It’s a Tuesday afternoon in New York City. The train pulls out of the station. Most people are looking at their phones or staring at the floor, but on top of the R train, the wind is ripping at 30 miles per hour. This is where the story of two girls subway surfing begins, and honestly, it’s a story that usually ends in a police precinct or a hospital ward. Or worse.
People see the clips on TikTok and think it looks like a scene from a movie. It isn't. It’s loud, it’s filthy, and the margin for error is essentially zero. When we talk about two girls subway surfing, we aren’t just talking about a reckless stunt; we are talking about a specific trend that has seen a massive spike in the last few years, driven almost entirely by the desire for a 15-second viral moment that stays on the internet forever even if the person in it doesn't.
Why Two Girls Subway Surfing Became a National Conversation
The New York Police Department (NYPD) and the MTA have been screaming into the void about this for a long time. In 2023, the city saw a staggering 400% increase in subway surfing incidents compared to previous years. While the image of a "subway surfer" used to be a teenage boy looking for a thrill, the demographic shifted. We started seeing more young women involved. In early 2024, a specific incident involving two girls subway surfing in Queens made national headlines because of how young they were—barely into their teens—and how quickly a "fun" afternoon turned into a multi-agency emergency response.
One girl was 13. The other was 14.
They weren't "professionals," if such a thing even exists in this world. They were kids. They climbed between the cars of a 7 train as it crossed the elevated tracks over Roosevelt Avenue. If you've ever been on the 7, you know those turns are sharp. The train jolts. One girl lost her footing. She didn't just fall; she was thrown. This is the reality that the aesthetic "POV" videos on social media edit out. They edit out the sound of the screeching brakes and the way the metal feels like ice when you’re trying to hold on for dear life.
The Social Media Feedback Loop
Why do they do it? It's the "clout."
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Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been under fire from city officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, for allowing these videos to circulate. When a video of two girls subway surfing gets 500,000 views, it sends a signal to every other bored kid with a smartphone that this is a viable path to fame. The algorithm doesn't care if you're safe. It cares if people are watching.
The MTA actually started a campaign called "Subway Surfing Kills - Ride Inside, Stay Alive." It featured voices of actual students and peers because they realized that kids don't want to hear from a 50-year-old guy in a suit. They want to hear from people who understand the pressure to be "relevant" online.
The Physics of a Disaster
Let's get technical for a second because people underestimate the environment. A subway tunnel is not a hallway. It is a high-voltage, low-clearance industrial zone.
- The Third Rail: It carries 600 volts of electricity. You don't even have to touch it directly in some cases; if you create a path to ground through your body, you are done.
- Clearance: In many parts of the NYC system, there are only inches between the top of the train and the tunnel ceiling or signal equipment. One "duck" that isn't low enough results in immediate, fatal head trauma.
- The Wind: It’s not just the speed of the train. It’s the "piston effect." As a train moves through a tunnel, it pushes a massive column of air. When two trains pass each other, the pressure differential can literally suck a person off the roof of the car.
When you see a video of two girls subway surfing, you don't see the electrical arcs. You don't see the grease that makes every surface as slippery as a bowling alley. You just see the horizon. It’s a fake perspective.
The Real-World Consequences (Beyond the Hospital)
If you survive, the legal system is waiting. The NYPD has been using drone technology to catch surfers before they even get on top of the trains. In 2024, the department's drone unit significantly expanded its surveillance of elevated tracks in Brooklyn and Queens.
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If caught, you’re looking at reckless endangerment charges. For minors, that means Family Court. For adults, it’s a criminal record that follows you to every job interview for the next decade. Then there’s the trauma for the train operators. Imagine being a conductor and seeing a body fall past your window. These workers end up with PTSD, unable to return to the job for months. Your "viral moment" has a massive ripple effect on people you’ve never even met.
How to Talk to Teens About This
Most parents think their kid would never do this. But the peer pressure is real. If you’re a parent or an educator, "just say no" doesn't work here. You have to explain the "why."
First, explain the algorithm. Show them how platforms profit off their danger. When they see a video of two girls subway surfing, they should see a product being sold, not a lifestyle to emulate.
Second, discuss the permanence of the consequences. A fall from a subway isn't like falling off a skateboard. There are no "minor" injuries in subway surfing. It is almost always life-altering or life-ending.
Third, point out the reality of the NYC transit system. It is over a hundred years old. It is rusty. It is unpredictable. Betting your life on a 1970s-era grab bar is a losing hand every single time.
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Moving Forward Safely
The city is trying. They've put up more signage, increased patrols, and even worked with tech companies to take down "surfing" hashtags. But the real change happens at the peer level.
If you see someone heading for the between-car doors, say something. Tell a conductor. Call 911. It’s not "snitching" when you’re literally saving someone from a closed-casket funeral.
Actionable Steps for Staying Safe and Informed:
- Report Dangerous Behavior: Use the MTA’s "See Something, Say Something" prompts. If you see kids climbing on the outside of cars, use the intercom or tell a station agent immediately.
- Monitor Social Media Feeds: If you see "subway surfing" content on your FYP, report the video for "Dangerous Acts." This helps the platform's AI recognize and suppress the trend.
- Educate on Transit Physics: Understanding that a train is a 40-ton machine that cannot stop instantly is the best deterrent.
- Support Youth Programming: Many of the kids caught surfing say they did it because they were "bored." Supporting local after-school programs in neighborhoods like Long Island City or Bushwick provides better outlets for that adrenaline.
The trend of two girls subway surfing is a tragic intersection of aging infrastructure and modern social media desperation. It’s not a game. It’s not a sport. It’s a high-speed gamble where the house always wins.