Navigating NYC Streets (Exiting Subway Help) (Union, Amsterdam: train, park, distance)

[gradco2004]

I'm new to NYC and keep this in my phone to help me when exiting the subway, to find my direction quickly, and without making the "common" mistake of walking the wrong direction. It may lack accuracy due to a few anomalies of the NYC street grid, but it's a start. Please, if anyone has corrections, speak up.

DISTANCE:
20 blocks = 1 mile

AVENUES:

*Run North to South
*1st Ave is on the East
*12th Ave is on the West
*5th Avenue divides East from West
*From the east, the Avenues are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Lexington, Park, Madison, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.
*Park Avenue is called 4th Ave below 14th Street.
*All Avenues have one-way traffic, except for Park Ave & 12th Ave.
*Avenues West of Park: Odd go South / Even go North
*Avenues East of Park: Odd go North / Even go South
*Madison Ave goes North / Lexington Ave goes South
*Madison Ave starts at 23rd Street / Lexington at 21st Street

AVENUE NICKNAMES:

*4th Avenue: (above 14th Street) Park Avenue
*6th Avenue: Avenue of the Americas
*7th Avenue: (from 34th to 42nd Streets) Fashion Avenue
*8th Avenue: (from 59th to 110th Street) Central Park West
*9th Avenue: (above 59th Street) Columbus Avenue
*10th Avenue: (above 59th Street) Amsterdam Avenue
*11th Avenue: (from 59th to 107th Street) West End Avenue

STREETS:
*In general: Even Streets run East, Odd Streets run West (a few exceptions)
*Streets East of 5th Ave: Address # gets higher as you go East.
*Streets West of 5th Ave: Address # gets higher as you go West.

MAJOR SQUARES & CIRCLES:
*Columbus Circle: 59th Street (Where Broadway meets 8th Ave)
*Times Square: 42nd Street (Between Broadway & 7th Ave)
*Herald Square: 34th Street (Where Broadway intersects 6th Ave)
*Madison Square: 23rd Street (Between Broadway & 5th Ave)
*Union Square: 14th Street (Between Broadway & 4th Ave/Park Ave)

[Fred314X]

And don't forget the east-west numbering system: from Fifth Avenue, every numbered avenue = 100. So an address like, let's say, 250 West 34 Street would be between 7th and 8th Avenues. (Lexington and Madison, not being numbered avenues, don't figure in).

[sf2nyc]

The following numbered streets are two way: 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd, 79th, 86th, 96th, 106th, 116th, 125th, 135th, 145th and 155th Streets and often coincide with subway stops

I knew about the ones through 96th but found this list so can't 100% vouch for its accuracy.

[cokatie]

What happened to Broadway as an Avenue (the oldest north-south route in the city going back to the days Manhattan was called New Amsterdam)?

Also, York Avenue on the East Side.

[nei]

There's also Avenue A, B, C and D in East Village and Lower East Side, though it's not all that likely you'd have a reason to go out there.

I like that Brooklyn has an Avenue Q.

[latikeriii]

If you have an iPhone or Android device, download NYC Exit Strategy. It shows where to line up on the train closest to your exit, very useful or about $2.99.

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by nei

I like that Brooklyn has an Avenue Q.

Brooklyn hasn't had an Avenue Q in nearly 80 years. It was renamed Quentin Road (in honor of Theodore Roosevelt's son, killed in action during the First World War).