subway stories

With over 10 million riders on the new york city subway every day, there are bound to be entertaining things going on. . . we would love to hear your stories of run-ins, close calls or amusing occurances. . .

send us yours. . .

Emma Myers

Story Type: other
Suway Line: A-C-E
Date: 07/14/06

'A Case Of Divine Interventions!'

While riding an almost empty A train on my way home from down town Brooklyn, I was walking through the cars when suddenly reaching for the door handle, I started to fall backwards and felt nothing but air rushing up to meet me. I closed my eyes knowing for sure that I was going to meet my death, when out of nowhere, I felt two hands push me upward towards the door, and I grabbed the handle and held on tight. When I turned my head, with the train still going, I looked into the car behind me, and noticed that it was empty as were the next few cars behind me. I knew for certain that was my guardian angel. Divine Intervention indeed.

Susan Shay

Story Type: heart warming
Suway Line: other
Date: 03/31/06

Every New Yorker (and many visitors) has a subway story - whether it is a good one or a bad one, uplifting or annoying. The ones I tend to recall are annoying - trains running on different tracks when it is raining and I really don't feel like making up the difference on land, getting hit on while stuck on the train for more than 25 blocks without a seat or pole to move to in the meantime, being stuck at 14th Street at 3am on New Year's Day needing to use the bathroom while waiting for the 6 train. I have a couple of "good stories" - being given a senior citizen metrocard that let me on the train for a discount, running into my friend Hanne at 34th Street and riding the same car home, looking out across the East River when the subway emerges from Manhattan on its cross to Brooklyn - this can be such a beautiful sight when it is not marred by a teen taking the opportunity to use her cellphone to call her boyfriend.

Despite my own subway chronicles, the best subway story I know comes from my dad. A native Brooklynite, my dad traveled from Bay Ridge to the Upper East Side every day for high school and then from Bay Ridge to Riverdale every day for college. Summer jobs took him to different parts of the boroughs from South Brooklyn up to the Bronx. All of this travel was done on the great space coaster we know as the subway (mostly the BMT-IND)

On November 9, 1965, my dad was returning home to Brooklyn when the Great Northeast Blackout hit. He has told me that it was one of the greatest experiences of human interaction he has witnessed in his life - the subway was cool and dark, a situation that was more than a bit frightening for some passengers. People slowly started to talk to one another in his car. Some shared stories, others shared food as they all sat and waited to be brought back into the light. He hasn't said exactly how long they sat in the car, only recalling that on that day he realized people are generally good and kind (contrary to some stereotypes or reputations out there). Despite the turmoil across the country at the time, in the darkness it didn't matter what someone looked like, where they lived or where they bought their clothes. They were together for that moment. As they waited for the power to return, there was no fighting or looting as has happened during some blackouts and other urban events that produce chaos. Instead, they tried to make the best of the situation by sharing.

Hugh Smith

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: other
Date: 03/31/06

I ran onto the platform at Bedford Avenue just in time to catch the L train. I felt pretty good, since I had just made it but then there was an announcement; "We apologize mumble mumble mumble inconvenience mumble mumble mumble the train mumble mumble mumble no time soon mumble mumble mumble buncha suckas mumble mumble mumble Lord Satan rules mumble mumble mumble hahahahahahaha.
I had a seat and pulled out my MP 3 player, but then I noticed the guy across from me, a perfectly normal looking Latin gentleman, was anything but. He was reading a newspaper, well not so much reading as filling in the spaces between the words with pictures of little anguished screaming faces. It looked like the kind of thing the killer left on a body after he'd murdered it in some gruesome kind of way. If you've seen the movie Se7en you know what I mean.
This is generally not a good sign.
The train doors closed and there was another announcement. "We will be mumble mumble mumble apologize mumble mumble mumble moving shortly mumble mumble mumble don't care if you're late mumble mumble mumble bow to Satan peons mumble mumble mumble have a good day.
The Normal Guy looked up from his insane art and stared directly in my face, I smiled at him (I forgot I was in NY) as if to say, hi pal, we have to wait a while huh but the train will be moving shortly and we'll be off soon, no worries.
The Normal Guy scowled at me. All in all not a totally unexpected happening but mildly disconcerting none the less. Still I was shocked when the Normal Guy dropped his paper, leaned forward, and opened his mouth wide. Very wide.;
"CHINGA TU MADRE."
"CHINGA TU MADRE."
"CHINGA TU MADDDDRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE."
My Latin people please correct me if I have made any errors in transcribing this quaint phrase which I do believe advocates performing an unnatural act with ones' mother.
Let me try to paint the picture for you. The Normal Guy leaned forward, screaming at the top of his lungs, the cords in his neck stood out, flecks of spittle and foam from his lunatic lips barely missing me. His eyes were bugged out, and his brow creased, so much so they met and formed one long lunatic brow.
That's all I needed.
I got up and changed my seat, but that was a mistake, because whereas before, his Teretic tirade was aimed at the world, now it was toward me, now that my movement caught his attention.
"MOTHAF***AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" he screamed.
"MOTHAF***A, S**T, F***IN A**H**EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
After this last tirade he sat down as if nothing had happened and read his paper.
By this time the train had moved, but for some reason had not stopped at my stop. I stood by one of the doors to get away from this guy ASAP.
Suddenly his turned toward me again, took a deep breath and screamed;
"P***Y P***Y P***Y P***Y P***Y P***Y P***YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY."
I never found out if he was an advocate, or just calling me one. Either was I had had it. There was no one else in that particular car, or so I thought, and I let loose with some choice Jamaican curses of my own.
"BOMBOCLAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT."
"KISSS MI RASSSSSSS."
That'll learn him.
I heard a sound and looked over my shoulder and noticed a little boy, maybe 9 years old holding his little sister's hand. They both looked traumatized, trapped with the two screaming cursing crazy people.
The train stopped the doors opened and I ran outta there.
I went upstairs, to get the train going back to my stop and caught it almost immediately. The train was filled with music, a street performer singing Lou Rawls, "You'll never find." He was really good too so I stepped forward to give him a dollar, when I noticed the fronts of his pants were completely saturated with urine. The rankest, strongest smelling piss ever.
It didn't matter though, homeboy thought he was Lou Rawls reincarnated, his pants making a squishing sound as he performed his choreography. Like I said, he was good, so I gave him a dollar and sang along, being careful not to slip in the piss.

azzie

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: J-M-Z
Date: 03/30/06

This story is about the crazy woman selling batteries on the "J" Train. She can always cross between cars even when they are crowded because she never says 'excuse me', she just pushes her obese body and her carry on bag through the cars. On her way, hitting everyone and getting angry reactions from people like "what the F***"? As they are wondering what's wrong with her pushing them away and going forward, right at that moment her bag on wheels hit them on their legs. It happens everyday on the train and before I used to get angry at her. But now it's funny to see how people react. Personally I would not mess with her, because she is scary looking and I'm sure she knows "Voodoo".

