Ain't Nobody Pushing Me! 10 Ways to Avoid Being the Next NYC Subway Victim

Another subway shoving death? Over my dead body!

Nobody has the right to mess with my City and its subway riders.

Here are ten sure-fire tactics to keep NYC straphangers safe:

1. Remain outside of turnstiles when creeps lurk

“If you see something, say something” works for spotting terrorism. How about “If you see creeps lurking, don’t enter” as the new slogan for MTA subway riders? Especially for female passengers riding alone.

Remember Michelle Go.

A deranged man claiming to be “God” fatally pushed her onto the tracks on January 15th!

On February 1st, three ladies spotted a bizarre 6-foot man pacing and screaming near the exit door at 7:00 am. They wisely stayed outside the subway gates of the 23rd Street station. Seeing no cops or MTA employees around, they ran for their #6 train only when they heard its approach, according to the dailymail.co.uk.

2. Stand super close to subway-tiled walls

Enjoy subway station artwork? Here’s your chance to see it up close and personal. MTA subway museum-quality pieces await you. Forget the Met and MOMA. Subway tile artwork is the cat's meow and your next Instagram post. Stick like glue to subway-tiled walls.

But seriously, some of the MTA subway tiles and art installations are pretty cool.

3. Become one with subway pillars

Watch out for freshly painted metal ones. But these pillars can protect you from demented shovers. Chain yourself to a column with a bike lock if need be.

Like Wanda Vela, a Bronx resident, did, as reported by the dailymail.co.uk. Adopt Wanda’s attitude. “'Ain't nobody pushing me,” states Wanda in her November 2021 viral TikTok video. As drastic as it sounds, it may save your life.

4. Avoid crowds

This tactic is the toughest because it’s New York City. But let your agoraphobic (fear of crowds) and claustrophobic (fear of confined spaces) tendencies run wild. They may extend your life. Embrace them as far as traveling on MTA in 2022.

5. Never let strangers stand behind you

Effectively doing strategies 1–4 will remove the need for this tactic. It’s nearly impossible to shove a straphanger onto the tracks if she’s:

1. Positioned outside the subway gates

2. Stuck to a subway-tiled wall

3. Chained to a subway pillar

4. Escaped the masses

And when her vigilance level is 100%.

6. Don't move from your safe place until the train is directly in front of you

Be just like Wanda, don’t move a muscle until the train doors open. You can wait for 2-3 “Mississippis” after they open before taking your first step.

Pet-peeve alert—riders not letting other passengers exit before entering. The conductor sees you and won’t leave you. I promise.

Tips 7–10 explain what to do. If God-forbid, the unthinkable happens—you find yourself on the tracks.

7. Don’t touch the third rail

Duh! You think, “I already know that.” For those who skipped high school science. When a body becomes a closed circuit with 600 volts running through it, it’s not a pretty sight. That third rail is deadly.

8. Ask for help

New Yorkers may be busy, but in my personal experience, most are usually helpful. Especially during tragic events. Think 9/11. Someone may lend you a hand out of that five-foot pit. Just ask.

9. Time permitting—find the ladder

If you see no train lights coming, and hear no train rumble, use these precious minutes wisely. Look for the ladder at the platform’s end to climb out, reports the New York Post. Every station has one on each end. Also, running in the direction of the train helps buy you needed seconds.

10. Time not permitting—Drop and Hide

Find a hole and lay down your body in it, or locate a “clear-up” space in which to hide. Transit construction guys usually stand in these wall gaps when trains pass while working.

According to NYPD statistics, these numbers are unfortunately on the rise as reported by the Daily Mail and the New York Post.:

2019: 7

2020: 14

2021: 27

2022: ??

Please use these ten tactics to avoid being a statistic. This piece was a labor of love for a City I called home and an MTA I rode for 13 incredible years.