A few weeks ago I was heading to Manhattan on the 7 train with my daughter when I heard a voice say, “I’m mad nervous.” I looked up to see a young boy with two older friends and my heart immediately dropped. Before I could even completely process what was happening, all three of them had gone between the train cars, climbed up the side onto the roof of the adjacent train car and disappeared out of sight – to subway surf.
I shuddered. As a mom, I immediately looked at my daughter to decide what was the best course of action. Thankfully, before we had time to react, I saw the three of them walk through the doors of the next train car. They were safe.
Unfortunately, at least five kids this year did not have the same fate.
The most recent fatalities came on Oct. 4. Two girls were killed on top of a Brooklyn-bound J train around 3 a.m. Zemfira Mukhtarov, 12, and Ebba Morina, 13, died after being found unconscious on the roof of a train car.
Families need to talk to their children about the dangers of subway surfing – riding on top of cars, whether lying down, kneeling or standing – in no uncertain terms. Below, we offer a suggested script to help you do so. We also know the helpless feeling of subway riders watching teens climb their way to danger and have some suggestions on what to do.
The history of subway surfing
While subway surfing isn’t new, social media has given it new life. While teens and young people had probably been sneaking onto the roofs of subway cars for decades, it first became a recognized trend among thrill seekers in the 1980s, and has returned over recent years thanks to the added component of viral videos on social media.
This year, Zemfira and Ebba brought the number of dead to five. These stunts have led to multiple fatalities in recent years, with six people dying in 2024 and five in 2023. According to the mayor’s office, the average age of subway surfers that have been caught are between 11 to 36 years old, with an average age of 15.
What the city is doing
The city has been actively working on ways to discourage the deadly act. If you’ve taken the train you’ve probably heard some familiar voices in PSAs to promote safer riding habits — most recently artist Cardi B and comedian Kenan Thompson.
The MTA also refreshed their “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” campaign, partnering with NYC Public Schools, students from the High School of Art & Design and BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester. The students helped design illustrated comics and video messaging to expose the real-life consequences of subway surfing and recorded announcements to air in stations.
In November 2023, the MTA and NYPD teamed up to use drones and field response teams to find and rescue people who were subway surfing. The NYPD uses 911 and 311 call data to deploy drones and field response teams to subway lines with the highest rates of subway surfing complaints. The drones are equipped with 4K cameras and long-range zoom, so officers can “alert the next station to stop the train and safely remove the individual from harm’s way,” according to the city’s statement. This past July, the city said that over 200 rescues had been made.
Offers have also made more than 100 home visits to speak with families and help encourage their children to, “partake in positive alternatives — including NYPD Community Center programs, New York Public Library Teen Centers, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development after-school programs, the Public Schools Athletic League and the NYPD Explorers Program.”
Additionally, the MTA has also worked with social media companies like Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Google and YouTube to remove videos posted of subway surfing. In 2023, more than 3,000 videos had been removed from their platforms. Last year, the MTA confirmed that 10,887 videos and photos depicting subway surfing had been removed.
If you see it happening
If you’re riding the train and witness subway surfing, trying to intervene directly can be risky since distracting the surfers can cause a fall. Instead:
- Alert the train operator or conductor immediately. Use the emergency intercom on the train or notify an MTA employee at the next station.
- If possible, report the car number (posted near the doors) and direction of travel.
- Call 911 if no MTA staff are nearby and you believe someone is in immediate danger.
- If you’re with your children, use it to open a discussion on the dangers of subway surfing.
Find more MTA safety info here.
Why kids do it — and what parents can do
When the New York Times spoke to an 18-year-old named Justin from the Bronx last year, he told them he learned about subway surfing from a YouTube video back in 2021. He went on to do it more times than he could count, saying that the rush was “intoxicating.” That rush is often what draws kids and teens to the dangerous activity.
According to clinical psychologist Dr. Holly Ann Schiff, kids and teens who are drawn to extreme stunts like subway surfing often share certain traits or a type of personality, “one that is thrill-seeking, impulsive and highly influenced by peer approval.” She said that many are natural risk-takers who crave excitement or a sense of control in their lives. So it may be less about rebellion and more about belonging – they may feel pressure to impress friends or online audiences.
A sample script
When speaking to your children about the dangers of subway surfing, Schiff said that the key is to use a calm approach rather than fear.
She suggested saying something like this:
“I know you’ve probably seen or heard about other kids trying dangerous things in the subway. It might look exciting and cool, but it’s actually very unsafe and people have been hurt or killed. I care about you too much to ever want you in that kind of danger.”
Reminder: kids don’t respond well to scare tactics or lectures.
“Appeal to their sense of logic and responsibility, let them know you trust their judgment but also want them to have all the facts about how quickly something like subway surfing can turn tragic,” said Dr. Schiff.
“This keeps the discussion open-ended and you can invite children to share what they’ve seen on social media and ask them what they think about it,” she said. “This approach builds trust rather than judgment. This helps you gauge their exposure and beliefs before you correct misinformation.”
Emphasize curiosity and courage in safer ways. “Think about encouraging hobbies or challenges that can give that same sense of excitement or accomplishment without the danger and risk. Our goal isn’t to eliminate risk-taking, but to channel it into safer outlets like sports, creative challenges or other adventure activities.”
Safer thrill-seeking alternatives
If you’ve got a thrill seeker on your hands, consider some activities in and around the city that might pique their interest. Aside from joining sport teams through their school or neighborhood leagues, a few ideas include:
Big SNOW American Dream (Indoor Ski & Snowboarding): Located inside the American Dream Mall right near the Lincoln Tunnel in New Jersey, this facility offers year-round real snow skiing and snowboarding, complete with slopes, rental gear and lessons.
Circus Academy New York: With two locations on Pier 40 in Manhattan and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this facility offers youth and adult classes in trapeze, aerials, silks, and more across their locations and outdoor rooftop spaces.
Aerial Arts NYC: This Manhattan facility teaches aerial silks, trapeze, rope and circus arts for teens and children in NYC.
Om Factory: Right by Union Square, it offers drop-in classes in aerial silks, contortion and circus arts, blending fitness and creative movement.
The Movement Creative: This group runs parkour and acrobatics classes for kids ages 7-16 all around the city, teaching flips, tumbling, strength and safe movement.
Broadway Dance Center Acro Workshop: These workshops teach teens acro, tumbling techniques, contortions and transitions.
There are also activities like paintball, laser tag, and plenty of adventure/climbing places around the city to explore.
Some subway surfers who have been interviewed admitted to stopping only after a friend was killed. Case in point: Michael, who told Curbed that he finally quit after losing three friends in the span of eight months.
Former chief spokesperson for the MTA Al O’Leary told the NY Times: “Since God made the subways, people have been doing stupid things on them.”
But while thrill seekers engaging in dangerous activities might be inevitable, the collaborative effort of the city, parents, and transit riders can still help prevent the next tragedy.
