Thousands of train commuters in 60 cities around the world stripped down to their underwear on public transport for the annual No Pants Subway Ride. The idea is for participants to maintain a nonchalant air, chatting with fellow passengers, listening to music, reading newspapers, while keeping a straight face as if all were perfectly normal.
The No Pants Subway Ride began in 2002 in New York with only seven participants and has grown into a global phenomenon. Organisers call it "an international celebration of silliness". The event is coordinated by Improv Everywhere, a global flash mob. Even families took part, carrying babies wearing just their nappies. A Berlin woman had a cat's face splashed across her cheeks. At London stations, coats and scarves warded off the chill — at least from the waist up. Participants in Jerusalem drew stern stares from Ultra Orthodox men.
IBTimes UK rounds up some of the best No Pants Subway Ride photos from around the world.
A woman has a message for her fellow commuters in New YorkStephanie Keith/ReutersA man takes his trousers off on a New York subway platformStephanie Keith/ReutersA man checks out a woman travelling on a New York subway train in her underwearStephanie Keith/ReutersTwo women travel on a New York subway train in their underwearStephanie Keith/ReutersA man travels on a New York subway train in his underwearStephanie Keith/ReutersPeople dance in their undies at Union Square subway station in New YorkStephanie Keith/ReutersPeople in their underwear take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride in New YorkStephanie Keith/ReutersA New York City police officer stands guard during the annual No Pants Subway RideStephanie Keith/ReutersNo Pants Subway Ride participants dance on a New York City subway platformTimothy A Clary/AFPA baby snoozes in a pram on a subway platform in New YorkTimothy A Clary/AFPParticipants in the No Pants Subway Ride stand on a New York City subway platformTimothy A Clary/AFPA woman pole dances on a train in Washington DCAndrew Caballero/AFPA woman in her underwear has her photo taken in a photobooth at a London Underground stationLeon Neal/AFPPeople queue for information at Paddington train station in LondonLeon Neal/AFPParticipants in the annual International No Pants Subway Ride arrive at Paddington train station in LondonLeon Neal/AFPTwo men participating in the No Pants Subway Ride travel on a London Underground trainLeon Neal/AFPPeople take part in the London version of the No Pants Subway RideLeon Neal/AFPPeople travel on the London Underground in their underwearLeon Neal/AFPParticipants in the annual No Trousers On The Tube Day travel on the London UndergroundPaul Hackett/ReutersA woman in her underwear stands on a Jubilee Line escalator in LondonPaul Hackett/ReutersPeople take part in the No Pants Subway Ride in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersA couple pose for pictures during the No Pants Subway Ride in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersA mother and her son take part in the No Pants Subway Ride in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersPeople in their underwear take part in the No Pants Subway Ride in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersTwo men in their underwear wait for a train in Hamburg, northern GermanyBodo Marks/AFPPassengers pose in their underwear as they wait for a train in Prague's subwayMichal Cizek/AFPPeople stand on an escalator during the No Pants Subway Ride in Prague, Czech RepublicDavid W Cerny/ReutersPeople stand on a train platform during the No Pants Subway Ride in Vienna, AustriaHeinz-Peter Bader/ReutersPeople in their underwear sit on a train in ViennaHeinz-Peter Bader/ReutersAn Israeli man in his underwear waits for a train in JerusalemRonen Zvulun/ReutersIsraelis travel in their underwear on the light rail in JerusalemRonen Zvulun/ReutersA man stares at commuters travelling on a Jerusalem light rail train in their underwearRonen Zvulun/Reuters
