Always been the case. I’ve been taking the subway and bus almost everyday of life for over 30 years. Starting from junior high school, through high school, college, and my career.

I got jumped on the train in both high school and junior high by groups of teenagers for no reason (this was late 90s). I got harassed by groups of teenagers even as an adult. Not saying all groups of teenagers are bad, but being part of those groups of teenagers myself at some point, the peer pressure and need to look cool in front of others makes you do dumb shit. Nothing annoys me more, even now, than seeing a group of rowdy teenagers on the bus or subway. I know they are kids and I let it slide, especially being in that position myself once. But, even if a bystander stepped in, he or she would risk getting attacked too.

Also, anyone bringing race into it is stupid. The same stuff happens regardless of the race or location of the kids. Even in the suburbs, groups of unsupervised teens are the worst.