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Tag: no pants subway ride

  • No Pants Subway Ride–A Celebration of Silliness

    The No Pants Subway Ride is back–at least that’s what CBS News reports. This statement begs the question, “What is the No Pants Subway Ride?”

    Today is apparently the day that participants ride the subway sans their pants. First organized in New York City in 2002, the ritual now takes place in several cities all around the world.

    Organizers call the No Pants Subway Ride an “international celebration of silliness.”

    In Boston, which typically sees temperatures in the frigid range in January, participants are getting a bit of a reprieve. Those taking part in the No Pants Subway Ride might get wet–the region is experiencing torrential rain and high wind gusts–but they certainly won’t freeze, with temperatures in the low 50s.

    In most areas, those participating in the pantless ride will board the subway with their pants on, and strip them off once they are on board.

    In addition to U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta–just to name a few–the No Pants Subway Ride also takes place in London, Berlin, Vienna, and several other countries around the world.

    Did you or do you plan to go on a No Pants Subway Ride today?

  • No Pants Subway Ride: Riders Donning Drawers Draw Attention

    “I look up and there’s this guy with no pants on.”

    This is the how the “No Pants Subway Ride” was originally conceived – with a woman, being secretly recorded on the 6 Train as she served as the “butt” of a joke.

    “The idea was just very simple,” said the man who initiated the Improve Everywhere gag back in 2002 and recorded it with a group of seven friends.

    He reflected on the idea’s comedic concept: “What would happen if in the middle of January a guy got onto a subway car in his underwear but was also wearing his winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat? And wouldn’t it be even more insane if at the second stop a new person got on in his underwear?”

    After this, the prank gained momentum and has been continuing every January with more and more locales joining internationally over the years. Yesterday marked the 13th annual “No Pants Subway Ride”. Thousands participated in New York alone, while more than 60 cities in over 25 nations joined in on the fun. Madrid, Beijing, Sydney, and Berlin were just some of the other countries on the list.

    The girl on the far left clearly missed the memo:

    I’m more worried about them hula hooping so close to that track:

    The fuzz, looking befuddled:

    For the sake of comedic performance, participants were told to comport themselves with nonchalant normalcy about taking their ventilated nether regions on a ride. Some nailed it while others tried their hardest but looked terribly nervous once a camera was on them.

    Amidst the the inanity of this annual gag, there’s admittedly a sort of communal and absurd delight that comes with joining slews of strangers with chilly cheeks as they traverse the town sans pants.

    Or… so I assume.

    Image via Youtube

  • ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ Unites the World for Fun

    Thousands of people worldwide are shunning their pants for an annual event that began as a prank.

    The “No Pants Subway Ride” is currently happening in all parts of the world, including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Delhi and Paris.

    Improv Everywhere started the event in New York in 2002, the Washington Post reported, and describes itself as “a New York City-based prank collective that causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places.”

    Organizers in Washington used Facebook to tell riders who want to join in to try to maintain a calm demeanor and act like riding the subway in your underwear is the most normal thing in the world.

    Participants were reminded to bring pants with them in case anyone in authority orders them to put them on.

    In Chicago, participates were reminded on Facebook to keep it modest and not be too revealing.

    “Please make sure your underwear is not too revealing! All parts that may be deemed offensive MUST BE COVERED!” said the social media page.

    Here’s the story behind the event:

    Tweets abound with people excited about the event.

    Here are a few videos from past years around the world.

    Are you keeping your pants on today?

    Image via Twitter

  • “No Pants Subway Ride” Draws Thousands

    What began as a prank involving seven brave people has evolved into a huge, annual event which draws thousands. Which is surprising, considering it involves being pantsless.

    The “No Pants Subway Ride”, which has been happening every year for over a decade now, was held on Sunday in New York City. As hundreds of passengers looked on, groups of people at several different stops got on the train like normal and then removed their pants, leaving on the rest of their winter clothing. Of course, by now, many are familiar with the event and don’t look twice; but twelve years ago, a little comedy group called Improv Everywhere pulled off the stunt with straight faces as onlookers goggled and decided it was something they wanted to keep going.

    “It makes you feel invincible; superior, because nobody else has any idea what’s going on,” one participant said.

    An estimated 4,000 people participated in the event last year, and it has grown to include cities like Philadelphia, Boston, and New Orleans as well.

    Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

  • 11th Annual No Pants Subway Ride Poised To Go Viral January 8th

    It’s almost that time of the year, folks. The time when people take to subways across the globe in the middle of winter sans trousers.

    But why?

    According to the stagers of the annual No Pants Subway Ride event, long-time viral stars Improv Everywhere, it’s simple:

    Random passengers board a subway car at separate stops in the middle of winter without pants. The participants do not behave as if they know each other, and they all wear winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. The only unusual thing is their lack of pants.

    Easy enough right? And sure to freak out/thoroughly amuse at least a few subway riders.

    The event originated in New York City, but has spread to locations all over the world. Cities that have No Pants Subway Rides scheduled for this year include Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Calgary, Madrid, Jerusalem, Sydney, Taipei, Warsaw, Lisbon, and Prague.

    Each city’s details are different, but for instance, New Yorkers who wish to participate can meet at one of six different meeting points. From there, they will be broken down into groups and given a specific train car. Then, participants go about their business – read a magazine, play on their iPhone or whatever. When the car leaves the stop before the designated one, they take off their pants, put them in a bag, and get off at the next stop.

    Participants stand on the platform, pantless, and wait for the next train. They then enter in the exact same place they exited. The performance involves acting as if all the other pantless people on board is just a coincidence.

    But really. Why do people do this? The same reason anyone does something silly just for the hell of it. Whatever that is, of course.

    People are being asked to participate on Twitter as well, by using the hashtag #NPSR.

    Here’s some discussion of the first No Pants Subway Ride, set to appear in a documentary on the Improv group (currently a Kickstarter project).