I've lived in NYC for 20+ years and the subway is my major form of transport.   Aside from an occassional crazy homeless person shouting or something, never had an issue, and I take it all over the city.  Obviously crime happens on the subway but out of millions of riders who take it a day, there are a handful of major incidents.  I also take a couple of busses regularly as well, again never an issue.  Taking public transportation has never been "fukking horrible" for me, and indeed most in this city.