NEW YORK — A dangerous trend known as subway surfing has emerged recently, claiming the lives of several young individuals, including 15-year-old Ka’Von Wooden. Ka’Von had a passion for trains and was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of New York City’s subway system. Tragically, on a December morning of 2022, his life was cut short when he fell from the roof of a moving J train onto the tracks as it crossed the Williamsburg Bridge.
The practice of subway surfing, which involves individuals—predominantly young boys—climbing on top of moving subway trains, has existed for decades but has gained alarming popularity with the rise of social media. The thrill of riding atop trains and the quest for viral attention has put numerous lives at risk, prompting the city to confront this troubling phenomenon.
Despite efforts by authorities to address the situation through public awareness campaigns, drone surveillance, and urging social media platforms to remove glamorizing content, there remains significant concern over why youth like Ka’Von have access to the tops of subway cars. “When Ka’Von died, literally two weeks later, another child died. And another one. That makes no sense,” said Y’Vonda Maxwell, Ka’Von’s mother. Her grief is palpable, reflecting the urgent need for change within New York's transportation ecosystem.
Experts and transit officials are beginning to advocate for more stringent safety measures. Locking the doors at the ends of subway cars could significantly restrict access to the narrow gaps where subway surfers often climb. Tyesha Elcock, the MTA worker who operated the train Ka’Von was on the day he died, recalled the moment the emergency brake kicked in. “Did y’all leave your friend back there?” she asked the group of sad-faced teens on the train, highlighting the impact of loss and the need for preventive measures.
Although MTA officials have discussed the possibility of locking the doors between subway cars, concerns over emergency evacuation have held up progress. Many residents worry such actions could hinder escape routes during emergencies. MTA CEO Janno Lieber noted, “Listen, you have to be able to do work on top of a train car,” emphasizing the challenges faced by the agency. When pressed about barriers to access, Lieber suggested it would be impractical to cover gaps with materials like barbed wire.
The alarming statistics surrounding subway surfing reveal the troubling depths of this trend—last year alone, six people succumbed to injuries from surfing subway trains, and police recorded 229 arrests related to the act, significantly up from 135 the previous year. Most arrests involved young boys with the youngest being just 9 years old.
Branislav Dimitrijevic, an engineering professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, remarked, “There are so many stories in transportation where things can be fixed, but they cost a lot of money.” He suggested exploring technological solutions, such as sensors and cameras, to detect riders attempting to climb onto trains. Some experts believe this could work alongside existing enforcement methods like drone patrols, which, though limited, are part of the MTA’s broader strategy to combat subway surfing.
Globally, cities have taken various approaches to discourage this dangerous trend. For example, subway systems in cities like Hong Kong and Dubai have streamlined designs, lacking external handles, and are constructed with safety gaps to deter climbing. Other cities have even resorted to extreme measures; railway officials in Indonesia installed hanging metal flails to deter passengers from riding atop trains. Meanwhile, New York faces increasing scrutiny over its inability to tackle the problem.
Currently, the MTA has purchased new subway cars, which feature designs not easily climbed upon. Yet, these newer trains constitute only a fraction of the fleet and will not be deployed on popular routes for surfed trains for the foreseeable future. The tragic consequences of subway surfing have galvanized advocates to push for immediate action.
With the specter of youth death looming over New York’s transit system, the urgent need to reevaluate safety measures has never been clearer. The social media era has compounded the risks, pulling more youth toward reckless behavior on public transport. The MTA, the NYPD, and local advocacy groups must collaborate to develop effective solutions for keeping New Yorkers, especially children like Ka’Von, safe from harm.
The necessity to address subway surfing trends harmoniously blends technological advancement, community engagement, and responsible media portrayal. Without strategic intervention, more families may face the unbearable loss experienced by Y’Vonda Maxwell, continuing the tragic tale of subway surfing’s rising toll.