NEW YORK (WPIX)—
New Yorkers bundled up Sunday for a typical January day... just not from the waist down.People went pants-less for the annual "No Pants" Subway Ride in New York Sunday, and in 42 other cities in 15 countries worldwide.
The event is organized by the New York City-based improv group, Improv Everywhere.
Participants are given two rules to follow: You must be willing to take off your pants in public and you must be able to keep a straight face about it.
Thongs or offensive underwear are prohibited.
"Our aim is to make people laugh, not (offend) them," an Improve Everywhere spokesperson said.
Hundreds of participants met at starting points in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan Sunday. When a train pulled up, they all took off their pants and walked onto the train, acting as if everything was totally normal.
No Pants riders were permitted to hop to different trains during the event, but resisted putting their pants back on until the event was over.
They even had to remain pants-less as they waited on platforms for connecting trains.
The ride ends every year with a big rally in Union Square.
The No Pants event has grown tremendously popular since it's inception in 2002. It started with just seven participants, and grew to about 1,200 in 2009.
