CLEAN TRAIN MOVEMENT ERA

The Clean Train Movement in New York City emerged as a concerted effort by city authorities to address the rampant graffiti that dominated the subway system from the early 1970s through the 1980s. The pervasive graffiti symbolized a loss of control and was often linked with broader issues of urban decay and crime. For many city officials and citizens, the graffiti-laden trains were more than just an aesthetic blemish; they represented a broader decline in the quality and safety of public transportation.

Early Anti-Graffiti Efforts

Initial efforts to combat graffiti began under Mayor John Lindsay in the early 1970s, with the formation of the first anti-graffiti task force and the reclassification of graffiti from a nuisance to a criminal activity. Despite these efforts, graffiti on subways remained persistent. Attempts included repainting trains and increasing security around train yards, but these measures were largely unsuccessful.

Implementation of the Clean Train Movement

A more systematic approach began in 1984 with the appointment of David Gunn as President of the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA). Gunn, who had previous experience cleaning up transit systems in other major cities, launched the Clean Trains program, which treated graffiti as a symptom of larger systemic issues within the subway system. The program was not just about cleaning the trains but also about improving their functionality, which included addressing issues like frequent derailments and fires.

Strategies and Methods Employed

Immediate Removal Policy: Any train that was marked with graffiti was immediately taken out of service, cleaned, and only returned once it was graffiti-free. This policy was rigorously enforced, even during peak rush hours, to minimize the impact of graffiti.

Enhanced Security Measures: The program included increasing security at train yards, which involved physical barriers like double fences topped with barbed wire and guard dogs. Despite initial successes, graffiti writers found ways to circumvent these measures.

Public Engagement and Messaging: The NYCTA also launched campaigns to inform the public about the efforts being made to combat graffiti and to restore pride in the transit system.

Results and Impact

By May 12, 1989, the Clean Train Movement had achieved a significant milestone: it was declared the official end of graffiti on New York City subways. While this did not completely eradicate graffiti, it significantly reduced its presence on the subway trains, effectively pushing graffiti artists to seek other canvases such as walls, rooftops, and freight trains.

The movement also had broader social and cultural impacts. For one, it contributed to the professionalization of graffiti, as artists transitioned from illegal tags on subways to legitimate street art and murals that were often commissioned or created with permission.

Ongoing Challenges and Legacies

Despite the success of the Clean Train Movement, subway graffiti has never entirely ceased. While graffiti on trains has been minimized, it still occasionally appears, often only within train yards and typically removed before public display.

The legacy of the Clean Train Movement continues to influence urban policies and attitudes towards public art and vandalism. It demonstrated the potential for large-scale urban management programs to restore public amenities, but also highlighted issues around the criminalization of artistic expression and the socio-political dynamics of urban aesthetics.