There is a sheer countless list of reasons why one might want to visit New York City. The spirit of Manhattan, the interesting neighborhoods, shopping or the shows on Broadway are just a few of them. A comparably rare one is public transport. The NY Subway is serving the area rather well, but there are also some real icons of transportation. One of them is the Roosevelt Island Tramway, which is connecting rather small Roosevelt Island in the middle of the East River with Manhattan’s Upper East Side. I had a ride and take you there.
Roosevelt Island Tramway – Network and Tariff
The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway / cable car connecting Roosevelt Island with Manhattan. The Manhattan station is located at 60th Street / 2nd Avenue. The island stop is South of the subway station Roosevelt Island, served by the F line and is the best alternative to visit this place. The Roosevelt Island Ferry Terminal serving NYC Ferry is in short walking distance as well. There are also buses, connecting to Long Island.
A one way trip with the aerial tramway is 2.90 USD. You can pay by MTA MetroCard or by OMNY (credit card). The connection is part of the NYC public transport. Thus, if you have an Unlimited MetroCard, the ride is included in that. There is no discount for a return trip. The typical operating hours are between 6:00 and 2:00 in the morning. On Fridays and Saturdays, there are even services until 3:30. Departures are typically every 15 minutes, in peak times every 7.5 minutes.
Roosevelt Island Tramway – Technology
The aerial tramawy is operated by the public-benefit Roosevelt Island Operating Coorporation. It has been opened in 1976 and had some updates in 2010, which also includes that the two carriers could run independently. The 960 meter connection is taken with a maximum speed of 27 km/h. The route is thereby right North of Queensboro Bridge, which you will see later in the later section multiple times. The ride is very popular among tourists and an essential public transport for the residents of the islands, so that major lines are not too uncommon. One carriage can transport up to 110 people.
Riding the Roosevelt Island Tramway
I had a ride in April 2024. The first pictures reflect the trip from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. I recommend to try going for a seat in the front of the right window in direction of travel. The views of Manhattan are spectacular and being close to Queensboro Bridge is also memorable. As the first picture suggests, however, space in the car is limited and you might not reach that target. Especially when you reach Manhattan, the views of the bridge and all its traffic heading into Manhattan is really catching.
Views of the Roosevelt Island
Below are some views of and from Roosevelt Island, majorly taken in the tramway stop area. It is definitely worth spending more time there than I had to write the report.
Roosevelt Island Tramway – My View
The aerial tramway is a really iconic piece of transportation. Visiting the island and enjoying the views of the East Side of Manhattan is definitely worth the trip. Unfortunately, this one is getting very touristic, so I would try to stay out of peak times and out of the rush hour. I really liked this one.
Other Transport (USA)
Here are all postings about non-aviation transportation related to the USA:

My First Visit(s) at Buc-ee’s (Pictured Story)

Food I Had Onboard XXIII (April 2025 – May 2025)

Cab Ride at the Florida Railroad Museum (Parrish)

Food I Had Onboard XX (November 2024 – early January 2025)

Grand Central Terminal New York (Pictured Story)

Food I Had Onboard XVII (mid-May to mid-July 2024)

The Ride NYC

Food I Had Onboard XV (March 2024 – early April 2024)

Kansas City Union Station (Pictured Story)

Car Rental Review – Hertz Los Angeles Airport (LAX) – Nissan Rogue

Car Rental Review – Avis Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR) – Toyota Corolla

Riding the Pennsylvanian Train (Business Class) from New York to Pittsburgh

Southern Florida Regional Train Rides with Tri-Rail

Riding the TECO Line Streetcar in Tampa

Car Rental Review – Hertz Kansas City Airport (MCI) – Ford Explorer

Brightline Premium Lounge West Palm Beach

High-Speed Train Rides in Florida with Brightline

Brightline Premium Lounge Miami

Riding the Kansas City Streetcar

Car Rental Review – Alamo Nashville Airport (BNA) – Toyota Camry

Riding the WeGo Star – Nashville’s only Mass Transit

Car Rental Review – Avis Nashville Airport (BNA) – GMC Acadia

Car Rental Review – Enterprise Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) – Nissan Rogue

Chicago River & Lake Michigan with Mercury Cruises

Pittsburgh Light Rail – It’s (partially) for free!

