NYC taps BMX rider in youth anti-subway surfing campaign

1938. It was the last day of 6th grade for 11-year-old Donald Munoz and 12-year-old William Layden

Their celebration turned tragic when both boys struck an overpass while subway surfing, killing Munoz

The New York Times reported that story last December as part of a broader look at how social media is glamorizing subway surfing

Despite a number of awareness campaigns, the dangerous trend has only grown

And now, Governor Hochul is taking a new approach, teaming up with professional BMX writer Nigel Sylvester

who will serve as the campaign's ambassador to help reach young people where they are

That's where this new campaign comes in. It's called Subway Surfing Kills Ride Inside, Stay Alive

That campaign launched back in 2023. According to the NYPD per CNN, by October of that year, six people had died and 181 others were arrested for subway surfing

The act involves riding on top of a moving train car, a dangerous stunt that's been gaining traction online

Now Governor Hochul has announced a fresh effort partnering with several entities to create posters featuring characters whose lives were changed forever by subway surfing The comics will be displayed across New York City transit systems

MTA's chair said last year that the agency had been working with tech companies, including

Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, to remove subway surfing videos. As of September 2023, more than 2,600 videos had been taken down

On apps like TikTok and Instagram, searching subway surfing now prompts a built-in safety message warning users of the dangers

One teen told ABC7 New York he started riding outside the trains to photograph dramatic imagery

But after hitting an overpass, he suffered a traumatic brain injury, spent time in a coma, and went into cardiac arrest

He hopes others can learn from his story and avoid subway surfing

Governor Hochul says this new campaign aims to speak to young New Yorkers directly through role models and relatable storytelling

In addition to the comics, eight recorded safety announcements will start playing across the transit system this week

With Stray Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more