What’s rawer and (literally) more underground than skating a century-old subway system? Nothing. So, with inspiration from Mandible Claw’s all-subway edits and a little wishful thinking of our own, we compiled a brief guide and phone-friendly map to some of the most technically skateable spots within the NYC subway system.

[DUMBASS DISCLAIMER: Skateboarding on MTA property is 100% illegal. You will get kicked out of all of these spots and possibly ticketed and/or arrested. If you film your encounter, just be sure to give Jenkem a shout out as they’re putting on the bracelets tho… #JenkStar baby!]

Woodhaven Blvd / Slattery Plaza: Woodhaven, Queens

Train(s): R / M
Type of spots: Wallies
Foot traffic: Light, no real commuter traffic
Documentation: ?
Security: Medium; MTA booth is directly at the spot, but far enough away that they might not hear it; no surveillance cameras at the spot
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: No enhancement needed
Escape route: Running to the nearest train is your only way out
Urine scent levels: 4/10 (light urine with a hint of cleaning supplies)

Lorimer Street: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Train(s): L / G
Type of spots: Ramp w/ downrails, metal box
Foot traffic: High when the L train pulls in
Documentation: ?
Security: High; MTA booth and a mini police office located inside the station at the bottom of the ramp, but no surveillance cameras at the top
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: Wax for the metal box
Escape route: Potential escape entrance at the bottom of the ramp across from MTA booth, but better to run back up the ramp and down the platform to another exit
Urine scent level: 6/10 (the G train’s stench is powerful)

Bedford Avenue: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Train(s): L
Type of spots: Double- and single-sided wooden benches, metal box
Foot traffic: Generally high because the L train is NYC’s most congested colon
Documentation: Lurk NYC – “cee – lo”
Security: Iffy; MTA booth upstairs is somewhat out of earshot; extra booth on the platform is rarely staffed; no surveillance cameras
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: Wax for the metal box and wooden benches
Escape route: If you’re caught and no train’s coming, you’re fucked
Urine scent levels: 9/10 (smells like broken dreams and wasted youth)

Fulton Center: Financial District, Manhattan

Train(s): 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / A / C / J / Z
Type of spots: Stairs and flatbar
Foot traffic: Heavy, plus plenty of homeless inhabitants
Documentation: ?
Security: High; cops and security guards patrol the main concourse; one MTA booth near the flatbar but not by stairs; surveillance cameras everywhere
Access: Swipe to skate the stairs but the flatbar is free range
DIY enhancement: Call your friend’s uncle who’s a cop
Escape route: Plenty of exits to dip out of and trains to catch
Urine scent levels: 1/10 (Dunkin’ Donuts overwhelms everything else)

Chamber Street: Financial District, Manhattan

Train(s): 2 / 3 / A / C / E
Type of spots: Stairs
Foot traffic: Low; lonely hallway located at the Broadway and Park exit of the 2/3 trains
Documentation: ?
Security: Mellow; not a spot that cops frequent; no MTA booth in sight; one surveillance camera looking at the spot
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: Ski mask so the cameras won’t catch ya
Escape route: Slim chance of running out to an exit, better luck hiding in the tunnels
Urine scent levels: 7/10 (hidden stairwells also make great toilets)

Broadway-Lafayette: SoHo, Manhattan

Train(s): 6 / B / D / F / M
Type of spots: Tons of wallie cones and some stairs
Foot traffic: High during rush hour
Documentation: “Tengu: God of Mischief”
Security: Mellow; slight chance of cop appearance because it’s in SoHo; MTA booth upstairs and out of sight; three surveillance cameras at the spot
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: Just be sure to know how to wallie
Escape route: Easily take the stairs on the opposite side as the MTA booth
Urine scent levels: 2/10 (rich people’s pee smells decent)

14th Street & 6th Avenue: West Village, Manhattan

Train(s): 1 / 2 / 3 / L
Type of spots: Ramp with wall rails
Foot traffic: High when the L train pulls into the station
Documentation: “Tengu: God of Mischief”
Security: Moderate; MTA booth at top of the ramp; 2 surveillance cameras at the spot
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: Buddies to keep pedestrians outta your way
Escape route: You’re already bombing downhill, just keep going down the hallway and make a run for the exit from the L platform
Urine scent levels: 7/10 (it’s got that “old New York” scent, mmm!)

23rd St & Park Ave Station: Gramercy Park, Manhattan

Train(s): 6
Type of spots: Two sets of stairs
Foot traffic: Low
Documentation: “Tengu: God of Mischief”
Security: Cops are a slight possibility; MTA booth on the uptown side of the station; no surveillance cameras
Access: Free
DIY enhancement: Change of clothes, this is the dirtiest station on the list.
Escape route: Unless you’re cornered from all sides, take one of the three stairways out and you’re good
Urine scent levels: 8/10 (seems like the perfect station to piss at)

68th Street–Hunter College: Midtown, Manhattan

Train(s): 6
Type of spots: Wooden manny pads
Foot traffic: If people are sitting on the benches, skate flatground until they get annoyed and leave
Documentation: ?
Security: High; MTA booth right across from the spot; cops frequent the area; no surveillance cameras
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: Bring a friend to distract the MTA workers for a few more tries
Escape route: Best of luck catching a 6 train, otherwise plead ignorant
Urine scent levels: 6/10 (care-free lurkers and failing college students don’t care that MTA staff can watch them tinkle)

145th St & Amsterdam Ave: Hamilton Heights, Manhattan

Train(s): A / C / B / D
Type of spots: Legendary subway track gap
Foot traffic: Low
Documentation: “Tengu: God of Mischief”
Security: Mild; signs in the station point toward an NYPD Station on premises, but it’s probably not staffed outside of rush hour; no MTA booth or surveillance cameras in sight
Access: Must swipe into station
DIY enhancement: A piece of wood or metal sign to lay over the yellow bumps on the landing
Escape route: This station is so big and cavernous you should have no problem slipping away from disgruntled public servants
Urine scent levels: 2/10 (not bad; don’t pee on it and blow out the spot)

Shlepping and Scoping: Larry Lanza & Nic Dobija-Nootens
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