Subway Surfing remains a deadly trend among youth, so New York launched a new campaign urging teens to ride inside trains and avoid fatal choices driven by social media. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Subway Surfing remains a deadly trend among youth, so New York launched a new campaign urging teens to ride inside trains and avoid fatal choices driven by social media
David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

Governor Kathy Hochul teamed up with the MTA, city schools, and youth agencies to launch Ride Inside Stay Alive. The initiative uses digital comics to show the emotional and fatal consequences of subway surfing.

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Illustrated panels will be featured in subway cars and on station screens. They follow teens who take risks—and those left behind, including families, EMS teams, and transit workers.

The campaign includes eight audio announcements in English and Spanish. Some messages are voiced by Nigel Sylvester, a BMX pro and Queens native with over 500,000 followers on Instagram.

His influence helps the message resonate with teens. These announcements aim to reach young New Yorkers directly and connect through voices they recognize and respect.

Subway Surfing remains a deadly trend among youth, so New York launched a new campaign urging teens to ride inside trains and avoid fatal choices driven by social media
Panels from the MTA’s new “Ride Inside Stay Alive” comic series, part of a campaign to warn teens about the dangers of subway surfing.
Courtesy Gov. Hochul’s office

Subway surfing caused six deaths in 2024, according to NYPD data. This marks an increase from five fatalities in 2023, despite earlier awareness efforts by officials.

By combining emotional storytelling and real voices, officials hope to shift behavior and prevent future tragedies. Subway safety is now a personal and shared mission.

“Through this campaign, young New Yorkers will hear from peers and role models about the extreme dangers of subway surfing,” said Governor Hochul. “The message is clear: ride inside and stay alive.”

Public Voices Speak Out Against Subway Surfing

The MTA and schools believe teens respond better when messages come from influencers and real-life peers, not just institutions or officials.

Nigel Sylvester’s involvement is key. His voice delivers credibility, urgency, and familiarity to the message about subway surfing’s dangers.

Digital Comics Highlight Subway Surfing’s Impact

Every comic illustrates not only the danger for those riding outside trains but also the lasting trauma faced by those left behind.

Parents, friends, and transit crews appear in the final frames, showing that every decision to subway surf affects more than one life.

Source: gothamist.com

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