Recent incidents on New York City’s 4, 5 and 6 subway lines have heightened safety concerns among Hunter College students and faculty who rely on these key transit routes for their daily commute. In the past month, two violent attacks at the Canal Street station have sent shockwaves through the Hunter community.
On March 14, 2025, a 59-year-old woman was violently physically and sexually assaulted at the Canal Street station around 2 a.m. Just days earlier, on March 12, a 38-year-old man was attacked by a group of six individuals at the same station, resulting in injuries that required hospitalization.
According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) November 2024 Crime Report, there was a decrease in robberies and felony assaults compared to November 2023. Specifically, robbery incidents dropped from 60 to 38, while felony assaults decreased from 54 to 50. However, the year-to-date data from January through November 2024 reveals concerning increases in murder and rape incidents compared to the same period in 2023. Despite the overall reduction in certain crimes, the rise in violent assaults may raise concern for commuters on the 4, 5 and 6 lines, particularly for those passing through busy stations like the 68th Street–Hunter College stop.
A report by urban policy think tank Vital City revealed that the two subway stations with the highest number of violent crimes are along the 4, 5 and 6 lines that run down Lexington Avenue, particularly Manhattan stops on those lines at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue/59th Street. This underscores the elevated risks faced by commuters on these lines.
Hunter College feature writing professor Lesley Cosme Torres recounted a recent experience on the subway: “I was on my way to come teach my class. I had my headphones on, and the next thing I knew, I saw the NYPD cops tackle down a man for smoking a joint on the train. You would think they would tackle someone for something more serious.”
Ava Stewart, a sophomore art history major at Hunter College, shared her perspective: “For the most part, I feel pretty safe on the subway. However, I take many precautions because I always have subway horror stories in my mind. I consider riding the subway like talking to a man—I’ll be nice, but I won’t forget how many of them are serial killers.” She elaborated on her safety measures: “The precautions I take: never get in an empty train car or one with only men, in the stations stand close to poles, and I take a small knife on my person but for the most part being alert.”
Tony Ayala, a journalism major at Hunter College, noted a change in the subway atmosphere: “So I’ve noticed I see fewer homeless people on the subway. I think that’s because of the increased police presence, so I do feel a little safer because I’ve had fewer encounters with people who could be dangerous. But also, I normally only take the 6 train between 42nd Street and Hunter, or 33rd and Hunter, so I don’t spend a lot of time in the subway. A week ago, I was taking the 6 train with a friend after our class, and after I got off at 33rd Street, she texted me that she had to get off of the train because there was a fight that broke out and a knife was pulled.”
Izabella Williams, a media studies major at Hunter College, expressed similar concerns about nighttime travel: “I feel generally safe on the subways, up until 7/8 p.m. when there’s still a decent amount of people still getting on the train. Anything later than that, and I’d rather take an Uber for safety.”
While the NYPD has increased its presence in subway stations in response to the rise in crime, some commuters say that the heightened police presence has not significantly improved their sense of security. Danny Pearlstein, spokesperson for the Riders Alliance, emphasized the need for a balanced approach: “While enforcement is essential, it’s crucial that resources are directed towards addressing serious crimes that impact rider safety. Over-policing minor offenses can divert attention from more pressing issues.” Riders Alliance is a grassroots organization that advocates for better public transit in New York City. They work to ensure that policies and resources prioritize commuter safety and efficiency while holding transit agencies accountable.
The MTA did not return a request for comment on the recent safety concerns.
The recent surge in subway crimes on the 4, 5 and 6 lines underscores the need for increased safety measures and awareness within the Hunter College community. As crime rates fluctuate, riders continue to balance between reliance on public transit and personal security concerns.
