Shedding layers for laughs: London's no trousers tube ride
One day every year, while riding the London Underground, you might encounter a surprising sight: hundreds of people travelling without pants. This is part of the annual "No Trousers Tube Ride" event with a simple goal.
On Sunday afternoon, January 12th, this year, hundreds of Londoners riding the Underground were missing one piece of clothing: pants. This was due to the annual "No Trousers Tube Ride" event.
Fun above all
The event's first edition, initiated by comedian Charlie Todd in 2002 in New York, has gained popularity in over 60 major cities worldwide, including Berlin, Prague, Washington, London, and even Warsaw. It is particularly celebrated in the United Kingdom.
The event aims to bring a bit of humour and good fun to gloomy winter days. "There’s so much bad, so much not fun going on. It’s nice to do something just for the sake of it," admitted participant Dave Selkirk, a 40-year-old personal trainer, as quoted by apnews.com.
Beyond entertainment, some participants also have missions. Miriam Correa, a 43-year-old chef at a London restaurant, participated in the event to show that all bodies are beautiful. "I am a real woman," she said, adding that there is no reason to be ashamed of her figure.
Reactions and atmosphere
While on the Underground, participants took selfies and exchanged smiles, and tourists watched with surprise. Though unusual and somewhat controversial, the event more often evoked smiles and good emotions from other passengers than anger or embarrassment. Interestingly, people of various ages participated, both young and old.
"It's meant to be innocent fun," says Todd. The first edition of the event took place in London in 2009, and since then, it has enjoyed unwavering popularity. Charlie Todd, the event's initiator, admitted this in an interview with apnews.com.
