Subway surfing has taken over NYC. Inspired by the game Subway Surfers, it has claimed the lives of several adolescents, and the list seems to grow by the day. The MTA is planning to address this issue.
Jerry, the 111th Booth Coordinator, spoke about the tragedy that occurred on Oct. 28, 2024. Two girls, aged 12 and 13, fell between train cars at the 111th Street Station in Corona just before 11 p.m. One of the girls passed away, while the other was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition.
“It’s truly devastating,” Jerry said. “It’s heartbreaking how just a couple of seconds can end a life or change it forever. What I don’t understand is why these two young girls were out at this hour—it’s far too late for them to be outside. Still, this is a real tragedy, and the entire community is determined to put an end to this subway surfing trend. My heart goes out to both families affected.”
In several cases, families have threatened to sue the MTA over the dangers associated with subway surfing. While the MTA has begun adding more cameras, MTA employees and police officers in stations, these efforts have not been enough to deter teenagers from climbing onto the tops of trains.
Police Officer Nicholas, stationed at 33rd Rawson Street, shared his frustration: “You know, I’ve seen a lot as a police officer, but this whole trend has really left me frustrated. Even after seeing many kids get injured or lose their lives, some still decide to climb aboard. My coworkers and I will be taking extreme measures to ensure kids’ safety and issuing punishments to those caught, so hopefully, this never happens again.”
Officer Nicholas and other officers are regularly stationed near two large high schools, working to ensure teens are behaving responsibly and staying out of harm’s way.
However, there is still a missing perspective: that of the riders themselves. One surfer decided to remain anonymous but had this to say :
“Yeah, I’ve seen the reports and cases, and while it’s sad, personally, I won’t stop doing it. I get an adrenaline rush, and I view it as part of the teen experience. I even manage to take pictures for my photography class. So far, I haven’t been caught and don’t plan to anytime soon. No one really knows, and, well, if my folks found out, I’d never hear the end of it. My advice? Be smart. If you’re not experienced, definitely don’t do it. It’s a stupid idea that could risk your life. I’ve been doing it since I was 13, and now that these cases have come to light, I take a lot of precautions.”
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