M4 Bus Schedule: The Cloisters, Fort Washington Av, Broadway, Madison Av, 5 Av & 32 St Live Guide
The M4 bus schedule is for the NYC MTA route officially labeled The Cloisters – 32 St via 5th Av / Madison Av / Broadway / Ft. Washington Av. This upgraded guide puts the official timetable PDF, local vs limited-stop rules, live MTA Bus Time, stops, fares, holiday notes, accessibility help, wrong-route protection and related NYC MTA guides in one mobile-friendly article.
M4 Daily Check Board — Use This Before Walking to the Stop
The Cloisters · Broadway · 5 Av · 32 StDo not read a random M4 time first. Start with the city, agency, direction, local/limited pattern, travel day, stop ID, live arrival and fare method. In Manhattan, the right route number can still be wrong if you wait on the wrong side or board a limited-stop trip that skips your stop.
Confirm NYC MTA
Use this article for the Manhattan M4. Merced, California also has an M4 route, so match the agency first.
Pick direction
Choose to Washington Heights / The Cloisters or to Midtown / 32 St before reading any time.
Check LTD
LTD means limited-stop service. A limited bus may skip a stop that a local M4 serves.
Open Bus Time
Use MTA Bus Time for your exact stop, route direction, live arrival and service status.
Read holidays
Holiday and reduced-weekday service can change normal patterns, especially limited-stop service.
Prepare fare
Tap with OMNY at the front door, or use exact coins while cash remains accepted.
Need the next M4 at your exact stop right now?
📍 Open MTA Bus Time M4Quick Answer: What Is the M4 Bus Schedule?
The M4 is an NYC MTA Manhattan route between The Cloisters / Washington Heights and 32 St / Midtown. The official route travels through Fort Washington Avenue, Broadway, Central Park North, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Midtown streets.
The official MTA timetable is best for planned timepoints. MTA Bus Time and the MTA app are better for live stop-level arrivals because the PDF shows key stops, not every stop on the route.
Official route
The Cloisters – 32 St via 5th Av / Madison Av / Broadway / Ft. Washington Av.
Limited-stop warning
Rows marked LTD are limited-stop trips. Confirm your stop before boarding.
Local bus fare
M4 is local/limited service, not express service. Most riders pay the regular local bus fare.
Best live tool
MTA Bus Time and the MTA app are the right same-day tools for exact arrivals and alerts.
Official M4 Tools: Timetable, Live Tracker, Fare, App, Maps and Accessibility
Use these official tools for final verification. This article explains the M4 in clear rider language, but MTA controls the current timetable, stop list, detours, alerts, fare rules and accessibility policies.
Source Verification and What This Rewrite Fixes
Updated August 6, 2026. This rewrite uses the official MTA M4 timetable PDF, MTA Bus Time, MTA fare page, MTA app page, MTA Maps, MTA accessibility guidance and Merced’s official M4 page only for wrong-route protection.
The previous article had useful intent but needed deeper official PDF extraction, a visible PDF viewer, clearer local vs limited-stop help, stronger holiday explanation, better accessibility details and cleaner internal links. This version removes random internal-link stuffing and keeps only relevant NYC/MTA links.
⚠️ Independent guide note
BusSchedules.org is an independent rider-help guide. It is not the MTA. Always verify live arrivals, detours, fare changes, stop moves and holiday service through official MTA tools before a time-sensitive trip.
M4 Route Overview: The Cloisters, Fort Washington Av, Broadway, Madison Av, 5 Av and 32 St
The M4 connects Upper Manhattan and Midtown through several rider-heavy corridors. It is useful for The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, Broadway, Central Park North, Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Museum Mile-area trips and Midtown destinations.
The Cloisters / Fort Tryon
Use this end for The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, Margaret Corbin Drive, Cabrini Boulevard and Fort Washington Avenue.
168 St / Washington Heights
Helpful for Columbia-area medical destinations, Fort Washington Avenue and nearby subway transfers.
Broadway corridor
The PDF lists Broadway timepoints around Tiemann Place, W 135 St and W 145 St.
Central Park North
A key transfer and park-edge area where M4 direction and stop side matter.
Madison Avenue
Washington Heights-bound trips use Madison Avenue timepoints including E 32 St, E 57 St and E 95 St.
