Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYU retracts study that found vast majority of MTA workers were harassed or assaulted in pandemic
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Nov 12, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Nov 12, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
NYU has retracted a survey of MTA subway and bus workers that found 89% of respondents claimed to have been assaulted or harassed on the job.
In a letter to the MTA on Friday, the lead researcher Robyn Gershon said her team had “detected anomalies” in the data it used for the study, which was published in August. The survey was supposed to have been emailed only to transit workers, but NYU discovered it had been posted on a public Facebook group.
“In light of this, we have concluded that the database was likely contaminated and that the veracity of the data … is not verifiable,” Gershon wrote.
When the study came out, the MTA disputed the findings, claiming a survey of 1,297 transit workers was not representative of the more than 50,000 transit workers employed by the agency.
NYU dean and professor of biostatistics Melody Goodman said the university was “taking corrective measures” in a letter to New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.
Crichlow had previously accused NYU of trying to “stir panic” among transit workers and said the survey used “flawed methodology.”
“These incidents do not occur anywhere near as frequently as the report suggests,” he wrote.
Tagged
MTA
NYU
new york city
public safety
transportation
Stephen Nessen
Stephen Nessen covers transportation. Since 2008 he has reported on everything from Occupy Wall Street, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, Hurricane Sandy, to Trump’s campaign for president. His transportation reporting has taken him everywhere from the MTA’s secret Rail Control Center to the gleaming subways of Seoul. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .