Subway Creatures: Rick McGuire’s Viral Account Captures NYC’s Eccentric Riders

Rick McGuire’s Subway Creatures, an Instagram and TikTok account with 4.1 million combined followers, documents the New York City Subway’s most colorful riders. Since 2011, McGuire has collected videos and photos of bizarre, beautiful, and heartwarming moments—from a man in a cockroach-filled transparent coat to a rat climbing a sleeping passenger. The account celebrates intentional self-expression, avoiding exploitation of the homeless or mentally ill. Popular series include oddly titled books read on the subway (e.g., I’m Glad My Mom Died) and strangers wearing identical outfits. Actual creatures like snakes and parrots appear, as do busking musicians including Ed Sheeran, Hozier, and James Blunt. Fans submit most content (about 50 submissions daily), receiving exposure in return. McGuire, a former TV producer who went full-time in 2018, also runs the What Is New York account (2 million followers) featuring digital creator Ferris Wheel Jay. He monetizes through licensing, brand partnerships, merchandise, and influencer collaborations. A December 2025 video captured bystanders rescuing a man who fell onto tracks at Chambers Street in TriBeCa. McGuire attributes the subway’s eccentricity to population density and high car costs forcing public transit use.