A Deadly Trend on New York’s Trains: How ‘Subway Surfing’ Turned Fatal

A deadly social media trend continues to grip New York City’s subway system.

Teenagers are climbing onto the roofs of speeding trains to film short clips — a dangerous practice known as “subway surfing.” The consequences have been devastating.

Fifteen-year-old Ka’Von Wooden, who dreamed of becoming a train operator, fell to his death in 2022 while riding on top of a J train in Brooklyn. Dozens of others have been injured or killed since.

Despite public awareness efforts, the deaths continue. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it is testing new designs, such as barriers between train cars and rubber tubing to prevent access, but no citywide solution has yet emerged.

Families and train operators are demanding immediate action, calling for simple fixes like locking car doors.

With six deaths last year alone and hundreds of arrests involving mostly teenage boys, the crisis underscores the intersection of youth culture, technology, and infrastructure.