Transportation
Airports
Three airports serve the greater-NYC area: LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK), and Newark (EWR). All three are accessible from either the Bronx (for those staying at Fordham) or Manhattan (for those staying at the Roosevelt) by public transportation, shuttle and paid car service. Below are the resources that each hub shares with customers who are traveling to or from each airport.
The airport you use is entirely up to you. Generally, it is faster to travel from JFK or LaGuardia to the Bronx, whereas travel time into Manhattan from any of the airports is relatively similar. Note that during the time of the 2018 meeting LaGuardia should be undergoing a major construction project, so travel to and from LaGuardia will require additional time.
Shuttle service: SuperShuttle services all three airports and offers rates for between 1 and 10 passengers. If you are able to coordinate your arrival and/or departure with another conference attendee, this is an affordable option if you prefer not to take public transit with luggage.
Yellow cabs: Fairs to Newark and LaGuardia are metered. Fair to JFK from anywhere in Manhattan is a flat rate, plus tolls. More information is available here:
Car Services: There are various car services in both Manhattan and the Bronx. Kiss Car Service is located near NYBG and posts their rates for airport travel on their website (see below). Gratuity is not included.
Uber or Lyft: Both Uber and Lyft operate in NYC and you can use either to travel to or from the aiport. Both services allow you to pre-book your trip, although the cost of the trip may increase if there is especially bad traffic.
Public Transit
Getting around New York can be a little intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! You can always ask a transit employee or a New Yorker for directions, and they will do their best to assist you.
Google Maps has fairly robust public transit route options and directions, but on the weekends there are often service changes to the subway lines that may affect your trip if you are traveling between boroughs (eg. the Bronx to Manhattan). Be sure to double-check your trip using the MTA trip planner.
Subway and buses: You must have a MetroCard or exact fare in change to ride. MetroCards can be purchased with cash, credit, or debit, at airports and subway stations including Grand Central Station and Penn Station. You can purchase a card from a transit employee or by using a kisok machine.
Commuter rail (Metro North and/or New Jersey Transit): When taking Metro North (traveling between the Roosevelt and NYBG) or New Jersey Transit (traveling between Penn Station and Newark) you must buy a separate ticket. This can be done with phone apps or in person at your point of departure either from a transit employee or kiosk machine. (You can also buy a ticket on the train, but it will be substantially more expensive.)
Biking
Renting a bicycle can be a great way to explore Manhattan. In New York, helmets are legally required and cyclists over the age of 12 cannot cycle on sidewalks. (Note that Citibike does not service the Bronx, and that cycling in the Bronx is not recommended.)
Getting from the Roosevelt (Manhattan) to the New York Botanical Garden (Bronx) and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Brooklyn)
Travel to NYBG: Travel between the Roosevelt and NYBG is relatively straight-forward. Simply take the Harlem Line of the Metro North from Grand Central Station and get off the train at the Botanical Garden stop. Note that not every train on the Harlem line stops at the Botanical Garden; you can ask at the information desk in Grand Central which train you should take, refer to the schedule, or use the MTA Train Time app on your phone. Note that the Botanical Garden is in zone 2, peak travel time for trains leaving Grand Central is 5:30 AM until 9 AM, and that discounted tickets are available for seniors to purchase on the train, but not from a kiosk or by using the app.
Travel to BBG: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an approximately 40 minute ride on the 4 or 5 (Subway, green line) from Grand Central Station. (Note that buses will take Roosevelt Hotel attendees to the High Line on Thursday, to BBG on Thursday, and back to the Roosevelt from BBG on Thursday. You will only need this information if you are not traveling with the conference group for some reason.)
Parking for the day
Out-of-town attendees are encouraged to use public transportation and to not bring nor rent cars. If you require parking for the day because you are traveling from somewhere local, please contact the meeting organizers to make arrangements.