The Boston Traveler

Pants-Free and Happy on the T

by Chandra on January 10th, 2008

Have you heard? This Saturday, January 12, Boston will host its very first No Pants! Subway Ride. Officially called No Pants 2K8 this year, the depantsing event is an extension of an annual organized group experience started in New York in 2002.

Big Apple-based comedian Charlie Todd established Improv Everywhere in 2001 to spread a little cheer in humans’ dreary everyday existence by staging “scenes of chaos and joy in public places.”

One result of Todd’s ambitious (and somewhat illegal-sounding) endeavor was the first annual No Pants! Subway Ride held in the bowels of the New York City transit system in 2002. I was living in Queens and commuting to work in midtown Manhattan every weekday and most weekends back then, but somehow I managed to miss the eye-opening occasion.

If you want to get in on the bliss here in the Bay State and don’t mind a little cold air whipping around your lower limbs for several hours, the place to be on Saturday is the large, open, downstairs area of the Red Line’s last stop in North Cambridge, Alewife Station, at 3pm EST sharp.

The Facebook website for the gathering (easy registration required) adds that people should only show up if they plan to go pantsless on the subway while maintaining a straight face throughout the entirety of the two- to three-hour ride. In addition, wear normal winter attire and carry along a backpack and fare, but don’t bring a camera; Organizers will take care of photos. I guess it’s also fair to advise against sporting underwear that’s sleazy and provocative, for safety and sanity’s sake.

Interested people who are game to give pants-free T-riding a try along with some of Boston’s bravest should know that it’s not illegal to walk around in public in just your underwear in Boston. All you’ll likely have to worry about is possible frigid temperatures, unidentifiable nasty stuff on subway seats against your naked skin (you can always stand then), and a few or more blank/horrified/stunned/disgusted/outraged stares from your fellow clueless riders. Otherwise, it’s all good times.

Even better, depantsed Bostonians will not be alone because this year, the seventh annual festivities, marks the first time that subway riders will coordinate internationally and go pantsless in additional cities besides New York (read more about this year at Heather’s The New York York City Traveler). Courageous commuters in six other locations—Adelaide, Australia; Chicago, Illinois (check out Matt’s coverage at The Chicago Traveler); Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Toronto, Canada; and Washington, DC (Jon writes about the event at The DC Traveler)—will be taking part in the stunt, as well.

Learn more essential details about the Boston leg of the mission (yes, that’s what these staged scenes are called) at the Facebook website, and take a look at what happened during the first and last No Pants! Subway Rides below. This is one one-of-a-kind event that’s sure to be a blast—of refreshing cold air if not memorable fun.

And, in case you’re wondering if I’ll be attending, the answer is, “Ahhh, no.” I get cold easily.

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POSTED IN: Events, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places