Short version
- The scores on this site are a vibe, not a schedule. They are not affiliated with the MTA, are not an official source of transit information, and should not be used as the sole basis for any real-world decision.
- Until the live MTA feed integration ships, all scores and alerts on this site are stub data. See the methodology page for what that means in practice.
- We make no warranty about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of anything on this site.
- Don't scrape the site aggressively or republish the content as your own.
Full version
1. Acceptance of terms
By using howbadisthetrain.com (the "Site"), you agree to these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Site.
2. What this site is
The Site displays scores and short summaries describing the current state of NYC subway lines. Scores are computed from public MTA data and curated inputs, blended with a deliberately informal human voice. The Site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the State of New York, the City of New York, or any transit union or operator.
The MTA's own service status tools — available at mta.info and via the MYmta app — are the authoritative source for service disruptions.
3. Not a safety-critical service
The Site is informational and editorial. It is not safety- critical software. Do not use it as the sole basis for any decision where the cost of being wrong is high — including but not limited to medical appointments, court dates, job interviews, or travel to an airport.
4. No warranty
The Site is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement. We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free, or that the information on the Site is accurate, complete, or current.
5. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the operator(s) of this Site shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (a) your use or inability to use the Site; (b) any conduct or content of any third party on or through the Site; or (c) unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content.
6. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the operator of this Site from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your use of the Site or your violation of these Terms.
7. Content ownership
The Site's design, copy, layout, scoring methodology, line-color choices, and code are owned by the Site operator and protected by copyright. You may quote brief excerpts (under 200 words) with attribution and a link back to the source page. You may not reproduce the Site as a whole, or scrape it at scale, or republish the scores as if they were your own data.
MTA service alerts, train icons, and the MTA wordmark are trademarks of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Roundel color codes referenced on this Site are widely understood descriptive conventions, not trademarks.
8. User conduct
Don't scrape the Site faster than a human could read it. Don't attempt to bypass rate limits or access controls. Don't use the Site to harass, threaten, or defraud anyone. Don't submit content that is illegal, obscene, or infringing. We reserve the right to block abusive clients at our sole discretion.
9. Changes to the Site and the Terms
We may modify the Site or these Terms at any time. Material changes to the Terms will be reflected by an updated "Effective date" at the top of this page and, for significant changes, a brief note on the About page. Your continued use of the Site after a change constitutes acceptance.
10. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles.
11. Contact
Questions about these Terms: [email protected]. Anything else: see the About page.