Apologies

Conductor: Stand clear of the closing doors. Person in the back of the train, step out into the train. Step into the train! Excuse me, in the back with the grey shirt, step into the train. Yes you! I’m looking right at you! Oh my god! Ladies and gentlemen, we’re being held in the station because someone in the back of the train wearing a grey shirt is blocking the doors.

–B Train

Conductor [as passengers keep blocking the subway doors from closing]: You’re invited!

–1 Train

Conductor: Stand clear of the closing doors. [Alert signal, doors re-open.] Goddamit! There’s always someone… Isn’t there?

–R Train

Conductor, in completely empty train: Ladies and gentlemen, if you get to the train and it is full, don’t try to force your way in. Don’t block the way of the door closing either. I don’t want any body parts obstructing them. Also, if you get to the train as the doors are closing, don’t try to pry them back open. Don’t try sticking your arms in between them either. Very bad idea. Just stand on the platform, wave, and say: "Bye bye, train".

–A Train

Snarky train conductor: Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. It’s very simple: We open the doors, you get on, we close the doors. If you are going to walk past two or three doors trying to find a car or space that you like, don’t be surprised if the doors close on you before you can get on. We are not mind-readers.

–B Train

Conductor, to guy holding train doors for his girlfriend: Sir, please let the doors close, we can’t wait for your girlfriend. [Some time passes.] Sir, you are young and not unattractive, I am sure you can find someone else to sleep with you on the train.

–L Train

[A crazy man is running back and forth on the sidewalk and uses a blonde girl to ‘hide’ behind.]Blonde: Excuse you!
Crazy man: What, you got a problem?!
Blonde, firmly: Yes. Could you stop being a weirdo around me?
Crazy man: Oh… Sorry. [He then proceeded to walk normally to the crosswalk.]

–57th & 9th

Overheard by: Not around me either

College boy #1: Do you think when we get there we can…
[Five second pause.]College boy #2: What?
College boy #1: Sorry, I had to concentrate. I had to fart.

–Crosstown Bus

Overheard by: Gonna Cab It From Now On

12-year-old boy playing on escalator: Oops, sorry! Gotta get rid of the calories somehow!

–Duane Reade, 57th & 6th

Overheard by: liz

Old lady to Indian girl bending to pick up and return stranger’s dropped wallet: I always knew you Iraqis were a good people. I’m so sorry about the war.

–Penn Station

Overheard by: Amused friend

Big black girl, after getting her foot stepped on: You can say you’re fucking sorry. I’ll punch you in the face. Bitch, I have postpartum depression.

–A train

Mom to three year-old dragging her into Dunkin’ Donuts: I’m sorry, honey, no coffee right now.

–10th & 2nd

Overheard by: Johanna

Dude on payphone: I’m sorry your pipes burst, Mom, but at least you have pipes to burst!

–3rd Ave & Astor Pl

Overheard by: Melissa

Waiter to hungry customers: I’m so sorry for the delay. We dropped a dish and so we’re redoing your whole order. As you can see, I’m eating the pasta we made for you…

–105th & Broadway