Fifth Avenue
Midtown-bound service uses Fifth Avenue timepoints including E 72 St, W 41 St and E 32 St / 5 Av.
M4 Schedule Summary: Weekdays, Weekends, LTD Trips and Timepoint Rules
The official M4 PDF has weekday, Saturday and Sunday tables. It also uses LTD for limited-stop service and says timetables show key stops called timepoints, not every stop. That is why the exact stop must be checked in Bus Time or the MTA app.
| Planning item | What the official M4 PDF shows | What riders should do |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday to Washington Heights | Timepoints from Madison Av / E 32 St and Madison Av / E 57 St toward Central Park North, Broadway, Fort Washington Av, The Cloisters and Cabrini Blvd. | Check LTD rows carefully because limited trips can skip local stops. |
| Weekday to Midtown | Timepoints from Fort Washington Av / Cabrini Blvd toward W 168 St, Broadway, Central Park North, 5 Av and E 32 St. | Confirm whether your stop is on the Midtown-bound side before walking. |
| Saturday service | Separate Saturday tables are included. | Do not use weekday commute memory on Saturday. |
| Sunday service | Separate Sunday tables are included. | Use Bus Time close to departure because weekend spacing can be wider. |
| Limited-stop service | The timetable marks limited-stop trips with LTD. | Do not board an LTD bus unless your stop is served. |
| Holiday service | Some holidays use Sunday schedule, some use Saturday schedule and some use reduced weekday service. | Check holiday rules before using a familiar weekday time. |
⚠️ Timepoint warning
The schedule does not show every M4 stop. A timepoint is a reference stop, not your exact stop unless the stop name matches. Use Bus Time for the exact boarding point.
M4 Stops and Route Map: Direction, Stop Side and Limited-Stop Checks
The M4 route crosses long Manhattan corridors, so stop-side choice matters. A rider going toward 32 St should not stand at a Washington Heights-bound stop, and a rider needing a local stop should not assume a limited-stop trip will stop there.
Major timepoints toward Washington Heights
Madison Av / E 32 St, Madison Av / E 57 St, Madison Av / E 95 St, Central Park North / 5 Av, Broadway / Tiemann Pl, Broadway / W 135 St, Broadway / W 145 St, Fort Washington Av / W 168 St, Margaret Corbin Dr / The Cloisters and Fort Washington Av / Cabrini Blvd.
Major timepoints toward Midtown
Fort Washington Av / Cabrini Blvd, Fort Washington Av / W 168 St, Broadway / W 145 St, Broadway / W 135 St, Cathedral Pkwy / Manhattan Av, Central Park North / 5 Av, 5 Av / E 72 St, 5 Av / W 41 St and E 32 St / 5 Av.
Exact stop ID matters
Use the stop code or exact stop name from Bus Time. “Broadway” or “5 Av” alone is not precise enough.
🚏 Stop checklist
- Check the stop sign: confirm it lists M4.
- Check the direction: The Cloisters / Washington Heights or Midtown / 32 St.
- Check LTD: limited-stop trips may skip some local stops.
- Use the stop code: it is safer than guessing from a street name.
- Read alerts: parades, street work, NYPD activity, weather and bus-lane issues can move stops.
⚠️ Map warning
This embedded map is for discovery only. Use the official MTA timetable, Bus Time and current service alerts for final stop, direction and boarding decisions.
Official M4 PDF Viewer: MTA Timetable Inside This Article
The official MTA M4 PDF is embedded below so riders can view the full timetable without leaving the page. It includes the route label, effective date, weekday/Saturday/Sunday tables, local and limited-stop notes, fare information, holiday rules and rider guidance.
Official MTA timetable
M4 — The Cloisters – 32 St via 5th Av / Madison Av / Broadway / Ft. Washington Av.
What to verify
Direction, day, local vs limited service, exact stop, holiday notes and live MTA alerts.
PDF not loading on your phone?
📄 Open Official M4 PDFM4 Live Tracker: How to Use MTA Bus Time and the MTA App
A printed timetable is the plan. Bus Time is closer to street reality. Use it when you are leaving home, standing near a stop or deciding whether to wait for the next local or limited M4.
Search M4
Open MTA Bus Time and search the exact route code M4.