Ariel

Story Type: annoying
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/27/06

a bum threw his radio at me in a sporadic episode of 'bum-rage'. My leg was bruised for a week.

Rachel

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: B-D-F-V
Date: 03/26/06

One day my friend and I were heading home from school for the weekend. As usual the train was packed and we were standing by the door. All of a sudden this guy gets on the train, looking like a typical pandandler. He starts his routine, going over to each person and asking them to smile. It's kind of funny to see how many people don't smile on the train. But this guy was great. He would not leave you until you gave him a smile. So as you'd expect most people just smiled so that he would leave them alone. There were also those serious train riders who refused to smile, but apparently the harder you try not to smile, the more you can't help yourself. Then he came over to us and we flashed him two huge smiles and he loved it. I then noticed that the entire train car was smiling and laughing from this guy. It was definitley a sight to be seen. Let's just say he made more money than anyone I've ever seen.

Julius

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: 4-5-6
Date: 03/25/06

I met a person that was so poor that he would make playing cards out of expired farecards.

To get on the subway he would do card tricks at the turnstyles.

natalie

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: N-Q-R-W
Date: 03/24/06

so im on my way to the city for yet another day of work. as usual i fall asleep on the train in the morning next to either some fat person, some one crazy, some ill manored kid, or a bum. after a 40 min ride from brooklyn i get up at 42nd street. mind you ive had a hard week. so i get up at 42nd street and boom my sidekick phone slides out my damn pocket and into the tracks. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! im all grogy and pissed off like wtf am i gonna do now? i contemplated getting it myself but im like hell no natalie dont be stupid like those other fools who die and get ran over. so i run to the other side of the station to a token booth clerk and she tells me someone will come in 40 min. so im waiting there and i decide to call my sister and tell her and of course she ends up peeing in her pants and calling me a loser (this is not the first time i dropped my phone). so 40 min later some guy who lookes like he came out of alcoholics annonymous meeting! comes with this long stick with a claw at the end of it and grabs my phone for me. he then proceeds to pass me my phone with it still in this claw thingie while EVERYONE is looking at me probably thinking either ( lol she dropped her phone dumbass OR damn thats gotta suck). may i add this guy had like 3 teeth in his mouth.. ugh new york....

Nancy

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/24/06

here I go again-down the stairs with my 23 month daughter-men looking at me but never offering to help.I board the uptown 1 to the Bronx at 23rd street,standing room only,train pulls into 34th street more people pile in.Now the train is really packed I have my daughter in her stroller when she reaches up and suddenly piches the guys butt that is so close to her-the men does a little jump and then looks at me-as a turn a shade brighter I try to tell him I am sorry when all of suddenly a little voice pipes up-mommy I pow-pow buttom--well I couldnt tell this man I was sorry then for me and the whole car full of people were just laughing to hard-but talk about inbrassing moments --

I no longer squeeze into a crowed train I let it go and wait for the next one.

Cristina

Story Type: charming
Suway Line: B-D-F-V
Date: 03/24/06

On an awful rainy day that turned warm I was running lots of errands. By the end of the day I was feeling frazzled and had somehow ended up with a number of loose items that I was trying to keep from dropping, sweater, purse, umbrella, newspaper, manila envelope... I ran onto the train just before the doors closed. I had to dodge a guy in a wheelchair who was panhandling. He was saying his little speech and I wasn't in a mood to be bothered. He kind of smiled at me and quietly said "Think about consolidating--get one big bag".

Carmen Gomez

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: A-C-E
Date: 03/24/06

One morning on my way to work from Queens to manhattan, the train was packed as usual and there was no room to move at all. 2 ladies were standing next to me when all the sudden the train stopped very sharpely making everyone standing almost fall. One of the ladies who was standing with her arm up holding the bar got hit by the other lady next to her who lost her balance.

In the collision the face of the Indian lady hit the arm of the Jamaican lady who was wairing a light sweater. Her lips pressed on the sweater and left a nice red lip print. The indian lady apologized and explained there was nothing she could do to hold herself. She offered to pay for the dry cleaning and apologize about 5 times.

The funny part is the rage that the Jamaican lady went into. She started cursing at the indian lady with hilarious jamaican expressions, she kept srceaming at the top of her lungs that the other lady was a LESBIAN who was trying to get close to her.

Everybody was laughing so hard because it was so ridiculous. She would no stop and went into an almost possessed mode.

The other lady finally got really annoyed saying that she had already offrered an apology and to pay for the cleaning but it was pointless. The jamaican lady got off at Lexington Avenue and could still be heard on the plateform screaming that a lesbian made a move on her by rubbing her lips on her sweater.

That day I had never seen that many people laugh on the subway.

Patricia

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/23/06

One morning I was traveling to my job I was on the #2 train. The train was moderately crowded it was on a Saturday morn. There was a middle aged man sitting on the end seat. He was sound asleep. All of a sudden the train jerked and his very cheap toupee came unglued from his head and was haning on by a thread, flopping back and forth as the train continued. He continued to sleep,whenthis time the train stopped at the next station and the toupee finally came completely off his head and landed on the floor. Well.New Yorkers not known to be phased by much of what they see one after one stepped over it to get out the door. Finally a man got on sat down next to him,looked at the toupee by his foot,looked at the now bald guy sitting next to him and said very matter of factly" hey man your hair is on the floor. The guy looked down put the toupee back on his head the wrong way no less and went right back to sleep.I couldn't stop smiling about that one all day.

Chris Martelino

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: N-Q-R-W
Date: 03/23/06

Young black boy selling M & M's. It was not for a basketball team but rather he was saving up for a trip to Venice Italy. He got my money for that one.

Older black man with a saxophone that looked like it had been run over by a truck 5 times. He starts playing the thing and the MOST annoying sounds are coming out. He then says if you do not give him money he will keep on playing. Cash was flying from everywhere.

