local subway system and identify handicap-accessible stations. Plan to board and disembark the subway at these stations. Handicap-accessible stations generally have elevators available to transport you to the subway platform, ensuring that you will not have to carry your baggage up or down stairs.
Leave for your destination early. Trains are sometimes late, and in some cities the police may conduct random security searches, unexpectedly delaying to your trip. Take enough money with you so that you can exit the subway and take a cab to your destination in case of an emergency.
Avoid traveling during rush hours. In New York City, rush hour is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and most metropolitan areas follow a similar pattern. Leave for your destination well in advance of rush hour even if it means getting there early.
Don't enter or exit the station through the turnstiles. Large suitcases often do not fit through the turnstiles and can get stuck easily. Ask the station agent to open the wheelchair-accessible gate for you. Typically, the agent will ask you to pay at the turnstile first before allowing you access.
Move into the subway car and away from the doors after boarding. If you stay close to the door after boarding, you may have to reposition your baggage or even roll it off the train temporarily at each station to allow passengers room to step on and off the car. To avoid this, move as far inside the car as possible and keep a close eye on how far away you are from your station. Move closer to the door only when the train is approaching your station.
Always keep your baggage next to you. Do not place it in one area of the subway car and then walk to another part of the car to sit down. Take your suitcase with you to your seat or do not sit down if there is not enough space for it. Unattended baggage may be stolen or may tip over, inconveniencing other passengers. Some cities, such as New York, run anti-terrorist campaigns urging passengers to report any bags that appear to be unattended to the police or station manager. Unattended bags could be confiscated or searched, significantly delaying your travels.