---
title: "Hey Kids… Wanna See an E-Bike Get Crushed by a Subway Train?"
description: "A viral video shows an electric New York Citi rent-a-bike being grinded to pulp after being thrown on some subway tracks — and it was quite the explosion."
date: "2021-09-21"
modified: "2021-09-21"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/ebike-crushed-subway-train"
categories:
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "electric bike"
  - "new york city"
  - "subway"
  - "the digest"
---

# Hey Kids… Wanna See an E-Bike Get Crushed by a Subway Train?

![A viral video shows an electric New York Citi rent-a-bike being grinded to pulp after being thrown on some subway tracks — and it was quite the explosion.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ebike-crushed-subway-train.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Futurism\</em\>*

## Fiery Encounter

A video went viral this week showing a Citi Bike rental electric bicycle getting ground to a pulp after falling into the New York City subway tracks — and thanks to the bike's battery, it produced quite the explosion.

https://twitter.com/Disastervid/status/1440227493399564292

The bike didn't stand a chance when a subway car mowed rover it. In fact, the bike was hit twice by two trains, once in each direction.

Thanks to the bike's electric components and batteries, sparks started flying almost immediately. "625 volts with a near-zero resistance to ground makes some interesting fireworks," one [Redditor commented](<https://www.reddit.com/r/CatastrophicFailure/comments/pseqtw/comment/hdp3fok/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3>).

The video also showed the aftermath of the explosive encounter, which filled the entire area with yellow smoke and forcing onlookers to evacuate the area.

In short, just another day on the New York City subway.

## Throwing Bikes

The person responsible for throwing the bike onto the tracks has yet to be identified. According [to the *New York Post*](<https://nypost.com/2021/09/20/citi-bike-explodes-on-subway-tracks-after-being-hit-by-oncoming-train/>), the incident occurred at 10:25 pm on Sunday night. The person caused "substantial risk of injury and smoke condition," a police representative told the outlet.

So here's a word of warning, though we can't believe we have to spell it out: don't throw bikes with large lithium-ion batteries onto the subway tracks.

**READ MORE:** [E-bike abandoned on New York Subway tracks blows up after being hit by train](<https://boingboing.net/2021/09/21/e-bike-abandoned-on-new-york-subway-tracks-blows-up-after-being-hit-by-train.html>) \[*Boing Boing*\]

**More on NYC:** *[AOC Blames Subway Flooding on Politicians Taking “Orders From Fossil Fuel Execs”](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/aoc-subway-flooding-politicians-fossil-fuel>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)