Jamera Massop

Story Type: appalling
Suway Line: N-Q-R-W
Date: 03/21/06

I was standing holding onto the bar, minding my own business, when a rowdy group of male teens entered the train. They were signaling eachother with series of nods and winks. All of a sudden they all rushed at one of the members of their group. They started punching and kicking him, knocking into and falling on all the passengers in the car. I luckily managed to avoid get knocked down. This continued for about 2 minutes. Finally they all ran to the next car, leaving the boy bruised, bloody, and beaten on the floor of the train. I was the only passenger to go to the boy and make sure he was ok. I helped him up just as on of his "friends" came over. He grabbed him, they told me he was ok and took off with the rest of the group. Everone else on the train acted like nothing even happened. It is appaling to me that these things can happen and society doesn't even bat an eye. What is this world coming to! I may be young and naive but how anyone can just s! tand around while someone is beaten for no reason is just not the way I was raised. If anyone was raised that way then I hope you are never the one an incident like this occurs to.

Cyndie

Story Type: ironic
Suway Line: 7
Date: 03/21/06

The ONLY day I forget my Ipod...
I sit on the train ,unknowingly to a man with Tourette's syndrome. The entire ride,his hand would twitch,and out would come this string of obsecenities.I tried all I could to keep from laughing,tried to act as tho I hadnt noticed.The train was packed,and everyone was looking at us...like I was getting him irritated and making him curse at me! The ride home that night...crazy man ,obviously homeless,smelled like urine and squeezed his way thru yelling "thank you very much" Over and over and over. My luck,both cars,on the day I forget my damn Ipod.

Ragini Bhalla

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: N-Q-R-W
Date: 03/20/06

It was the morning after a long night of drunken debauchery with my roommmates. One of my roommates insisted on getting Taco Bell (aka Taco Hell) to quench our insane hunger after our night of endless drinking and silliness. So we're sitting on the N/R train, and keep in mind that I really just threw on jeans and a shirt and I looked absolutely horrid with no make up and had no desire to get all primped for a trek to Taco Bell. All of a sudden, this older FOB (fresh off the boat) man starts staring at me and saying how beautiful he thinks I am. Now normally I would be skeeved out by this behavior, but maybe it was my hang over, or maybe it was because my roommate and I always laugh at the most inane things, but at that moment, my roommate and I couldn't stop laughing at this man's comment. Our laughter only fueled him even more, and he started to point out what a remarkably "happy" person I was. This continued while he kept talking to me and I, in ! turn, continued to laugh and laugh and laugh. It's interesting how this story could easily have been an "annoying" story, but on this day, it was mere entertainment and funny to me.

monica cardenas

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/18/06

One evening after having a wonderful date with my boyfriend. we were on the columbus circle platform station ready to go home when what i believed was a very nice bum approached us and began telling my boyfriend that he was a lucky man to have such a beautiful wife. My boyfriend tried to explain that i was his girlfriend and thanked him . Well the bum continued the compliments and of course i was thankful and whispered to my boyfriend to give him something for being so kind. So my boyfriend managed to find some lose change and gave it to him. All of the sudden the nice bum turned into a pervert and in a outloud and explicit language said what he would do to me sexually if he had the chance. there were so many people at the station i was so embrassed and speechless .I looked at my boyfriend and saw that his blood was rising. i saw him open his mouth and thought to myself yeah tell this bum off and send him you know where. But instead my boyfriend angrily ! demanded his money back!!!

all i can say we didn't last much longer after that.

elie marvit

Story Type: heart warming
Suway Line: N-Q-R-W
Date: 03/18/06

My marriage of 5 years had broken as did my heart. My cycnicism and bitterness around ever being in a relationships was growing faster than the rats that run on the subway tracks. My slide into the token booth of self pity and loneliness was halted as I watched the redemptive power of a relationship work its magic. On the "Q" train at about 7 pm on a work evening.A short shlumpy 40ish man got on board the train with an attractive 30ish woman. They had a relationship but clearly not physical you could tell that he was kind of stiff around her They sat next to each other on those long benches each one as they sat crossed their legs and carefully pivoted them one to another without touching. He was slouching obviously tired from a whole day of work. As he spke to her, She devoured him with her eyes, dwelliing on each of his words as if they contained the "wisdom of the centuries" and nodded and smiled at him, they each mimicked the other's language ! signs till it was as if I was watching a set of conjoined twins. What I watched was his straightening up and the fatigue of his day was slowly lifted and he left it on the train like an old newspaper. They left together never once touching but the elctricity that I sensed that evening has stayed with me and I saw that every body needs some body. I thank them for halting my slide into cycnicism and am now happily married to a woman I met on a subway platform who was asking for directions...but that is another story .

Lulu Putian

Story Type: ironic
Suway Line: 4-5-6
Date: 03/16/06

I noticed her right away, mostly because she was carrying one of those silver purses, which would have been fashionable last summer but looked gaudy in the middle of February. Her neatly manicured nails grasped a coffee cup that had lipstick stains on the rim. She took a seat diagonally across from me and the doors to the subway closed.

I promptly spaced out, losing myself in the world of the New Yorker.

But then I began to hear her sharp voice, distinguished from the soft shuffle of the morning commute. She mumbled, then cackled, then uttered a stream of nonsensical words before cackling again. She was telling a story that she clearly found to be amusing, but I couldn't see anyone around her who was listening: she was talking to thin air.

This poor woman, I thought as I watched her gesticulate to no one in particular. She looks so normal. But clearly she's crazy.

I imagined her trying to live her daily life in the city, talking out loud to people who didn't exist, but who were very real to her. I thought about the deli worker from whom she purchased her coffee this morning and wondered if he had also witnessed her laughing with the air. I wondered what kind of a brain glitch causes a perfectly normal-looking young woman to talk to imaginary people on the subway.

Her voice grew louder (no doubt in anticipation of the climax of her make-believe story) and I noticed, for the first time, a wild look in her eyes. She burst out laughing and vehemently shook her head. I began to twitch in my seat, imagining that this crazy woman could wield a knife, or do something equally unpredictable. I hoped that she would get out on the next stop.

The doors opened and the car emptied. She remained. But now there was a man standing directly in front of her, laughing with her. He must be taking pity on the poor woman and humoring her, I thought. But by the next stop, he was sitting next to her and her head was resting comfortably on his shoulder.

