It’s not uncommon in South Africa to see people holding on to the side of trains.

In New York they do it, too, and it’s called Subway Surfing.

Search Subway Surfing on YouTube and you’ll find countless videos of people clinging onto the side of a train, or running on top of one.

It’s obviously dangerous, but that seems to be the appeal, and authorities predict that on average at least one person Subway Surfs every day in New York.

Recently, the activity was highlighted after a 14-year-old boy was killed surfing on top of a train in Queens, reports CBS New York.

If you take a look at some of the Subway Surfing videos on the web, it’s not hard to see how he might have died:

This guy is clinging to the side:

Viral videos also encourage the trend:

The teenage boy killed while surfing was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

MTA officials have been urging people to not engage in this extremely dangerous activity, which is also illegal.

“This is stupid, it’s dangerous, it’s selfish, and it’s got to stop,” New York City Transit Authority president Andy Byford said during an MTA board meeting in May.

In New York, as in South Africa, too, best practice is to stay inside the train.

[source:cbsnewyork]