Fewer than half of New York Metropolis subway riders really feel protected or happy, in line with an MTA survey.
This spring, simply 45% of straphangers stated they felt protected aboard trains, in line with the outcomes of the MTA’s Prospects Rely spring 2024 survey.
That’s down from the 54% who felt protected inside subway vehicles within the fall of 2023.
Moreover, simply 44% stated they felt protected inside practice stations this spring, a drop from 51% in fall 2023, in line with the bi-annual ballot carried out April 18 via Might 12.
Solely 47% of straphangers stated they have been happy with the transit system — down from 52% within the fall 2023, and the bottom proportion for the reason that spring 2022 survey, when it was 48%, the stats present.
Simmone Leslie wasn’t stunned by the decline, telling the Publish she “avoids using the subway by any means vital” as a consequence of security considerations.
Leslie, 35, recalled a very harrowing second throughout a journey to a Liberty sport this summer time, when the practice she was using stopped en path to Atlantic-Barclays subway station in Brooklyn – and a disturbed man began screaming at straphangers and banging on the automobile’s doorways.
“It was nerve-racking,” Leslie stated. “I don’t know if [someone] has acquired a weapon on them, in the event that they’ll randomly assault somebody.”
Leslie added that she now depends totally on ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to get round, and at all times carries a taser at any time when she takes the subway.
In one of many newest random transit assaults, a rock-wielding menace bashed a straphanger on the pinnacle inside a Chelsea subway station on Wednesday afternoon.
On Tuesday evening, a 54-year-old man was fatally stabbed throughout a dispute on a Coney Island subway platform.
To date this yr, 9 folks have been murdered systemwide — up 80% from the 5 recorded at this level final yr, in line with NYPD’s newest transit crime knowledge via Oct. 27, which didn’t take into consideration the Tuesday homicide.
There have been 5 rapes within the system to this point this yr, in comparison with 4 at this level in 2023.
The variety of shootings doubled to this point this yr, with six in comparison with three at this level in 2023, and there have been 11 victims of gunfire in transit hubs – up 175% from 4 at this level final yr.
Intercourse crimes additionally elevated over 3% this yr, with 550 incidents in contrast with 532 at this level final yr, the transit crime knowledge present.
Final month, a fiend with a rap sheet that features 51 previous arrests was busted for tried rape contained in the Columbia College station.
The most recent knowledge accessible exhibits main felonies within the transit system have been down 6% between January and Oct. 27.
“If somebody will get on that doesn’t look proper to me, I wait till the following cease and I get off and change vehicles to really feel extra protected. It’s nearly each time,” stated straphanger Shirley Joseph, 65, as she waited to board a Manhattan-bound 2 practice on the Church Avenue station in Flatbush.
She additionally lamented the overall “untidiness” underground.
Her considerations have been echoed by half of the 40,000 spring survey respondents, who stated they have been dissatisfied with the extent of cleanliness.
Within the fall of 2023, 57% stated that the subways have been sanitary.
Of the 50% of riders who stated trains weren’t clear sufficient this yr, 77% blamed homeless people, 74% cited disagreeable smells, and 65% pointed to trash.
One in 5 blamed rodents, bugs — and even birds — for the dirty circumstances.
Bronx residents have been the unhappiest underground, with an total 40% satisfaction rating.
Staten Islanders have been most happy with the practice system.
The subway strains with the bottom approval scores this yr have been the D and J/Z strains, each with 48%.
MTA Chief John J. McCarthy stated that the newest numbers present that crime contained in the system is down, whereas subway service and ridership is up.
“[We are] hitting report totals this month with probably the most subway riders in nearly 5 years displaying growing satisfaction with their OMNY playing cards,” McCarthy wrote in an announcement.
Further reporting by Matthew Sedacca