Mount Washington and the Pittsburgh Inclines

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (Chattanooga, TN)
New York on Flyctory.com
Here are all postings about the “Big Apple”:

Flight Irregularities – and how Airlines handled them (September 2025)

TWA Hotel New York JFK Airport

Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ – Room On The Porch

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16th May 2025)

Hampton Inn Carlstadt – At the Meadowlands

Spyscape New York

Watching the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 31st January 2025)

Flyctory.com Best Ones 2024

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2024

Museum of Sex (New York)

Lufthansa Lounge Newark (EWR)

Jessica Lynn – A Very Merry Classic Christmas (Live) EP

Radio City Music Hall Tour

Neon Nightmare – Faded Dream

National Museum of Mathematics (New York)

Sea Life New Jersey Aquarium

Jordan Rudess – Permission To Fly

Grand Central Terminal New York (Pictured Story)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16th August 2024)

Jessica Lynn (Song of My Life Show, Erftstadt, 12th August 2024)

Watching the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center

NHL Schedule 2024-25 – My Suggested Trips

Hampton Inn Manhattan – Madison Square Garden Area

The Ride NYC

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 31st May 2024)

Lenny Kravitz – Blue Electric Light

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 17th May 2024)

The NY Sightseeing Pass or the New York Pass by Go City – Which One is better?

LIC Hotel (New York / Queens)

Museum at Eldridge Street (New York)

Folterkammer – Weibermacht

Museum of Broadway

Sam Evian – Plunge

Norah Jones – Visions

BrhyM – Deep Sea Vents

Ace Frehley – 10,000 Volts

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 2nd February 2024)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 29th December 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 1st December 2023)

Riding the Pennsylvanian Train (Business Class) from New York to Pittsburgh

Asiatic Hotel Flushing (New York City)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13th October 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 6th October 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 01 September 2023)

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 July 2023)

Somnuri – Desiderium

NHL Schedule 2023-24 released – Here are my suggested Trips

Museum of Jewish Heritage

Nickelodeon Universe American Dream (East Rutherford NJ)

Overcoats – Winner

Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself

American Airlines / British Airways Soho Lounge New York JFK Terminal 8

Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South – Midtown West

Dream Wheel NJ

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10 February 2023)

Singapore Airlines A380 Premium Economy

Angry Birds Mini Golf (American Dream, East Rutherford NJ)

Flyctory.com Best Ones 2022

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2022

Madame Tussauds New York

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Hampton Inn @Aviation Plaza Linden (New Jersey)

Carlo’s Bakery Hoboken NJ – The Heart of a Cake Empire (Pictured Story)

Edge NYC Observation Deck

Conrad New York Midtown

The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience (New York City)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 September 2022)

Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023

Jeremy Black – Part of Me EP

American Airlines Admirals Club New York LaGuardia (LGA)

Microtel Inn by Wyndham Long Island City

Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Day 6/7, 30.4./1.5.2022)

Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Day 1, 25.4.2022)

Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Preview)

Adria Hotel & Conference Center (Queens, NY)

Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars

Jon Spencer & The HITmakers – Spencer Gets It Lit

Watching the New York Islanders at UBS Arena

Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Day 2, 11th March 2022)

Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Day 1, 10th March 2022)

Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Preview)

Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – 4

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Rickie Lee Kroell (8th February 2022)

Rickie Lee Kroell – Hauptsache was mit Deichkind

Jeffrey Mitchell Ross – Waited A Long Time

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 Jan 2022)

Carolyn Miller – Thank You EP

Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Flood

X: THC – Fall Down Seven Times, Rise Up Eight

Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire

Echo Bloom – Wake

Ben Rice – Future Pretend

Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP

Haley Mae Campbell – Growing Up EP

Patty Smyth – It’s About Time

Ace Frehley – Origins Vol. 2

The Big Three of Tennis Men Singles – Unique Dominance?

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Carolyn Miller (10th June 2020)

Dion – Blues With Friends

Lady Gaga – Chromatica

Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting

American Airlines Flagship Lounge New York JFK (now: Greenwich Lounge)

Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell

Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis 2019 (Day 5/6 – 21st/22nd July 2019)

Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis 2019 (Day 1 – 17th July 2019)

Gulliver’s Gate – a Miniature World at Times Square

John Hotel (Flushing, New York City)

Visiting the US Open 2018

US Open (Tennis) – 1st September 2018

US Open (Tennis) – My Day – 31st August 2018

BA 1 – British Airways’ Most Exclusive Intercontinental Experience
