New York City is taking over subway surfing with drones and PSAs with young people

NEW YORK — Faced with a deadly series of subway surfing incidents, New York City is turning to technology – and young people – to put an end to it.

The past five weeks have three people, all under the age of 15, were killed in three separate incidents. A total of six people have died in subway surfing incidents in 2024.

“This is real. This is just not having fun. It could be fatal, and that’s why we’re here today,” said Mayor Eric Adams.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Adams discussed the city’s multi-pronged approach to combating the problem.

“It sounds harmless, but it’s not harmless,” Adams said. “That train we hear behind you is filled with steel, metal, the third rail is extremely dangerous. If you are on top, if you fall, even if the train is not moving, you have the potential to fall through the cracks of the train slip A fall alone is harmful. And when you’re dealing with an elevated platform, like Line 7, one of the most frequented spots for surfing on the subway, you actually increase the level of threat and potential death.”

This is what NYC does to subway surfing

Adams said the city uses it public service announcements featuring young peopledrones, NYPD manpower, and reports from everyday New Yorkers to put a stop to subway surfing.

He said that all that is necessary because young people are still influenced by social media.

“When we came together to make the PSA announcement, we leaned towards (young people) because they know how to communicate on social media, which is one of the biggest culprits in this crisis we are facing in subway surfing Adams said. “Now there are 30 million people looking at your likes. That becomes intoxicating, and it’s an adrenaline rush and you’re competing to see who can do something more dangerous on top of the train. And that’s why we got the dynamic and met this threat head-on. “

To date, the NYPD has conducted 900 drone flights and the mayor said that number will increase as long as the disturbing trend continues.

“We have become more proactive in allowing the drone operation to be integrated into the high-traffic rail lines where subway surfing takes place,” Adams said.

Recent subway surfing deaths in New York City

In mid-September, an 11-year-old died while surfing on top of a G train. On October 24 a boy was killed while surfing on a train in Queens just days after his 13th birthday.

On Sunday evening, the NYPD said two young girls were surfing when they fell between the tracks and were struck by a southbound 7 train near the 111th Street station in Corona. One died and the other was seriously injured.

Doug Williams

Doug Williams has been reporting and anchoring in the Tri-State Area since 2013.