Commuting into New York City by bus, subway and by foot comes with its challenges. However, the one mode of transportation that takes the cake is… you guessed it: the NYC Subway.

Three-to-four days a week I go into the office for Agile duties and those 3 days anything can happen. Prior to Covid, 5 million people on average each day took the 27 different subway lines from over 400 stations. In 2023, it's reported to be over 3.5 million people. If the tracks were laid out it can span from NYC to Chicago, making it the second longest in the world behind China. With this many riders using the subway system each day, there are many different obstacles you can encounter, such as: deafening noise, large crowds, unexpected attacks and risk of falling ill.

In this article I will share with you the three things you didn't know you need when riding in a NYC Subway. One of these three may surprise you.

1. Over — Ear Headphones

The first thing you may not know you need while waiting for and riding the NYC subway is a pair of over-ear headphones. Why is this on my top 3 list?

Let's examine:

  • The trains are made of concrete and iron steel, and can weigh anywhere from 300–500+ tons. When it's time for the trains to slow down, it's like 100 — 150+ large metal elephants running down the subway line and fiercely screeching against high voltage metal rails, if you can imagine. That is going to be an ear popping sound.
  • Why do you need an over-ear headphones?: According to the World Health Organization, over 1.5 billion people suffer from hearing loss. Loud sounds like screeching metal elephants, contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). By 2050 it's projected that number will climb to 2.5 billion.
  • I carry with me my pair of over-ear headphones when I commute into the city primarily, to block out the noise from those out of control metal elephants, and secondary, to listen to audio books.

2. Upgraded Awareness

  • Having basic awareness in life is an important attribute to have. Where it comes to the NYC Subway, your awareness skills have to be upgraded. Having attended survival camp trainings and trained in martial arts, one of the first things they teach you besides the basics, is awareness. Being aware of your environment and the movements around you are essential.
  • Why do you need upgraded awareness?: According to NYC.gov subway incidents from February 2023 — February 2022 fell by 9.1% (169 v. 186). Even though that's great news, increasing your awareness can increase your chance of not being a statistic or accidentally harming yourself and others.

3. Defensive Mindset

  • I once asked a friend while we were walking through the NYC streets and in the subway, "how often do you check your surroundings and are you prepared, and thinking through what you would do in possible situations?". After I mentioned this to him, his mindset changed after he replied, "well I don't at all".
  • Being prepared to escape a situation, or even having coins in your pocket to throw at the eyes of an individual, can provide you with enough time to get away.

In Conclusion

Riding the NYC Subway can be quite a thrill with exploring the city in an efficient manner. However, ensuring the safety of your hearing, yourself and others is an important skill to have, in the subway or out in public.