PHX Reporter

Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona allowed grown men clad in leather underwear and fetish gear to parade in front of children during a “no pants light rail ride” over the weekend. Organizers in at least two American cities—Phoenix, Arizona and Baltimore, Maryland—took part in a “Global No Pants Subway Ride event,” Sunday.

The no pants events were promoted in the media as a fun and light-hearted way to ride the light rail or subway.

“Don’t miss an opportunity to get ‘cheeky’ in Phoenix,” gushed NBC News affiliate 12News. “Under where? Underwear on the Valley Metro Rail on Jan. 14, that is.”

“The event is a spin-off of the “No Pants Light Rail Ride” that occurred in the Valley from 2009 to 2020. The No Pants Light Rail Ride was inspired by a similar event staged on a New York City subway by an improv group in 2002 and has since spread across the world.

To join in on the ‘pan(tless)demonium,’ meet up at one of two light rail stations at noon, and at 12:10 p.m., remove your pants before boarding the light rail. Participants will then ride the light rail to Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue in Phoenix before walking to Walter Studios at 7th Avenue and Roosevelt Street for pictures, food and drinks.”

The Phoenix Pantless Light Rail Ride attracted just the sort of customers one would expect to participate in such an event.

“The seat-of-the-pants event is for anyone and everyone,” 12News noted. Unfortunately, some people brought their kids.

“This is a body positive event,” said the event’s Facebook page.  “It is imperative to act like nothing is different.”

Organizers stressed that nudity was not allowed and that public indecency rules still apply.  Some individuals appeared to push the limits.

The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh noted on X that some of the riders wore fetish gear in front of children.” This is horrific. Every adult involved should be in jail,” he wrote.

“This city of Phoenix just allowed something called “No Pants Light Rail Day” to take place. A group of adults rode public transportation in their underwear. Some of them wore fetish gear. Children were present. This is horrific. Every adult involved should be in jail. pic.twitter.com/pcruQVSGWh

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 15, 2024”

A Washington D.C. news outlet promoted a similar event in Baltimore.  “No pants? No problem!”  DC News cracked. “Inaugural No Pants Subway Ride hosted in Baltimore.”

“The cold temperatures couldn’t rain on participants’ pantsless parade on Sunday as they rode the Baltimore Light Rail without pants.” the outlet reported.

“The inaugural Baltimore No Pants Subway Ride invited attendees to dress totally “normal” on top and wear fun underwear, bathing suit bottoms or tights on the bottom.

The event was hosted by Uncustomary which said in a Facebook post that the event died down a lot during the pandemic – but they wanted to revive it.”

A much smaller number of people were willing to expose themselves to the bitterly cold weather in Baltimore, Sunday. 

“A small group of people held a first ever "No Pants Subway Ride" in Baltimore this Sunday, defying bitter cold weather outside, they rode light rail between Mount Washington and Downtown Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/TQxqk117vU

— Anthony Deng (@anthonyhdmedia) January 14, 2024”

Pantless train rides apparently date back to 2002, but it remains unclear what the point of the events are.

“I like the freedom of no pants,” said a Phoenix man wearing a business shirt and tie with his boxers. Those wearing more risqué gear in front of children could have darker motives.