Subway Riders Drop Pants as Part of Global Event

Giggles, gasps and bare legs filled a Toronto subway train Sunday afternoon when more than 100 people dropped their pants and rode the rocket as part of the city’s fifth annual No Pants subway ride, The Toronto Star reports.

“It’s about making people laugh,” said event organizer Cole Banning, 20, the creative director of Improv in Toronto.

“The world needs more people just having fun.”

The global No Pants subway ride first took root in New York City in 2002 when seven men involved with New York-based prank collective Improv Everywhere rode the subway without pants, pretending not to know each other, and captured the stunt on a hidden camera.

The event, set in January every year, has since spread to more than 50 cities worldwide, including Toronto and Vancouver.

In Toronto, a crowd of participants — most in their late teens and early 20s — marched from Queen’s Park to Museum subway station shortly after 3 p.m., many eager to kick off the annual event.

“This event’s perfect for me. I hate pants,” said 35-year-old Toronto resident Michelle Chan. “It’s hilarious.”

Claps and cheers echoed down the platform when one of the TTC’s shiny, new “Toronto Rocket” trains pulled into the station. Split into six groups, the crowd — instructed to act casually and remain coy with other riders — invaded every subway car.

Pants began to hit the subway floor as the train pulled away from the station. In one car, a wide-eyed mother and her daughter burst into giggles as fellow passengers stripped down to their skivvies.

Toronto resident Will Penman, 19, chose to wear the same pair of Canadian-themed boxers he wore during the 2011 event. Scarborough’s Chris Reynolds, on the other hand, chose a pair of tight, blue boxer briefs from his underwear drawer Sunday morning with fashion in mind.

“They match my backpack,” he said.

Aside from a few scowls from offended passengers, the 2012 No Pants subway ride was a jovial affair — even the subway conductor took to the intercom to wish riders the best and remind everyone to “stay warm.”

“It’s giving people something healthy and fun to do on a Sunday afternoon,” said Jenna Warriner, a third-time No Pants participant and Improv in Toronto member. “It’s just fun.”