In response to a spike in violent incidents on New York City’s subways, Mayor Eric Adams has announced the implementation of bag checks for anyone trying to board trains.

Aiming to eliminate knives, box-cutters, clubs and guns on the subways, the new measures will also augment the increased number of police officers patrolling trains and platforms.

During a press briefing at City Hall on Tuesday, Mr. Adams underscored safety concerns. 

“We know people feel unsafe,” he said. “We are reinstituting bag checks. There are several things we are reinstituting in the system.”

“We’re definitely on the pathway of coming up with some new technology that’s going to help us identify weapons, as well as guns. My big thing is guns,” Mr. Adams said.

The city is also surging 1,000 more cops into the subways, working 12-hour shifts, to try to cut down on crime, which has jumped 13% since last year.

Standing outside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, the advocacy group Passengers United echoed the mayor’s concerns. 

“We have a crisis in our subway system right now. So far this year, three people have been killed in the subway. So our subway system right now is in a state of emergency,” said Charlton D’Souza of Passengers United, according to the New York Post.

The urgency of these measures is further punctuated by recent assaults, including an attack on a pregnant woman at the 168th Street station and an incident at Penn Station where a 64-year-old man claimed he was pushed onto the tracks.

The suspect involved in the attack at Penn Station was described by victim Abu Khan, who recounted, “He kicked me in my back and I fell onto the track,” the Post reported.

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