With a likely increase in ridership, some have concerns regarding subway crime.

How straphangers feel underground differs from person-to-person.

Coney Island resident Devin Asperger says he has a unique take on transit crime.

“Do you remember the subway shooting in Sunset Park a couple [of] years ago? I was actually on that train,” Asperger said.

Not only does he say he was on that train where a man shot 29 people in April 2022, he also uses the Coney Island subway station where a couple weeks ago, a woman was burned alive.

“I think it’s crazy to say there isn’t a rise in tension and fear on the subway. I think that needs to be recognized. But what is the real cause of that, and how do you actually address it?” Asperger said.

Asperger says that isn’t through more policing, but addressing underlying issues like mental health.

But on Monday, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced there will be more police.

“I’ve directed that we move more than 200 officers onto the trains to do specialty train patrols,” she said.

While congestion pricing is meant to encourage New Yorkers to use public transportation, Tisch says deploying more officers onto subway platforms in the 50 highest crime stations will make them feel safe when they do so.

“Seventy eight percent of transit crime occurs on trains and on platforms. And that is quite obviously where our officers need to be,” Tisch said.

The NYPD also released its 2024 end-of-year transit crime statistics on Monday.

Overall, transit crime was down in 2024 by 5.4% when compared to 2023, according to data. Most of the major crime categories saw decreases except murder and rape.

When comparing last year’s transit crime numbers to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, overall crime was also down by 12.4%, according to data.

However, four of the six major categories had significant increases. The categories include murder, burglary, rape and felony assault. That, though not deterring straphangers.

“I still feel relatively safe. I don’t think right now is a time to worry. I’m not the type to panic about the statistics that occur year-to-year,” Brooklyn resident Simon Chan said.

“Me as a New Yorker, if you want to feel safe, you got to be more vigilant. You’ve got to see the subways instead of just being distracted on your phone or reading a book,” Steven Camilo said.

The police commissioner says she plans to announce more on the strategy they plan on implementing soon.