Select direction
Choose the terminal direction: The Cloisters / Washington Heights or Midtown / 32 St.
Choose exact stop
Use the stop code, intersection or map pin. Do not rely only on an avenue name.
Read alerts
If arrivals look strange, check detours, temporary stops, events and construction.
Need live M4 arrivals now?
⏱️ Track M4 Live💡 App mismatch rule
If Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, Moovit, an old screenshot and MTA Bus Time disagree, use MTA Bus Time, the official MTA app and current MTA alerts first.
M4 Fare and OMNY: Local Bus Fare, Transfers, Cash and Kids
M4 is local and limited-stop bus service, not express service. MTA lists the fare as $3 for most riders on subways and local, limited, rush and Select Bus Service buses. Riders can tap at the front door with a contactless card, smartphone, wearable device or OMNY Card.
| Fare topic | What M4 riders should know | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Base fare | MTA lists local/limited bus fare at $3 for most riders. | Confusing M4 local/limited service with express bus fare. |
| OMNY | Tap at the front door with contactless card, phone, wearable or OMNY Card. | Switching cards or devices and breaking transfer or fare-cap tracking. |
| Transfer | Use the same card or device so you are not charged twice for a transfer. | Using a phone for one leg and a physical card for the next leg. |
| Cash | Cash is currently accepted on local, limited, rush and SBS buses with exact coins. | Trying to use bills, pennies, half-dollars or expecting change. |
| Children | Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride free with a fare-paying adult. | Not checking height-based child rules before family travel. |
| Reduced fare | Seniors and people with qualifying disabilities may be eligible for half-fare. | Assuming eligibility without checking official MTA/OMNY instructions. |
⚠️ 2026 payment transition note
MTA says MetroCard and cash will stop being accepted at the same time in 2026, with the exact date to be announced. Check the official fare page before riding if you still use MetroCard or cash.
Need current OMNY, transfer, cash, child or reduced-fare rules?
💳 Open MTA Fare PageM4 Holiday Notes: Sunday Schedule, Saturday Schedule and Reduced Weekday Service
The official M4 timetable includes holiday rules. These notes matter for workers, students, museum trips, medical appointments, train transfers and late-night plans because a normal weekday pattern may not apply.
- Sunday schedule: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Saturday schedule: Independence Day and Presidents Day.
- Reduced weekday schedule: Martin Luther King Day, Indigenous People’s Day, Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas week.
- Limited-stop change: limited-stop service will not run on reduced weekday schedule days; all buses make all stops.
- Other days: if the holiday is not listed, the timetable says a weekday schedule will run.
💡 Holiday-safe rule
For museum tickets, school, work, medical visits or rail transfers, check the official MTA app and Bus Time on the actual travel date.
Accessibility, Strollers, Bikes and Safer Boarding
MTA’s accessibility guidance says riders should wait near the bus stop where the driver can see them, signal the driver, and the driver can position the bus to deploy the ramp/lift safely or use the kneeling feature. Wheelchair and scooter users should lock brakes while boarding and again once positioned on the bus.
- Visibility: wait where the operator can see you clearly.
- Ramp or kneeling help: ask the operator and allow time for safe boarding.
- Wheelchair/scooter users: lock brakes when boarding and once secured.
- Priority seats: priority seating is behind the driver for seniors and customers with disabilities.
- Request-A-Stop: available on local bus routes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. when the operator can stop safely, but not on limited-stop service.
- Strollers: keep aisles clear, especially during school, museum and Midtown crowding.
Need official bus accessibility guidance?
♿ Open MTA Bus AccessibilityWrong M4 Route Protection: NYC MTA M4 vs Merced M4
Search results can show more than one M4 bus. This article is for the NYC MTA Manhattan M4. Merced Transit Authority also has an official M4 – North G Street / G Street Shuttle route in California with stops such as Merced Transpo, G St, Mercy Medical, Merced College and Park & Ride Bellevue Ave.
| M4 result | Use it when your trip includes | Fare system clue | Correct official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC MTA M4 | The Cloisters, Fort Washington Av, Broadway, Madison Av, 5 Av, Central Park North, Midtown or 32 St | OMNY, MTA local bus fare, MTA Bus Time | MTA M4 timetable and MTA Bus Time |
| Merced M4 | Merced Transpo, G Street, Olive Avenue, Mercy Medical, Merced College or Bellevue Park & Ride | Merced The Bus fare rules | Merced Transit Authority M4 page |
⚠️ Agency-first rule
An M4 time is useless if it comes from the wrong city. Match agency, city, direction, stop and fare system before using any schedule.