Apparently he had been standing across from her for the entire ride, obscured from my line of vision by a pole and a group of people. She wasn't talking to an imaginary person, she wasn't a victim of a brain glitch, and she certainly wasn't about to wield a knife and hold the subway car hostage. She was just a loud woman with a bad purse, drinking coffee, riding to work, and telling a funny story to her boyfriend who was standing across the subway car from her.

So it turns out that the only crazy person in the subway car that morning was me.

Shari

Story Type: annoying
Suway Line: A-C-E
Date: 03/16/06

The train was crowded, and there were no empty seats. A pregnant woman, about 8 months ready, got on. So I got up to give her my seat. Some junkie got up and stole the seat! I said to him "did you think I got up to get exercise around the train"? I got up to give this pregnant woman my seat!" He refused to give her the seat, and the conductor was walking through and made him give her the seat!

Shari

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: BUS
Date: 03/16/06

I was taking the M42 Bus crosstown, and I was sitting up front, and there was this nice (or so I thought) older lady sitting next to me, with a seat separating us. I had bags in my hand. She started talking about the weather, and we chit chatted, like strangers do; thought nothing of it. So then, I put my hand down flat on that empty seat. She said "you shouldn't put your hand there", and I said "oh, I know, germs". She then got evil and said "I know what you're trying to do.. you're trying to steal my pocketbook, and I have a knife in my pocketbook and I'll stab you in your hands and chop your (expletetive) fingers off!" I was shocked! I almost started crying! She got up and got off the next stop. People around me were like "what the.." I told the bus driver and she said that was considered verbal assault and I should have reported it before she got off! I was nervous after that. Some weirdos in this city; you can never tell who is who whooo!

Elgin Bolling

Story Type: remarkable
Suway Line: J-M-Z
Date: 03/15/06

I found myself on a Brooklyn Bound L train goint to Canarsie trapped in a car full of rowdy teenage boys. The only available seat was next to a young woman who appeared to me to be a teacher. I dont know how I came to that conclusion, there was just this "teacher vibe' about her. The boys in the car seemed like they had some kind of relationship to this woman and in a matter of minutes I figured out they must have been students at the school she taught at, or students from her class.

And I could tell by their conversation and body language, they didnt like her very much. Someone was going to get punched, I thought, and my mind went racing in a hundred different directions wondering if I should be a hero or not.

One of the youths positioned himself on a angle where he would be able to get a perfect right cross shot at her before exiting the train. I glanced at her face and could see that "this isnt happening to me" look on her face, and knew what I should do. ....sigh....

As I anticipated, the homeboy swung a right hand in the direction of the teachers face, I stood up, caught the punch in mid flight, looked into the students eyes and said in a calm voice,"you dont really want to do that."

A mixed look of shock and anger flashed across his face, and I knew that I had to come up with something that would make this moron "save face" infront of his homies, and keep me from becoming a grafetti spot on the subway door.

"you dont want to do that" I repeated calmly , despite my rush of adrenalin and wildly beating heart. " look at all the witnesses in this car, man. If you hit this lady, at least someone here is going id ID you and then you might spend a night in jail, she'll ID you for assault, and that will ruin your whole day, right?" I continued, "man, I'm just Looking out for YOU." He shook his head, and got off the train when the doors opened.

I breathed as sigh of relief, the teacher thanked me, and I told her that I couldnt live with myself if I let something happen to her.

I love this city.

helen

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: 4-5-6
Date: 03/15/06

I was on the train with my boyfriend when a lady boarded the train and began ranting about the end of the world. She was convinced that the end was coming in 32 years and that New York was not exempt( a point that she repeated at least 10 times). She then proceeded to explain that Wakesha was Jesus's wife and that only Wakesha would be saved. A fellow observer then replied to her that he "didnt know there were ghetto names in the Bible". At this point I was holding my breath so that i wouldnt burst out laughing and incur her wrath. Then, she used the word. She said "chaosity". Something about this made up word was just so hilarious that i burst out laughing. Luckily, my boyfriend was ready to cover my mouth. When i finally got off at 42nd I thought i would be free from her, unfortunately she also got off and followed me to the 7 train.

Elgin Bolling

Story Type: hilarious
Suway Line: 2-3
Date: 03/14/06

Here's the TRUE story.

One morning while going to work at the Fulton Street station number 2-3 line, where the station connects with the 4-5 Lexington ave line, as well as the 8th ave C, and A trains. Anyways, it's 9am, Im upstairs about to go out when I see this blind man coming up the stairs dressed in a fedora, trenchcoat, briefcase, dark glasses, and a seeing eye dog. I smile to myself. This guy is a blind businessman and doesn't let his disability stop him from going to work. Triumph of the "human spirit" and all that I think to myself, when suddenly, from around the corner comes ANOTHER blind man dressed almost identically!! I am NOT kidding you MUST believe this, as I KNOW it sounds like Im lying!! the guy has the hat , coat, briefcase and ....seeing eye dog... You know what happens next....

One dog sees the other dog, and both dogs forget they're on duty, and start FIGHTING ON THE PLATFORM!!! right in the middle of morning rush hour!! Both men are trying to get control of the dogs, and Im within biting distance of one of them, so I remain frozen as not to be eaten by a dog in attack mode. I look up to see if ANYONE else is reacting to this horrifyingly hilarious scene... New Yorkers are just going to work running to their destinations as if nothing is happening.

I swear I'm NOT making this up!

I love this city.

Elgin Bolling

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: 4-5-6
Date: 03/14/06

I've got a million subway stories. Heres another one.

Im at the Fulton street Lexington ave station about to catch the uptown number 4 train. A bum is on the platform playing with a spinning top. The top spins off the platform onto the subway tracks.

without skipping a beat, the bum jumps off the platform onto the subway tracks to retrieve his spinning top. Did I mention the Uptown 4 train is coming into the station? You can literally see the light in the tunnel. I then hear a voice from down on the tracks say, "LOOK Y'ALL!!! IT'S STILL SPINNING!!!"

The bum literally waits for the top to stop spinning, when it does, he casually picks up his top, hops up on the platform, and a second later the train comes into the station.

I love this city.

