Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is assuring straphangers that despite two recent stabbings, the subways are safer than ever. NY1’s Bobby Cuza went underground to see if riders are buying it, and he filed this report.

Two stabbings in the subways this week, apparently the work of the same man, was enough to grab the attention of even the most hardened straphangers.

“Yes, it is frightening,” said one. “I think you always have to watch your back."

“It makes you very aware. I don't want anybody close to me,” added another subway rider. “I feel like walking around with a bat, that's how it makes me feel."

Still, most subway riders NY1 spoke with agreed the stabbing spree was an isolated event, not part of any larger pattern of subway crime. And the fact that a suspect, Kenny Alexis, is now in custody has gone a long way toward alleviating fears.

“It didn't make me scared so much to ride the subway. It made me more scared that this guy was on the loose in my neighborhood. I mean, we all have to ride the subway,” said a straphanger. “Now that he's arrested, I feel better, if he was really the person responsible."

The fact is, at least according to NYPD statistics, subway crime has been steadily declining for years. And this year is no exception.

Through June 11th, there were just 84 assaults in the subway, compared to 118 in the same period last year, a decrease of 29%. Overall, major felonies in the subway are down 27%

“The subway system is safer than it's ever been. Crime continues to go down,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. “We continue to do a lot of innovative things, but when you have a large system like that — four and a half million people a day - you can have a bizarre incident like this happening."

Rider advocate Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign says straphangers are wise to always be a little wary underground.

“New Yorkers, we're a grudging lot. It's hard for us to admit that any service has gotten better. But I think New Yorkers would say that about the subways,” said Russianoff. “But at the same time, they don't want to let their guard down."

“Yeah, I think it is scary when you find that innocent people are being stabbed like that,” added a subway rider. “But the reality is, life happens, and you just have to be aware of what's happening around you and just hope for the best."

- Bobby Cuza