Event Location Map
- Registration venue – Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Halls 3B and 3D, at 11th Avenue at West 36th Street (Map)
- Race start – Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island
- Race Finish – Central Park
Welcome to NYC
Planning a trip to the five boroughs can be part of the fun, but there’s also a lot of ground to cover. Below you’ll find quick overviews on other essential things, like the City’s layout, the local time zone and various visitor passes.
Geography
New York City geography is composed of five boroughs. While Manhattan and Staten Island are islands, Brooklyn and Queens are geographically part of Long Island, and the Bronx is attached to the US mainland. The islands are linked by bridges, tunnels and ferries. Check here for helpful NYC maps and guides.
The Manhattan Island is roughly 13.4 miles long and about 2.3 miles wide at its widest. Except at its northern and southern tips, the borough’s avenues run roughly north and south, and streets run east and west. One-way thoroughfares are common, with traffic moving east on even-numbered streets and west on odd-numbered streets. Fifth Avenue divides the island into east and west sides (for example, locations on 57th Street west of Fifth Avenue are designated “W. 57th St.,” and east of Fifth Avenue, they’re “E. 57th St.”). As you move farther east or west from Fifth Avenue, street addresses increase, usually in increments of 100 from one block to the next. For north-south avenues, 20 blocks equals a mile, and the street numbers increase as you go uptown. Blocks can be a useful measure of distance, but keep in mind your direction: walking uptown from 1st Street to 6th Street is about a quarter of a mile, but walking the same number of blocks crosstown, from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue, is approximately a mile.
Getting around
Getting Around NYC
New York is an excellent walking city, and getting around by foot is the best way to familiarize yourself with neighborhoods and their (sometimes subtle) divisions. Of course, sometimes you’ll need to move more quickly or cover great distances, for which you’ve got subways, buses and cabs at your disposal. Click through each category (for example, "MTA Subways and Buses") for much more detail.
MTA Subways and Buses A MetroCard gives you access to trains and buses that travel to nearly every corner of the City. The system is accessible to people with disabilities.
Taxi Cabs are a quick, convenient way to get around the five boroughs.
Cars Driving within the City? Google Maps can help you navigate all five boroughs.
Other Ferries, pedicabs, cruise ships, bicycles are all great ways to get around New York.
NYC Time Zone
New York City is on Eastern Standard Time (Greenwich mean time minus four hours during daylight saving time, from about mid-March into early November, and minus five hours the rest of the year).
International Visitors and Arrivals from Abroad
Visas
Visitors to New York City from outside the United States may need a visa to enter the country. For details, visit the US Department of State’s website.
US Customs and Border Protection
Recent improvements by US Customs and Border Protection have helped decrease wait times to enter the United States for both visitors and citizens coming from abroad. Among these are the Trusted Traveler Programs listed above, as well as self-service kiosks located in the international arrivals terminals at area airports and an app for smartphones and tablets. Discover what to expect when arriving from an international destination by watching “You Have Arrived,” a short instructional video; to learn more about the self-service kiosks and app, watch “Global Entry – The Quickest Way Through the Airport!”
Local Laws
If you’re headed out for a night on the town, you should know that the drinking age in NYC—and throughout the United States—is 21, and smoking is banned in public places throughout the City, including bars, restaurants, subways and taxis, and public parks and beaches.
Useful Phone Numbers
Here are some important phone numbers to keep handy during your NYC visit. Here are some important phone numbers to keep handy during your NYC visit.
- Emergencies (police, fire or ambulance): 911
- NYC government agencies and any questions or requests about City services (nonemergency): 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (639-9675)
- Directory assistance: 411
- Printed NYC literature: 800-NYC-VISIT (692-84748) or 212-397-8222 (the latter is for international callers only), Mon.–Fri., 7:30am–5:30pm CT. You can also visit nycgo.com to instantly download or order New York City guides and maps.
Currency
In New York City and throughout the United States, the dollar is the standard currency.
Safety
New York is America’s safest large city, but visitors should still use common sense to protect themselves and their property. Be aware of your surroundings, and make sure to always use licensed, reputable businesses for any services you need. For example, don’t hail livery cabs (as opposed to taxis) at the airport, and don’t rent bikes from companies that seem suspicious. If you’re not sure where to find legitimate businesses, the listings at nycgo.com are a good place to start, as are those published by the Better Business Bureau. Your hotel concierge should be able to answer questions on this topic and will be helpful if you need more information about neighbourhoods in the five boroughs. Another useful resource is 311, the City’s official government services and information hotline.
