Imagine walking to the streets of New York and making your way to the nearest train station and getting on the platform only to hear “Sorry for the delay, someone was struck by a train at the next station we will be held here momentarily.”
You would think of one or two things, the first being that they have gotten pushed or wanted to injure themselves. The second is that you’re going to be late getting to your destination while more stress adds to you during the rest of your commute. You don’t stop to think that your delay had something to do with the new trend teens have called “Subway Surfing.”
Subway Surfing is when an individual gets on top of a train and attempts to stay on for as long as possible for a joyride. Except this joyride ends up with an individual’s death or serious injury there is no in-between.
Sixteen-year-old Alex Antelbury lost his close friend Gabe who was subway surfing on the seven train and lost his life at Hudson Yards.
“ I remember it like it was yesterday,” Alex recalls. “He asked if I wanted to go surfing. I told him no and went home.”
Every step it took for Alex to get home his friend never left his mind, especially after he received a text from him. It read: Hey going surfing see you tomorrow. But tomorrow never came as Alex’s worst fear came true.
“At first, I didn’t believe it. Like I always knew Subway Surfing was bad, but never something that he would do,” Alex explained and described the person his close friend Gabe was.
As an outsider and social media user in New York, this trend has not been a city favorite for obvious reasons. Chris Goose Gosling caught a video on his way to work of subway surfers riding on top of the 7 train going to Flushing in 2022. Viewers leave comments such as “ Some people don’t have an appreciation for life” and “ This has been going on since the eighties. This ain’t nothing new”.
A few viewers have even reminisced about their times during the eighties and their youth during the time as some have shared that NYC is a playground for the teens of this generation as they are best described as unhinged.
“People want to ignore the announcements until they are seconds away from the consequence,” Goose says.
Felix is a twenty-three-year-old subway surfer from New York City. “It’s not just about the thrill,” he said, adjusting his cap. “For some of us, it’s a statement against the constraints of society, a fleeting sense of freedom.” describing the feeling of a rush, within a momentary release from the pressures of new urban life that has gained city-wide attention. Seeing this trend has been a joyride for some and a battle that left some fighting for their lives. In the weeks when the sky was orange due to the Canadian wildfires that were best described looking and leaving the city as something out of the apocalypse, surfers still climbed to the top of trains. Some often ask the youth what drives them to do something like this only for the youth who surfs to respond with “being and looking cool”, but the truth is some have opened up to be because of peer pressure.
“Subway Surfing kills. Ride inside, Stay alive.”
Eighty-seven teens have been seriously injured or killed. On June 30th, 2023 a teen died and exactly one week later another teen died, one of them was fourteen-year-old Jevon Fraser. Within the past five years, the International Association of Public Transport discovered a 27% increase in subway surfing accidents across big cities in the U.S. The economic impact has affected disruptions in services and damages of $500 million. The Journal of Urban Health’s research covers what causes an individual to subway surf within socio-economic factors. Research studies have also found that areas predominantly populated by people of color often fall victim to the thrill-seeking behaviors of certain individuals.
The realization of subway surfing and the many layers that make this trend dangerous are the stereotypes and experiences individuals have faced. Once an accident is reported and a train is delayed they collect the individual whether they are alive or fighting for their life from the scene and get them the help they need. If the individual can get up they are either escorted to the nearest precinct or given a warning. Since a warning can only do so much and is seen as a slap on the wrist they are not given frequently as some officers, bystanders, and parents fear that they are most likely going to do it again until they are not so lucky and have walked away with just a bruise.
“Unfortunately some youths just can’t get enough”. Says Officer Pallucio who has given warnings to the point where he saw the same kid repeat the cycle of surfing and had to detain him for further consequences. “At this point, words can only go so far until reality comes just as fast as the trains these kids have been riding on top of.”
