How Do You Read A Subway Map?
A subway map can seem very confusing, especially if you are a visitor to the city and do not recognize any of the place names. Familiarizing yourself with the way in which the subway lines are separated (by color, letter or number, for example) as well as the map’s legend can make it easier to read a subway map. Obtain a color copy of your subway map. Most subway lines are marked by color and are easier to read when you can see the different colored lines. New York’s MTA, Boston’s MBTA or “T” and Washington, DC’s Metro systems all have both interactive and printable colored subway maps on their websites (see Resources below). Read the legend to familiarize yourself with the symbols you see on the subway map. The legend is usually at the top or bottom of the subway map and explains not only the symbols, but also the color coding for the different subway lines. Notice the different colored lines that make up the entire subway system. Each stop is marked with its name and a circle or dot