Common M4 Bus Mistakes That Make Riders Miss the Bus
Wrong agency
NYC MTA M4 and Merced M4 are different routes in different states.
Wrong direction
Washington Heights-bound and Midtown-bound stops can be on different streets or sides.
Wrong stop pattern
LTD trips can skip stops that local trips serve.
Wrong day
Weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday and reduced weekday service can differ.
Payment mismatch
Switching OMNY cards or devices can break transfer and fare-cap tracking.
No traffic buffer
Midtown congestion, school crowds, park events, museums and street work can slow the route.
M4 Troubleshooting: What to Do When Times, Apps or Stops Look Wrong
- Bus Time shows no bus: refresh and check alerts. The bus may be delayed, detoured or not yet reporting reliably.
- The PDF and live app disagree: use Bus Time and current alerts for same-day travel.
- Your stop is missing: check whether your trip is local or LTD, then search the exact stop code.
- You are near Central Park North or 5 Av: confirm direction because nearby stops can serve different travel paths.
- You are using cash: prepare exact coins before boarding and check the 2026 payment transition note.
- You are traveling for an appointment: take one earlier M4 when possible, especially during school rush, museum hours, bad weather or Midtown congestion.
M4 Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the official M4 bus route?
The official NYC MTA M4 route is The Cloisters – 32 St via 5th Av / Madison Av / Broadway / Ft. Washington Av.
Where can I find the official M4 timetable PDF?
The official MTA M4 timetable is embedded in this article and can also be opened from the official MTA M4 schedule page.
Does the M4 go to The Cloisters?
Yes. The official route label includes The Cloisters, and the timetable lists Margaret Corbin Drive / The Cloisters among major timepoints.
Does the M4 go to Midtown?
Yes. The route is labeled The Cloisters – 32 St, and the timetable includes Midtown timepoints around E 32 St / 5 Av and Madison Av / E 32 St depending on direction.
What does LTD mean on the M4 schedule?
LTD means limited-stop service. A limited-stop M4 may skip stops that local M4 trips serve, so confirm your exact stop before boarding.
How do I track the M4 bus live?
Open MTA Bus Time and search M4. Choose the direction and exact stop or stop code before trusting the arrival time.
How much is the M4 bus fare?
M4 is a local/limited MTA bus route. MTA lists $3 for most riders on subways and local, limited, rush and Select Bus Service buses.
Can I use OMNY on the M4?
Yes. Tap at the front door with a contactless card, smartphone, wearable device or OMNY Card.
Does the M4 accept cash?
Cash is currently accepted on local, limited, rush and SBS buses with exact coins, but MTA says MetroCard and cash will stop being accepted at the same time in 2026 on a date to be announced.
Does the M4 run on holidays?
The official M4 timetable lists Sunday schedule for several major holidays, Saturday schedule for Independence Day and Presidents Day, and reduced weekday service for certain holidays and Christmas week.
Is NYC MTA M4 the same as Merced M4?
No. NYC MTA M4 is a Manhattan route. Merced M4 is a California G Street Shuttle route. Do not mix their stops, fares or timetables.
Why does the M4 PDF not show every stop?
The MTA timetable shows key stops called timepoints. Use Bus Time or the MTA app to locate your nearest exact stop and live arrival.
Is BusSchedules.org the official M4 operator?
No. BusSchedules.org is an independent rider guide. Always verify exact times, fares, alerts, stop moves and service changes with official MTA tools.
Final Rider Summary: Best Way to Use the M4 Bus Schedule
The safest way to use the M4 bus schedule is to confirm NYC MTA first, choose the right direction, check whether your trip is local or LTD, open MTA Bus Time for your exact stop, and use the embedded PDF as your printable schedule backup.
This matters because the M4 runs through dense Manhattan corridors where traffic, museum crowds, school rush, Central Park events, Midtown congestion, street work and temporary stops can affect the real trip. For important travel, build a buffer and check live arrivals before walking to the stop.