National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Visitors' Information

Travel Within Manhattan

Taxi

Once inside Manhattan, you'll find that yellow taxi cabs are ubiquitous. To hail one, just step to a clear space along the curb, look for a cab with a lit dome light, and raise an arm above your head. If a non-yellow "gypsy" cab tries to pick you up, reject it as they are not legally allowed to pick up "hails" on the street. When giving a cab driver your destination, you will minimize confusion if you specify an intersection. In other words, one would state "corner of 112th and Broadway" rather than "2880 Broadway" in order to get to GISS. Cab fare is metered and there are small surcharges for rides during evening rush hour and at night, but for example, a cab between Midtown and GISS will cost about $12-$15 during the day.

Subway

GISS is located along the "IRT", the 1 train of the NYC Transit subway system. The closest station on the line is the "Cathedral Parkway" stop at the corner of Broadway and 110th St., just two short blocks south of GISS. (Careful, there are two stations labeled "Cathedral Parkway" on the MTA's subway map (PDF).) Also nearby is the "Columbia University" station at Broadway and 116th St. Upon exiting the station, just walk north or south on Broadway as appropriate until you reach 112th St.

As of early 2010, one subway fare is $2.25. Individual tokens are no longer sold and you must instead purchase an electronic Metro Card at any subway station. Cards may be purchased on a pay-per-ride basis or for unlimited use during a set timespan. MetroCards can also be used on NYC Transit buses.

If you arrive in Midtown Manhattan by train or airport bus and wish to take a subway directly to GISS, you would:

From Grand Central Station:

Take the 7 train across town to Times Square and change to the 1, 2, or 3 uptown. If you take the 2 or 3, you must then transfer to the 1 train at either 72nd or 96th St.

From Penn Station:

From the east end of the station, take the 1, 2, or 3 train. Again, if you take the 2 or 3 you must then transfer to the 1. Or...

From the west side of the station, take the A or C train uptown, and transfer to the 1 train at Columbus Circle (59th St.).

From the Port Authority Bus Terminal:

Take the underground pedestrian tunnel to Times Square, from whence you can take a 1, 2, or 3 train uptown; or...

Take the A or C uptown, and transfer to the 1 at Columbus Circle.

The 1 train is a local and shares a tunnel and some stations with the 2 and 3 express trains. If you are heading uptown to GISS on one of the express trains, you must transfer to a 1 train at either 72nd or 96th St. After 96th St., the 2 and 3 trains veer off to the east and go far away from GISS.

When catching any of the above-mentioned trains on your way from Midtown to GISS, you want to take the Uptown train.

If you have never visited New York before and your subway route to GISS includes a transfer at Times Square, allot yourself some extra time. And due to its sheer size and several levels, Penn Station may be even worse. Signs pointing the way to the various subway platforms are prominent, but these stations nevertheless can seem like a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.

Bus

If you have just arrived in Midtown Manhattan and wish to take a bus to GISS, it is possible, but it will be much slower than the subway, as buses usually stop every other block and are subject to traffic conditions.

The M104 and M4 buses of the NYC Transit bus system pass GISS as they travel up and down Broadway. Just exit at either the 110th St. or 113th St. stop and walk the remaining block or two. South of 110th St., the M104 (PDF) continues down the Upper West Side on Broadway and thence into Midtown, where it passes through Time Square and by the Port Authority Bus Terminal The M4 (PDF), however, turns east at 110th St. and after passing along the north edge of Central Park, turns south into the Upper East Side. It does a little loop through Midtown and passes near Grand Central Terminal and by Penn Station.

Also running through the neighborhood is the M11 (PDF), which has a stop in front of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, one block east of GISS at the corner of 112th St. and Amsterdam Ave. The M11 travels down Columbus Ave. to the west side of Midtown and comes back up on Amsterdam. The M11 can be caught in Midtown near the Port Authority and Penn Station, but it travels well downtown before coming back north.

The M60 bus connects the GISS neighborhood with LaGuardia airport. The closest stop to GISS is at Broadway and 110th St.

Bus fare is $2.25, the same as subway fare. You must pay either using a MetroCard or exact change (nickels, dimes and quarters; no dollar bills). Note that making use of MetroCard means that free transfers between the bus and subway, or between bus routes, are usually automatic and easy.

Bicycle and Skate

Delivery people riding bicycles are almost as common in New York as yellow cabs, and the city was once known as "the capital of street skating". When stepping off the curb to cross the street or when entering/exiting a cab, always keep an eye out for a cyclist or inline skater who might be zipping along. Be careful; some might not be traveling in the legal direction.