Among commuters, there is a growing perception of the New York City subway system as dangerous, downtrodden and suspicious that the city, regardless of decreasing crime rates in subway stations, must contend with. As a student who finds himself using the subway system to travel throughout the city at least three times a week and is inundated with articles of violent crimes occurring within subway systems, I cannot deny a growing uneasiness and vigilance every time I enter a subway station. I am not alone in this ever-increasing uneasiness; a recent MTA poll found that 56% of people feel unsafe in subway stations and 55% feel unsafe in subway cars. Whether the perception of the subway as unsafe has been created by politicians, media coverage or the recent rash of sensational violent crime, it has seeped into the psyche of the majority of frequent subway riders and must be addressed to bring riders peace of mind and spark a resurgence in ridership. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have moved to increase police presence in subway stations, a promising start to a complex issue of easing the worries of subway riders but one that truly requires more refinement to resolve the current perception crisis. Increasing police presence can increase peace of mind for subway riders because it provides a reference point of safety and the comfort of knowing that, if any violence does occur, there are trained officials who can immediately intervene. However, the underlying racial history between police and marginalized communities can’t be ignored, with Black and Brown people feeling equally uneasy with increased police presence on subways. The tension between police and minorities must be addressed to provide everyone who enters the subway an equal feeling of safety through various community-focused initiatives that break down the barriers between police and minorities. 

Arbitrarily increasing police presence in subway stations without proper training and strategic placement will do little to deter crime and increase the perception of safety in subways. Currently, the increased police presence in subways is concentrated around turnstiles to combat fare evasion, but this does little to actually combat the violent crimes in subways that actually cause concern for riders. Instead, police presence should be concentrated on the tracks where they are visible to riders who will have a nearby reference point of safety and can quickly intervene if violence occurs. Police must also be properly trained to help mentally ill people on the subway and be capable of de-escalating tense situations, making other riders feel more comfortable and decreasing the likelihood of a violent crime occurring. An increased police presence that is vigilant and proactive can greatly increase the perception of safety while decreasing crime.

Police presence alone is not enough to increase the feeling of safety amongst riders, but other improvements to the physical design of the station, such as increased lighting, platform barriers and signage, can help promote rider awareness and safety. Swapping the current fluorescent lights for more luminous LED lights will help create a more comfortable awareness of the surroundings for riders, especially at night when the subways are empty, leading to a greater feeling of safety. Implementing platform barriers would reduce the possibility of a rider falling or being pushed onto the tracks, easing the apprehension that many riders feel, especially in busy stations. Signage promoting awareness would help riders feel informed on how to handle or even avoid potentially perilous situations that do not entirely remove safety concerns but bring a level of preparedness that can ease concerns. 

Public transportation is integral to the fabric of New York City, and it is necessary that riders feel safe when riding the subway regardless of the data regarding subway crime rates. When the issue is one of perception rather than actual danger, steps must be taken to address riders’ psychological concerns and apprehension by providing them with an environment that feels safe. Increasing police presence is a start to providing the perception of safety, but it is a solution fraught with underlying tensions that must be addressed concurrently. Without proper training and strategic placement, increased police presence neither creates a perception of safety nor lowers crime, so it must be coupled with alterations to the physical environment of the subway. 

Luca Amaturo, FCRH ’26, is a communications and culture studies and political science double major from Marlboro, N.J.