NYC marathon - how ARE you getting to the start?

why don't you just take the subway to the ferry to the shuttle. It's quite easy. Take the 4/5 to Bowling Green or the 1 to South Ferry (depending on whether you're coming from the east or west side) and walk to the Ferry terminal. Grab the shuttle from the Ferry terminal and it's a 10 minute ride to Fort Wadsworth

The subway to the ferry is recommended.

OK.

I made some plans before receiving all of these letters from NYRR suggesting that the ferry is by far the best way to go this year. I already bought a shuttle bus ticket from the library, and found a place to stay fairly close to that site to accommodate this plan.

CAN I EXPECT THE SHUTTLE TO WORK FOR ME, or should I forget about that now? And how much does the ferry coast? MTA fare? More?

Ferry is free. $2 to take the subway down to the ferry. Last year they didn't charge for the shuttle bus from the SI ferry terminal to the start. This year I think they did, but they didn't check last year.

Anyways your bus ticket is good at all locations, so I wouldn't worry.

Take the ferry its the easiest way, plus its a nice ride. You see lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Thanks. This sounds easier than the bus from midtown.

Just catch the 1? On the MTA map it doesn't look like that goes to the ferry?

first timer 2:55 wrote:

Thanks. This sounds easier than the bus from midtown.

Just catch the 1? On the MTA map it doesn't look like that goes to the ferry?

It most definitely goes to the Ferry terminal. The last stop is South Ferry, just 2 blocks from the terminal.

Check it out - the 1 line terminates at the "South Ferry" station.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

And as they say on the train, make sure you're in the first five cars of the #1 subway if you want to get off at south ferry. Only the first five cars open at that station. You're already in the terminal if you take the "1" train and get off at the south ferry station. But depending on where you're coming from, taking the #4 or #5 train may be more convenient for you - to Bowling Green station, leaves you a couple of blocks away.

I took a car service right to the start...it was perfect and I didn't have to leave my house at the crack of dawn and my last stop to the ladie's room was in my own home...not a disgusting port-a-potty!! I would highly recommend it...it's worth the $$.

This thing says you need to transfer to the 2/3 at 14th??? And THEN a bus to the ferry?????

Take the subway to the ferry. It's so easy and quick. I highly reccomend bringing water bottles with you to pee in though if you get stuck on the bus forever like we all did last year. That was brutal.

first timer 2:55 wrote:

http://www.nycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/pdf/ferry_directions.pdf

This thing says you need to transfer to the 2/3 at 14th??? And THEN a bus to the ferry?????

Where is your hotel?

Unless NYRR knows something that the MTA isn't telling the rest of us, neither South Ferry (1) nor Whitehall (N, R) stations will be open this weekend. Therefore, if you're hellbent on taking the subway and not a cab, and don't want to tangle with the shuttle bus that replaces the 1 train below Chambers, you should take the 4/5 to Bowling Green. It's about 400m from the Bowling Green stop to the ferry terminal.

Here's a map:

I'm coming from NJ so ferry isn't really an option...driving in from NJ but won't be hitting the Verrazano. Bus leaves at 6:00 for what is usually a 40 minute ride.

All of the messages from NYRR have to do with folks coming in from Manhattan...what about us from NJ?? Am I going to have a problem?

There's also this business with the green start now being a wave start...I'm in the first corral so won't really be affected but it is still going to be a clusterf!ck

Isn't it easier from NJ? Assuming you can get someone to drive you in from NJ to Staten Island. You can get very close to the start that way. If you're driving yourself, then you have to deal with uncertain parking and them getting to the start from however far away you park.

There will still be traffic but not sure how much. I'm taking a charter bus in. Just looking to hear from folks who have done this in the past.

Ferry is free. $2 to take the subway down to the ferry...

I took a bus from Westchester last year (leaving at 7am). We went across the GWB and down the turnpike and crossed onto Staten Island on whatever the road that lead to the Verazano. That highway was eventually closed, and we had to get on the service road for a while of bumper-to-bumper movement and then we turned left across the highway and there was no traffic. We parked about 4 blocks from an entrance to the Fort. Plenty of time.

And don't discount the utility/necessity of having a bathroom on board (bus or ferry).

Also, the MTA has a schedule for the 4 (there's no 5 that early) to Bowling Green. From Grand Central, on Sunday, there's a 4 train every 20 minutes (at 13, 33, and 53 past the hour), taking 17 minutes to get to Bowling Green, from which it's a couple of blocks south to the Ferry. Front of downtown 4, follow fellow runners.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/pdf/t4cur.pdf

OK...I'm coming from the Upper West...can I catch the 1 and somehow transfer to the 4/5?

I can see what should be possible on the maps, but I don't know what's running at that hour!