New York Gov., MTA Unveil Campaign to Combat Subway Surfing

Governor Kathy Hochul, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a new public information campaign against subway surfing in partnership with the New York Police Department, New York City Public Schools, and the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development.

The new campaign centers around and is designed and spoken by New York City teenagers, according to MTA's news release.

“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority,” Hochul said. “Through this innovative partnership, young New Yorkers will hear directly from their teachers and peers about the extreme danger of subway surfing, saving lives and preventing more tragedies. New York will continue to do everything we can to keep our young people safe on the subways.”  

The NYPD is contributing to the campaign by deploying officers to stations on outdoor elevated lines and by conducting home visits with youths who have been observed riding outside of trains. 

“Riding outside a train car is subway stupidity and never ends well," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. "We are begging parents to speak with their children, and teachers to talk to their students about what can seem like a game but can end in tragedy. I want to thank Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and our city agency partners for their strong support in raising awareness about the dangers of this so that we can prevent any more young lives being senselessly lost.” 

Fighting the Dangers of Subway Surfing

MTA data shows that dangerous riding outside of subway trains occurs predominantly in the afternoons during warmer months when school is in session, indicating that it has essentially become a dangerous form of after-school activity.

In anticipation of an uptick in incidents in September upon the start of the new school year, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, the MTA, and City partners launched a multi-layered campaign, “Subway Surfing Kills - Ride Inside, Stay Alive,” across various communication platforms.

The communication platforms include: 

• Public service announcements in stations recorded by students
• Digital signage across stations
• Student-created graphics and animations
• Posters and banners across stations and distributed in schools
• Physical palm cards distributed at schools and in stations
• School swag including planners, pens, pencils, notepads, and sticky notes
• Social media posts across platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in the form of posts, reels/shorts, and influencer collaborations
• Distribution of new student MetroCards accompanied by a “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” palm card 
• Anti-surfing messages on the back of some MetroCards for sale in station MetroCard vending machines

The MTA partnered with NYC Public Schools and DYCD to identify students from schools across the city who created the new campaign. 

Students from the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan created graphics, animations, and artwork that will be seen throughout the subway system and on social media.  

In 2023, there have been five fatalities due to suspected subway surfing, compared to five total fatalities between 2018 and 2022. The MTA has documented over 450 instances of people riding outside of trains between January and June in 2023. 

The MTA said it continues to meet with school administrators to ensure students are learning about the dangers of riding outside of train cars in school.

The NYPD also has officers deployed at stations where subway surfing has been known to take place and makes home visits with young people who have been known to participate in subway surfing.