Rachel Baron

Story Type: other
Suway Line: B-D-F-V
Date: 03/14/06

It was on an F train back to home, back to Coney Island, USA. Where I was coming from that day I don't recall. But the train did stop for a lengthy period of time at Jay Street/Boro Hall. After about 10 minutes, the conductor muffled into his loudspeaker. "F train going express. Stops at Church Street, Kings Highway, Van Sicklen and West 8th Street." Express F train? Score!

But at Church Street a man of, well, not much means boarded the train and sat across from me. He looked me in the eye. And then, still staring, took his hand, put it into his coat pocket, and removed an x-acto knife. I stared at the floor.

He then proceeded to sharpen his little knife on the bright orange seat next to him. Carving lines in random order, staring at me straight ahead. Damn, it's an express train - I wouldn't be getting off any time soon. I trembled in my seat.

Finally, Kings Highway. I got off - and ran into the next car. The man got up, and stared at me through connecting car's door.

When my husband asks why I didn't just get off the train and run I said, "well, it was going express!"

eduardo

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: B-D-F-V
Date: 03/14/06

i came out of works and took the d tran in 34st i decided to rest so i lad my head and fell a sleep but i woke up and saw that thetrain was still on the same station but i looked around and then looked at the time and saw that 2 hours had passed i had fallen a sleep and the train had gone and came back to the same stop

Lillian Lewis

Story Type: other
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/14/06

My car pretty much had emptied out, except for myself and 3 males, seated in various positions, in various parts of the car, and all of them appeared to have their eyes trained (excuse the pun) on me. I was very uncomfortable, not to mention terrified, and too afraid to move.

Enter a Guardian Angel: tall, young and blond. He sized up the situation immediately, and casually positioned himself against one of the doors. I looked at him, gratitude in my heart, relief flooding through my system. He remained where he was til I exited the train.

heather ann snodgrass

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: other
Date: 03/13/06

last night, i didn’t expect to meet you. moreover, i didn’t expect the way you would change my life - perhaps, forever.

when i entered the turnstyle, i saw you standing there. leaned up against the wall, all tall and dark and brooding and mysterious, my heart did a little flip-flop when you looked up and smiled at me. i immediately felt self-conscious, knowing that i looked like shit…i was fucking freezing, drenched from the rain, no makeup and my ghetto sony headphones on because i stood on my ipod ones last week and broke them. but you smiled anyway, revealing teeth that probably cost you at least 8K in veneers, and this perfectly placed dimple on the left side of your face that made me want to drop my pants and have your babies right then.

i played it cool. poorly played it cool is actually more accurate. i sat down, pretending to listen to my music, all the while conscious of your presence. when the train finally pulled up, i watched you follow me out of the corner of my eye, and situate yourself across from me.

i sat.

you sat.

i smiled.

you smiled.

i looked down towards the floor, and liked what i saw. yup. big shoes. but wait…what the — white socks? white friggin’ socks? with hot black kenneth cole slip ons? goddamn it, i wish that didnt matter so much to me but…white socks. there is no fucking reason for you to wear white athletic socks out in public unless you’re going to the gym, which was pretty obvious from your true religion jeans. but anyways. maybe you don’t know, in which case, it’s alright. i’ll be sweet and offer to do your laundry and accidentally dye all your white socks pink, and then attempt to retrain you. you might feel reluctant at first, even apprehensive - but in the long run, you’ll thank me. like the next time you walk into a boardroom and mentally take note of the moron wearing WHITE ATHLETIC SOCKS with his suit, and think “holy shit. i can’t believe that guy is wearing WHITE ATHLETIC SOCKS with his business suit.”

i glanced around the train to see if there was something to distract me from the fantasy in my head where you whisk me off to some tropical paradise and there’s no need for you to wear white socks with your black shoes, but alas, nothing. except for the sign that briefly caught my attention promising my eight-to-ten thousand dollars for helping complete a ‘happy family’ by selling some of my ovum. those signs are all over New York, which is sort of amazing to me. i didn’t know there was such a huge demand for them. anyways, i look back at you, and magically there’s a toothpick in your mouth. okay, that’s sort of gross, but i can deal with that, i think. then, you started reaching in your pocket for something. what could it be? cell phone? crackberry? ipod?

no, it wasn’t. it was a PSP. that’s sort of…cute. but suddenly, i feel like a dirty old woman. maybe you’re a lot younger than i thought. maybe i’d just been fantasizing about a fourteen-year-old.

i’m going to jail.

what happened next was straight out of the twilight zone. the focus on your game was admirable. the way you got excited and verbalized every time you did something “sick” or “killer” on your prepubescent entertainment device. the way that your entire upper body seemed to one with your PSP and your game. the first time you jumped up and down in your seat sort of freaked me out, but after the fourth time i hardly noticed it. it was a part of your allure, almost.

then shit started to go downhill. fast. you got all tense and quiet and your fingers clicked furiously across the keys, a look on your face like you were jack fucking bauer or something. your audible grunts and sighs weren’t at all what i’d imagined a mere six minutes prior. maybe there’s something at work here - like a secret men’s business thing. i’m willing to consider that. but apparently, around about the seven minute point into our little interaction (which was really more an interaction i had with myself, now that i think about it) your world ended, and it was all your PSP’s fault because you took it and THREW IT ACROSS THE TRAIN, STRAIGHT AT THE EMPTY SEAT NEXT TO ME.

it broke.

you laughed.

i didn’t.

you got up and picked up your game which now had a busted screen, and was probably now unusable. you laughed again, with a look on your face that said to me, “oops. my bad.” i turned up my ipod and looked the other way. you’d freaked me the fuck out, and i started mentally counting the seconds until i could escape your psychosis and save my future children from obvious insanity. i apologized to my eggs/unborn children for scaring them like that. kids, i didn’t know. i’m so sorry. you have enough to deal with, knowing that i’m going to be your mother. i’ll try not to get involved with unbalanced men from here on out. i promise. i’d never been so happy to see a train station in my life, and to leave the warm cocoon the train provided and to step into the cold, windy rain. i considered running, but i wanted to see what you did next. luckily, i realized that my shoelace was undone, so i bent down to tie it. you walked past, whistling some unidentifiable tune, and threw your PSP in the trash.

it was so good to know that you’re inept when it comes to: a) choices in socks, b) proper social behaviour, c) innocent train flirtations and d) fiscal responsibility. i was actually thankful that i got to know so much about you in the short eight minutes we spent together. you were so hot, so very hot, but the adolescent game+adolescent behaviour+evident mental unstableness=not going to work for me. i’m sorry. i think it’s best if we just leave this as it is, going our separate ways into the cold New York night. but thanks for the memories. if i ever see you again, i hope i’m wearing an adult diaper because more than likely i’ll pee all over myself out of fear/shock/embarrassment.

