NY governor teams up with MTA, schools and BMX star to combat subway surfing

Comics depicting the harrowing consequences of subway surfing will soon appear on digital screens across the subway system, including inside some train cars.

The illustrated panels are part of the new “Ride Inside Stay Alive” campaign, the latest effort by officials to deter young people from riding outside trains.

Over the years, the MTA and city and state lawmakers have launched several awareness campaigns to curb the rise in deaths linked to the dangerous stunt, which is often fueled by social media.

Despite those efforts, six people died from subway surfing in 2024, up from five the year before, according to NYPD data obtained by Gothamist.

The new campaign also includes eight announcements in English and Spanish, which will be broadcast throughout the transit system.

Some of the announcements feature the voice of professional BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester, a Queens native with more than half a million Instagram followers.

The campaign is a joint effort between the MTA, the city’s public school system, and the Department of Youth and Community Development.

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

The comic panels follow characters who choose to subway surf and then shift focus to those left behind, including parents, friends, EMS workers and MTA staff.