In recent years, a growing number of young people have turned the rooftops of New York City subway cars into platforms for deadly stunts. The deeply concerning phenomenon, known as subway surfing, has led to 200 police-led rescues since November 2023, as revealed during a press conference on Monday.
According to the data provided, more than 60% of the 343 aerial interventions carried out in the subway system over eight months resulted in the identification of individuals engaged in this dangerous activity.
Law enforcement has identified 63 “habitual surfers,” with an average age of just 15 and some as young as 11.
Alarm bells first rang in 2022, when this extreme “sport” began spreading widely on social media. Since then, there have been 32 medical emergencies linked to subway surfing, including 16 deaths.
The line most affected by the trend is the 7, which alone accounts for nearly half of the arrests reported in 2024. Following closely are the J, M, and Z lines, whose elevated tracks seem to attract youths seeking thrills and attention on social media, turning train rooftops into dangerous catwalks.
Mayor Eric Adams has strongly condemned the activity. “It’s not a game. It’s not an adventure. It’s a dangerous action that must be dealt with appropriately.” At his side, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry highlighted the effectiveness of aerial surveillance, noting that many drone flights have directly led to arrests and timely interventions. “Those are 200 potential lives that we could have lost because of subway surfing,” he said in Monday’s press conference.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority continues to monitor social media to detect and remove videos that glorify subway surfing. Shanifah Rieara, the agency’s Chief Customer Officer, reiterated that riding on top of trains is not a video game but an extreme act that often leads to death. She assured the public that the MTA is fully committed to removing any content that could turn a deadly stunt into a viral trend.
