Subway Stories: This Tiny Upper West Sider Is On a Mission To Ride Every NYC Train

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — There might be no New Yorker that loves the subway system more than three-and-a-half year-old Upper West Sider Mark.

At the height of the pandemic, when the local resident was just one and a half, Mark would walk around the neighborhood with his mom and dad, and get transfixed by the subway entryways and symbols for the train lines.

"We wouldn't actually go down, but he would be really intrigued by the signage," Mark's mom, Diana Lee, told Patch. "He has absolutely always been obsessed with the alphabet and numbers, so it was pretty natural as he was growing up that he figured out those corresponding trains — and when the vaccines came out — we started taking the trains."

Lee said that one day it just clicked in her son's brain that the signs corresponded to moving vehicles, and "it was just the coolest thing for him."

The passion for the subway system has started a series of adventures for Mark and his family, in which they are trying to ride a new train line every weekend.

"We still have the J, M, W, and 5 trains on the list," Lee said. "And then some of them he would like 'refreshers' because he claims he hasn't been on the E, even though he has."

"Currently he is extremely fixated on the J train," she added. "His favorite train always changes. He likes the 7 because it goes outside and because we took it to go see the Unisphere in Queens."

Mark was also very excited about taking the Q train to Coney Island this summer.

The family also tries to incorporate a fun destination in their travels on whatever line they might be on. In an effort to get some ideas on being a tourist in their own city, Lee, a Queens native, posted in an Upper West Side community group looking for suggestions.

The post and photos of Mark enjoying the trains got dozens of positive reactions and helpful suggestions from the neighborhood group.

"The response has been surprising, I didn't think so many people would love the post," Lee said. "And people gave really good ideas."

Lee also mentioned to Patch that she hasn't turned a blind eye to stories of violence on the trains, but that the recent adventures on the city's different subway lines was actually helping her deal with her own post-traumatic stress from riding the train.

"Because of the subway violence that was happening, I personally had some PTSD about subways," Lee said.

"However I grew up in New York City and love New York City and I'm so glad my son is helping me rekindle my love for subways and see the magic in it again."

Mark is hard to miss on the train given his propensity to holler out the name of stops with joy.

The three-and-a-half year old also likes standing on the foot prints on platforms and in cars, always sits on the bench when there is a spot, and makes sure to hold onto the railings.

According to Mark's mom, his fellow straphangers enjoy making his acquaintance.

"I know we all have to be careful just because you need to be careful anywhere — especially with a child," Lee said.

"But most of our adventures have been so positive and so many people notice my son’s enthusiasm and give him fist pumps and stop to chat."

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Patch edited Lee's written answers for style.