Les

Story Type: heart warming
Suway Line: B-D-F-V
Date: 03/13/06

It was the evening rush hour and the elderly woman seated next to me on the crowded F train heading to Brooklyn was crying. It was the quiet kind of crying where no sobs were issuing from her mouth, but there were tears in her eyes. Ordinary, whether a person is crying, begging -- sometimes even dying -- on a NYC subway you tend to mind your own business. I guess that's survival tip number one for riding the subways. But an elderly woman dressed in black with tears in her eyes was too much for me to ignore. I wanted to make her feel better. "Can I do anything for you?," I asked her. The two straphangers hovering over me looked at me like I had just arrived from Toledo. This was not smart behavior on the subways of New York. "No," she said softly, reaching for a tissue. "I'm crying because I'm happy?" I looked at her and she sensed my confusion. "Don't you see? Look at all these people. They're young, they're coming home from work, they have wives or familes and warm places to live -- they're beautiful and blessed. I'm crying because God has allowed me the opportunity to see His blessings.

Chris .R. Notarile

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: B-D-F-V
Date: 03/13/06

It started off unlike most stories. I'm a film maker and my friend and I wanted to shoot a kung fu movie on the F train. We thought it would be cool, since not a lot of people could get access to trains in most amature films- let alone have an elaborate fight on them. So when it came 10pm, I boarded the F train with my friend Airon and his friends- brothers Fred and Emmrich. The three of them were to have an intense and dynamic martial arts fight while the train was in motion using the elements of the train as weapons.

Everything was planned out. As it grew later and the passengers got off one by one, we went from Jay st. Brooklyn down towards Coney Island. Eventually, the train was empty. At that moment, we began. I pulled out my camera as the three fighters took stance and we let it rip.

Between train stops, the three of them proceeded to professionally and safely beat the living hell out of each other. In reality, no one was even bruised, my fighters were so trained for the camera, they all knew how to pull their punches and compensate with extravagent vocal noises. But to onlookers, they looked like they were really, really fighting.

Everytime the train pulled into a station stop, I'd hide the camera and we'd all sit down and pretend nothing happened. God forbid the MTA police suspected us of being terrorists or what not, the last thing I needed was them taking my camera.

But that wasn't the case. The gong would sound, the doors would close and the train ventured on and we'd continue making our movie.

From 10pm - 2am we did this for 3 nights. And on the third night, 2 stops before we were about to call it a day and go home, probably the most stupidest thing happened. Airon had this bright idea of adding a second part to the fight where Fred after being kicked in the face would whip out two knives and proceed to attack. I had been vetoing this idea for a week now, and had almost convinced Airon that it was suicide for us to try it. But we were only two stops away and he requested that we do it just until we get back. Like a gullible idiot I agreed. (FYI- the knives were totally fake and harmless- but they looked real)

So we started the knife fight, with in 2 stops- that's 3 1/2 minutes, someone had seen Fred pull out the knives and called 911. They reported that a fat guy was trying to stab some other guy on the F train- please send help.

We pull into Jay St, and after three days of filming, we were all getting lazy, instead of putting away all of our incriminating evidence, we remained standing. I with my camera in plain sight and Fred in a horse stance with two knives in his hands.

The doors open and two men ran in and pulled out guns, they told Fred to drop the knives, I thought I was being robbed, then I saw badges. At that point I wished I was being robbed.

911 had dispatched two undercover cops. They had their guns drawn and they were ready to shoot with extreme prejudice. They ordered me to put down the camera. I did, but before I could explain that it was all fake, they screamed at me to "Shut the hell up and put you're hands behind your back. Don't say another word!"

Figures right? So they cuff us and drag us off the train. Back up comes. Six portly cops in uniform all snickering and looking at us like they justed bagged Bin Laden. I could tell it was going to be a long night. Fortunately, Emmerich was not fighting in that particular scene, so when the cops showed up, he sat down, grabbed our remaining stuff and minded his business. Lucky bastard.

As for Fred, Airon and myself? It gets better. Fred remained quiet and said nothing, he knew not to say anything because he didn't feel like getting shot. I did the same because I have common sense, I instead waited to speak after spoken to. Airon was not to bright. He, in a condescending attitude, tried to explain the officers that they had the wrong idea and should not arrest us. Since I had the camera, the cops looked at me like I was the ring leader. In reality it was Airon's project, I was a hired gun, but he clearly wasn't helping the situation, so I had to speak on his behalf.

After shutting him up, I explained what really happened and asked to be released. The cops understood, but after a 911 phone call, whipping out the guns and cuffing us, they can't just let us go, they have to go through the motions and take us with them.

Here's where things get bad. After explaining that I was about to be in for a long night and agony of all the paper work they now had to fill out, they explained that they were now going to frisk me, I had no problem till they asked me if I had any sharp objects or drugs on me.

I don't do drugs, but I forgot that I had a real gravity knife in my pocket. It's totally legal, but they made a fuss about it. That's when the cuffs stayed on.

They hauled us down to Brooklyn holding. Fred and Airon had no ID on them so they had to wait on that, but I got immediately processed and booked for possesion of a deadly weapon.

Eventually Emmerich brought in their ID's and after 5 hours, Airon and Fred we let go. They were fined with shooting on the MTA without a permit and disturbance of the peace. A 25 and 45 dollar ticket.

Me? I got told the exciting news that the D.A. wasn't going to let this slide, and since it was 5am, they might as well make an example out of me. So they sent me to county lock up. Which if you haven't had the luxury of visiting, it's a stink infested dungeon deep below the sewers of Brooklyn.

There, I met all kinds of interesting folk, pimps, drug dealers, crack heads, gangstas, homeless people and of course, a rhastafarian. From 5am to 7pm the next day, I stayed in that hell hole. Sure, I made friends with the pimp- who after finding out I was a film maker wanted me to shoot his porn films with his girls up in Rykers. But that's another story entirely.

Long story short, I spent 20 hours in jail and was finally set free. All charges dropped and I got my camera back. What did I learn from all this? Never get caught!!!

