I tell you what though, I would NOT want to be blind or visually impaired trying to use the subway in New York. Subways in general are crowded, but the one in New York has open-air tracks and you could potentially just be jostled right off the platform. Also, the directional signage is confusing. And it just smells, really really bad. Also, it's crowded and you're in close quarters with a lot of strange people; the last time I was in New York I walked by a woman who was literally beating up a payphone and screaming at it because it "stole" her quarter.