In New York City, there is a dangerous increase in young peopletrying to get on and off the train — and officials say social media is part Because of the wave of "subway surfing".
According to MTA statistics, the number of incidents involving so-called subway surfers increased by 560% from January to May of this year compared to the same period in 2021.
In a conversation with MTA board members on Monday, NYPD Transit Chief Jason Wilcox said he had "to some extent" caused a dramatic surge in reckless behavior on social media.
"Recently, I've seen most very young people riding on or behind train cars, which is very dangerous," Wilcox said. "There's nothing fun or interesting about this kind of activity. We'll continue to work to stop it."
MTA Number Crancher has been on the 5th since January of this year. Recorded 449 "subway surfing" incidents during the month. During the same period last year, officials said there were 68 and 97 incidents in 2020.
In recent weeks, reckless behavior has reached a turning point. After a 15-year-old "surfer"was put in a critical situation when he hithis head while riding on the Northbound. Train 7 at 111th Avenue Station in Queens on June 23rd.
The boy's distraught aunttold the post that her nephewwas doing "what the kids are doing."
According to her aunt, her teen was taken to Elmhurst Hospital on Friday for two surgeries due to an injury.
"He wasn't the first young man to do this on our system. In fact, there have been hundreds of incidents where this has happened in the last few months." Richard Davy of NYC Transit The president said at a committee meeting on Monday.
"Anyone watching this is encouraged to tell friends or children. Don't do this," he continued. "Please, please, do something else in your time."
"Not only can you get hurt like this poor young man, but you also delay the train. In another incident at the end of May, a 12-year-old child was injured while on the Bronx train No. 5, Wilcox said.
In a video posted on Twitter earlier this month, a group of about eight people was on the car when the J train to Brooklyn crossed. I was running. Williamsburg Bridge.
The 449 "surfing" incidents recorded so far this year are about the same as those recorded throughout 2019,the non-profit news agency The City {49. }, First reported a surge.
Overall, the MTA said two people were killed and four were injured while on the train. One victim in 2020 had to amputate his leg.