Pastoressa

Story Type: appalling
Suway Line: A-C-E
Date: 03/13/06

Between 3-3:30pm these lines are very crowded due to the kids coming out of school. I went to pick up my 12 year old daughter from school and boarded either the E or C line at 50th St. heading downtown. Lots of people were trying to get into an already packed train and we were being pushed in. My daughter, who was in front of me, was also being pushed into the train. Finally we got in and a young man started cursing at my daughter for pushing him. I stepped in to defend her and to excuse her from pushing, as we were being pushed too. The man kept on yelling loudly and threated to punch me and my daughter as well. It was horrible because nobody was helping and we could not even step away from this man because of the crowded train. He subjected us to yelling, cursing and horrible threats of breaking our faces. Finally, I decided to get off at the next stop to avoid the man's abusive language towards my daughter and myself. We were scared and shaken by the incident.

Patty

Story Type: weird
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/12/06

I have lived in the city for about 3 years now and occassionally you'll get on the subway and just ask yourself "out of all the cars this guy could have gotten one, why this one?" well- this one afternoon I was taking the 1 train to a voice lesson and this black male gets on at 96th st. He kept scratching himself all over and than moved down towards his pants. He unzipped his pants and stuck his hand inside. All the time with his eyes closed and just standing there with his hand inside his pants. Suddenly he opened his eyes, reached alittle further inside his pants and pulled out what looked like a stick of chapstick. Than he very naturally put the balm-like substance on his lips and began to put the tube back inside his pants. He gave a quick glance around the car and quickly took the chapstick back up towards his face and proceeded to rub it all over his cheeks and nose and eyelids. He than giggled alittle, put the chapstick back into his pants and got off of the train at ! Columbus Circle. Everyone on the train just looked at eachother and kind of shook their heads.

Anonymous

Story Type: heart warming
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/10/06

So I was in the subway and this lady was crying, and I sat down next to her and she was just weaaapping... so I asked her if everything was alright, and she mumbled "it will be..." and so I started rummaging through my bag for something to give her and I found this little rock my grandmother had given me, and swore was "the Blessed Mother (Mary, mother of Jesus)", I swear she grabbed it off the driveway, never-the-less, she believes it protects. Next to it I found a beautiful pair of earrings I had made (I am a jewelry designer)... So I gave the woman the pebble first and told her what my Nona told me, which is to keep it in somehting you always have (i.e. your wallet or purse) and I told her that it would protect her because my Nona thought it was the mother of Jesus, and than I gave her the earrings, and told her those should make her feel pretty and getting presents always makes things a little brighter. Than the lady next to her started crying, so I said "whats the matter now!?" and she answered, "That was just so beautiful!" and I thanked her and got off the subway at the next stop.

BRUCE COOPER

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: A-C-E
Date: 03/10/06

This story takes place (if I remember correctly) in the Fall of 1970.I was a student taking night classes at Pace University and would take the E train at Chambers Street home at about 9 PM. The train at that hour was mostly empty with only a handful of people aboard. When the train stopped at West 4th Street a familiar looking man got on,whom I recognized immeadiatly as Art Garfunkle.He didn't take a seat but leaned on the door. I looked at him, he looked at me,I nodded in recognition and I went back to reading a text book.The train continued to 42nd street where a middle aged lady got on and also saw the familiar looking man leaning against the subway door. She stood up just as the train was pulling into the next station and said in a load voice. "Wow, it's really you. It's really Paul Simon" "No" said Art, "but a lot of people confuse me for him" The lady shook her head and left the train. Art and I looked at each other and had a good laugh. At the next station we went our separate ways.

Eric

Story Type: nauseating
Suway Line: A-C-E
Date: 03/10/06

Have you ever noticed how on the train there is always only one crazy person/ bum on the train. My friend and i spoke about this the day before event happened. The question was, what would happen if two crazy people are on the train at the same time. I was sitting on the E train around Union turnpike when there was an extremely fat homeless man sitting across another homeless man. The friendly neighborhood sandwich guy came along. The sandwich guy found the two homeless men and handed them a sandwich a peice. The sandwich guy picked up a Hi C fruit drink and he only had one left. He said sorry fellas i only have one Hi C. The one fat homeless man screamed thats my "F%$king drink" the other homeless guy just sat there. It was nearing closer to my stop. The fat homeless man pulled out a scissor and screamed its mine! The sandwich guy gave the fat bum an entire speech on how he never had to have a weapon on the train. I couldnt stay because i was running ! late for a class but that is how it ended.

Jennie

Story Type: crazy
Suway Line: G
Date: 03/10/06

Some crazy lady, who clearly forgot to take her medication was yelling at me for stealing the blood from her family's lab. Then she told me that I had the eyes of the Devil!

Kevin Pales

Story Type: charming
Suway Line: 4-5-6
Date: 03/10/06

I was on the 4 train going home from work in Manhattan to Brooklyn. I was sitting there reading and listening to music when this guy sits down next to me. I look over and realize he's got the same backpack as me (but in much better condition!). So I look over at him and say, "Hey, nice bag". He sort of looks at me cryptically and I could tell he did not understand me at ALL! We sat there for a few stops and I could tell he was trying to figure out what I said to him. Finally, we get to his stop (Bourough Hall in Brooklyn) and he gets up, pauses to look back at me, points at his bag, smiles and gives me a thumbs up. I could tell he was as excited as I was to make this personal connection, despite speaking completely different languages.

H.

Story Type: appalling
Suway Line: 4-5-6
Date: 03/09/06

About a week ago on the 6 train there was a guy having his own party in the corner complete with alcohol and music. I guess he wanted a biger buzz because he then snorting a white substance that I assume was NOT sugar. And did I mention that it was about 3:30 in the afternoon?

Tom

Story Type: funny
Suway Line: 1-2-3
Date: 03/09/06

i was on the 1 train with a friend of mine that is a comedian. a group of girls was sitting next to us - obv not from the area. one girl was trying to open the little attendant room at the front of the car. she turned to us and asked if this was the bathroom. my friend sai, no, it's in the front car. her and her friend proceeded to illegally walk between cars to get to the front, only to realize that there is no bathroom on the metro. when they got back to our car, the whole car had erupted in laughter - even their friends. then one of the girls said to the other "why didn't you use the bathroom when we were at the restaurant?" and i said, "well she didn't have to go at the restaurant." jsut then my buddy piped in suggesting that they check out the dining car to see if there was a bathroom there. the two actually believed him for a minute. then i told them we were all in on it together (including her old high school friends) which they believed. talk about gullible.

