Subway surfing: MTA teams up with BMX pro Nigel Sylvester to urge youths to ride safely at all times

There is a new face behind the MTA’s fight against subway surfing, and he knows a thing or two about riding safely.

MTA and city officials joined BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester on Wednesday during a press conference in Long Island City, Queens, to announce a new initiative to stop the deadly trend of individuals riding outside moving subway cars. 

The initiative builds on the MTA’s existing “Ride Inside Stay Alive” campaign. It includes colorful, illustrated comics that show the impacts of subway surfing on communities, as well as new recordings from high-school students now heard in NYC subways.

The campaign follows several kids who face the choice of whether they will subway surf. Comic book panels depict each character at school, at home and with friends. Later installments shift focus to the circle of people who are affected by the characters’ decisions, including their parents, friends, and EMS and MTA employees.

Sylvester’s image appears at the bottom of every strip next to the campaign’s slogan and overarching message.  

Sylvester, a native of Laurelton, Queens, said he was honored to join the MTA, officials from NYC Public Schools, and other agencies to raise awareness about the dangers of subway surfing.

“BMX riding gave me a powerful outlet to express my creativity and dedicate myself to something meaningful,” the sports pro said. “That passion ultimately led to my success as a professional athlete. I hope to inspire the next generation to explore sports like BMX as a way to grow, build discipline, and unlock their full potential.” 

Youth help build anti-subway surfing messages

Sylvester and a group of students from high schools throughout the city recorded announcements explaining the dangers of riding outside of trains. Eight announcements, recorded in both English and Spanish, will be heard throughout the transit system beginning this week.

Ahana Chandra, a student at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, contacted the City  Council to inquire about ways to make subway announcements against subway surfing more effective. 

After conducting a school survey, the results showed valuable feedback on including statistics and other information in future announcements. She explained that new announcements are more personal, clear, and designed to resonate with kids.

“I was honored to record these announcements at MTA headquarters alongside the incredible students standing here today,” she said at the press conference. “These new announcements are more than just messages. They were carefully crafted to connect with young people in a way that could truly influence their decisions and help prevent tragic accidents.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul helped launch the campaign. She said in a statement that keeping New Yorkers safe is a top priority. 

“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,” she said. “New York will continue to do everything we can to keep our young people safe on the subways.” 

“This is not a game that we are playing. There is no reset,” added Demetrius Chrichlow, president of NYC Transit. “There is no do-over when our children play this game, we, they, our families, the community, we lose. People have to understand the risks tied to doing this, standing on top of a train.”

Representatives from NYC Transit said that they continue to meet with students and school administrators to ensure students are learning about the dangers of riding outside of train cars. They also said they work with social media companies including Meta/Instagram and TiKTok to scrub videos of subway surfing.

More than 1,800 videos have been taken down to date, the MTA said. 

The NYPD also has officers deployed at stations where subway surfing has been known to take place and makes home visits with young people who have been known to participate in subway surfing.