Fear and loathing in the subways: F and M train riders stressed over route changes

A big change to the city’s subway map went into effect on Monday, leaving many riders uneasy about their commutes.

The F and M lines have traded East River tunnels between Manhattan and Queens, which affects travel at eight stations. It’s a relatively minor alteration to New York City’s sprawling subway system, but it’s one the MTA says will unclog a train bottleneck that strains service on not just the F and M lines, but also the E and the R.

But while transit officials see the switch as a major improvement for straphangers, Roosevelt Island resident Paul Krikler said he feared it would cause mass confusion among his neighbors.

The island will now be served by the M instead of the F line most of the week. But overnights and on weekends, the MTA says, the lines will revert back to the