Chris

Story Type: annoying
Suway Line: G
Date: 03/07/06

Well, of course I was running late as usual. It was cold and rainy outside... as usual. I left my apartment in a rush, with my book bag on one shoulder and the other arm in my jacket. I ran to the subway dodging assholes left and right. Once I was down there, I fumbled around in my book bag only to realize I forgot my wallet and MetroCard! I swore out loud "*@#$!" and then looked around to see that no one cared at all (I was amused by this)! I begged a crazy-looking lady for her to get me through with her card and she ignored me. I finally got someone to help. I ran through the terminal and barely made it threw the closing doors! I was late for my meeting and hada crappy day in general. I got mugged on the way home later when I decided to walk!

* This is a true story. All aspects are based on actual events that occurred in 2005... except for the parts about cursing in public, being mugged, and using the MTA

G-funk

Story Type: Heart warming
Suway Line:1-2-3
Date: 03/06/06

I loved taking the 1 or the 9 home to the Bronx every day from Columbus Circle and watching the better looking and better dressed people slowly filter off the train as it went uptown. 125th Street was the last stop for the well-groomed. After that it was just me and the other plain jane passengers. And the crackheads. One evening I sat opposite a man who bounced in his seat and talked to himself when he wasn't doing a variation on jumping jacks which he accompanied with a cursing chant. He was a kind of mta cheerleader I guess. He smelled pretty bad and would occasionally shake chunks of nast from his gnarly matted mane. So around 145th St. another dude got on and sat a little ways down the bench from our spirit filled friend. He proceded to remove his filthy sneaker and stare at it for a while before finally sticking his nose in and taking a whiff. Dude number one sat still and stared in horror and the shoe guy. His face crumbled and he looked l! ike he was about to cry. He composed himself and stood up. "That is just disgusting" he said, his delicate sensibilites deeply offended. He walked with his head held high to the adjacent car. I stayed. I've got a higher threshold for grossness I guess.

Catherine

Story Type: Heart warming
Suway Line:1-2-3
Date: 03/06/06

The Good Samaritan

As I get older, so do I get wiser, but some things hold true. With all that is bad in the world, there is good.

I took the 1 & 9 subway a year ago this past January from Penn Station where I became a victim of larceny on my morning commute. I was prey to a tandem pick pocketing sting and was abruptly pushed and shoved onto the crowded morning train. While leering at the man behind me, pushing, his teammate was accosting my wallet in front of me. These professionals stole my property as I pondered my upcoming day. Once on the subway I knew something was wrong and saw my handbag unzipped with my brand new wallet gone. With the train just on it's way North to 42nd St. I felt at a total loss and helpless, as they moved to the next train there was no way to alert the authorities, no intercom or help anywhere. A single trip to the office left me helpless, violated and angry at the city and subway system for not being able to alert the police that the man with my wallet was in the next car.

Upset and frustrated, I got off at my usual stop at 50th St. and was completely dumfounded to find a good Samaritan to my rescue. A very well dressed, handsome man says that he overheard that my wallet was just stolen and asked if I have any other money. I told him no, that all of my money and ID's were in the criminals' dirty hands. He reached into his wallet and handed me $60 and insisted that I keep it and to help someone else out. I was so distraught that I didn't even ask for his name or card, unfortunately. Perhaps he was my knight in shining armor shyly asking for a date and got away, or perhaps he was just a fine anonymous angel simply wanting to help another. Most New Yorkers would offer up a few dollars, but few would offer up $40.

I want to find this good Samaritan and thank him again for his sincere kindness. I also want to let Mayor Bloomberg know that he needs to make us feel safer on the subways. Another woman in my office building had the exact same thing happen the day before on the same subway line. What can be done Mr. Bloomberg? Aren't there cameras on the subway platforms to catch the perpetrators in action? Crime seems to be down, but good deeds are certainly on the rise.

Andrew

Glen Burnie, MD
Suway Line:N-Q-R-W
03/03/06

I traveled to New York in December for a series of job interviews. I immediately bought a MetroCard and took the N train down to my hotel in Greenwich Village. I went to sleep that night hoping my meetings would go well. The next morning, I awoke to the transit strike. Suddenly, I was less worried about “describing my weaknesses,” and more worried about actually getting to each company on time. I had appointments in midtown, Tribeca, and downtown. The next three days were a test of true grit as I criscrossed the city on foot while wearing shoes not intended for distances over a quarter of a mile. The weather was clear and sunny, but at temperatures of 20 degrees with a brisk wind, my ears beagn to feel like they would fall off.

I took some cabs, paid high zone rates, and shared with other riders. Once, I took a van service that was high on ambition, but low on navigation skills; one wrong turn was a costly mistake that made me late for a dinner appointment. The transit workers made their point. New York desperately needs the Subway.

I headed home on Friday afternoon, glad to be back in my car. I was listening to the radio. Just before I reached the Holland Tunnel, I heard that the strike was over, and the trains were running again. My MetroCard still had $18 dollars on it. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use it the next time I’m in New York.

Spencer

Union Square, New York
02/03/06

A few weeks before Christmas, I was traveling on business a continent away from New York. I was jetlagged from the redeye, tired from a long day of work and meetings, sad to far from home and family, and wet because it was raining. I was also hungry so I found a place that looked like it might have an edible sandwich and ordered. When I pulled out my wallet to get some of the multicolored slips of paper they use for money over there, a smile crossed my face. The bright, cheery yellow of my Metrocard peeked out reminding me I'd soon be back at home.

Artie

Sheepshead Bay, New York
10/25/05

So I was on the B train coming back to Brooklyn and it was really crowded, no seats anywhere and I just really needed to sit. So a lady misses her stop and decides that the best thing to do at that point would be to pull the emergency brake, cause thats what you do when you miss a stop. The train comes to a stop with half the train at the next stop and the other half still in the tunnel. The conductor opens up the doors of the train that are already at the station, not saying anything else. So pretty much everyone gets off the train and im thinkin "you know what ill stay". So I get a seat and within 10 minutes the whole train rolles into the station with everyone who got off waiting to get back on again. However, this time there was one less seat available.