Five Things + One: Living in NYC Without the Subway

It seems the city that never sleeps can sometimes be derailed.

Even though Hurricane Sandy's remnants have moved on, the five boroughs of New York City are still largely immobilized by the one-two punch of water and wind that flooded streets and subway tunnels, knocked down trees and power lines, and generally turned eight million people into shut-ins.

But enough is enough, and Wednesday is the day the Big Apple starts to spring back.

Transit

Subway service is still suspended, but that doesn't mean you neccessarily have to stay home. Some of the MTA's buses have resumed operation with fare-free service, and will resume a near-normal weekday schedule beginning Wednesday. However, one should expect delays due to larger than normal ridership.

Rules for taxis have also been changed to accomodate commuters — Mayor Michael Bloomberg has authorized cabs to pick up multiple fares. Again, expect travel to be more time-consuming due to the change.

Those with cars will be pleased to know that alternate side parking regulations and parking meter fees continue to be suspended for Wednesday, and that the East River bridges (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queensboro, and Williamsburg) are reopened. However, the Hugh Carey tunnel remains closed.

Closures

New York City Schools and CUNY campuses will be closed for the third day in a row. Prospect Park, the Prospect Park Zoo, and all city parks, playgrounds and beaches remain closed.

Re-opening

Cultural institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Academy of Music are open.

Power

Sporadic outages continue to occur across Brooklyn, and Con Edison says normal service should be restored within four days.

Services

Scheduled garbage collection for Wednesday has been suspended so sanitation workers can aid in the clean up of debris from Hurricane Sandy. If Wednesday is your normal trash day you should store your garbage until further notice.

Getting assistance

If your home, rental or business was damaged by the storm, you should contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362, or visit disasterassistance.gov for federal disaster help.