School safety agents deal with student-related issues inside of schools protecting students from harming one another and patrolling/ investigating train stations and other means of transportation. Students often use the train more than they do the bus for when it’s time to start their commutes from school to home. Due to the rise and increase of subway surfers, school safety agents have distributed physical cards with information, school supplies such as pens and post-its in honor of showing students support and a place to seek guidance, as well as stand outside train stations and on train platforms. This act has shown students and thrill-seekers that they are being watched if they attempt riding on the back or top of the trains. Not only does this prevent students from regretting their actions and potentially lying in a hospital bed with either an arm or a leg torn off, but gives their parents a sense of peace.
“As a parent you want your kids to be safe and have hobbies and activities they are proud of that don’t put in danger”. Gabe’s mother Andrea says. “ At first he didn’t tell us and wanted us to be out of his business. All that changed last summer before Gabe went back to school. He rode on top of the train surfing and having a blast till his friend lost his balance and fell, ending his life at the age of fifteen years old. When Alex thought it was best to tell Gabe’s mom what happened to her son and when the last time he saw him Alex burst into tears.
“ I didn’t know how to tell her”. He said rocking back and forth with his hoodie over his eyes he felt as if he was in a boxing match with only him and the reality of facing the truth of telling his friend’s mom what happened to him, and the fact that Gabe was no longer here.
“If it were me he’d want to tell my mom,” he added
He rang his friend’s former doorbell and held back tears when his mother answered the door. They discussed in the living room as Alex knew she was a busy woman who made sure she always had time for her son. Looking around the room at the pictures of Gabe and his family, he immediately said
“He’s gone surfing. Subway surfing and I didn’t go with him”. He cried in his closest friend’s mother’s arms “God I wish I had. I could have stopped him, I could’ve stopped him.”
A FEW MONTHS LATER
Alex remembers his friend through art as that is a way for him to cope with what happened to Gabe. he painted a portrait of Gabe and his favorite things to do with the help of his family and their blessings to make a project for others to see his work in a gallery that took place in the Oculus. He spent the last couple of months avoiding trains as his parents would offer to ride with him but found himself not being able to due to panic attacks and feeling guilty. He remained guilty and sorrowful as he passed the parks he and Gabe skated at and the pizza parlor they would either eat or meet at. Andrea invited Alex over once a week and whenever he was having a hard time.
“ I wanted him to feel welcomed after everything. After all, the boys were like brothers. I felt like I had two sons and didn’t want to lose another one due to this accident”.
Mayor Eric Adams wanted to stop the dangerous trend of subway surfing among teens. He worked with the MTA to make announcements on train systems across New York City. The announcements featured the teens’ voices, hoping they would listen to someone relatable rather than their parents. In the summer of 2023, Mayor Adams also teamed up with a group of teens called the “Subway Squad.” This group raised awareness after subway surfing led to more deaths and injuries.
The “Subway Squad” spoke directly to teens who were interested in subway surfing. Their efforts helped commuters realize how serious and unsafe this trend can be. The squad changed how people viewed subway surfing, encouraging more caution. One member, Milana Blokhina, shared her positive feelings about their work this past summer.
Now, commuters hear the voices of the “Subway Squad” announcing the dangers of subway surfing. They tell others that riding inside the train is safer and cooler.
TRAIN OPERATORS:
As a train operator, you hope for an average day. Tim Apollo was working the school shift when he unexpectedly found a pair of legs, or any body part, on the train tracks. This started a long process of questioning and left him uncertain about returning to the job.
“You feel for this person and their families and wonder what happened. You grieve with the family and loved ones.” The life of a train operator can be challenging. Dangers can appear at any moment.
Subway surfing is a risky trend that continues as young people seek attention through daredevil acts. The consequences are severe, and people need to understand that actions have real consequences. The trend shows no signs of stopping, even though it is unsafe. Discussions about these dangers will come from those who have lost loved ones and from people who want to prevent more tragedies.
While the reasons behind subway surfing are unclear, the city and Mayor Adams aim to find solutions for the issues driving young people to this behavior.
“It’s crucial to differentiate between thrill-seekers and those driven by necessity. Blanket condemnations won’t address the underlying issues. Officer Johnson has suggested a collaborative approach involving community engagement, education, and socio-economic reforms. “Punitive measures alone won’t suffice,” he emphasized for the time being.
