In recent years, the dangerous phenomenon of “Subway Surfing” among teenagers in New York City has been on the rise, leading to an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries. In 2024 alone, at least six lives were lost to this reckless activity, compared to five the previous year. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is facing the challenge of effectively curbing this behavior.
According to data from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the number of arrests related to “Subway Surfing” reached 229 in 2024, a significant increase from the previous year’s 135. The majority of those arrested are young boys with an average age of around 14, with the youngest being just 9 years old.
The New York Post reported the story of 15-year-old Ka’Von Wooden who had a childhood passion for trains and dreamed of becoming a train operator, having an in-depth knowledge of the New York subway system. However, in December 2022, he climbed onto the roof of a moving J train in Brooklyn and tragically fell onto the tracks while passing the Williamsburg Bridge, resulting in his untimely death.
This tragedy is just one of a series of accidents related to “Subway Surfing” in recent years. This dangerous behavior dates back to a century ago but has become a popular trend among teenagers today, fueled by the influence of social media, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities.
MTA management has stated that they are evaluating various solutions to prevent “Subway Surfing,” including improvements to engineering designs, although no specific plans have been provided yet. In 2023, then head of the MTA Bus and Subway division, Richard Davey, mentioned that MTA was considering locking the doors between subway cars, but this could potentially pose additional risks, such as hindering passengers from moving to another car during emergencies.
Moreover, MTA has requested social media platforms to take down videos glamorizing “Subway Surfing” and has launched public safety advertisements featuring the voices of local teenagers advocating the message, “Stay inside the train to stay alive.” However, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will effectively reduce the “surfing” behavior.
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