The UK’s Daily Mail reports that London’s annual ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ made its return on the afternoon of the 11th, as hundreds of people rode the London Underground without trousers, creating bizarre scenes in the chilly weather and leaving tourists and commuting families quite perplexed. Participants stated that the event is ‘purely for entertainment’, with no political or charitable purpose, and aims to bring laughter and novelty to daily commuters.
On Sunday, participants gathered at London’s Soho Chinatown at around 2 pm before heading to the subway station, removing their lower garments and leaving only their underwear. Renowned British lifestyle magazine Time Out described the scene as being filled with ‘playful types, exhibitionists, single dreamers, and curious introverts’, who laughed heartily in the train carriages, attracting bystanders who stopped to watch and take photos.
● Critics Worry About Rise in Sexual Violence
The event has been held in London since 2009, introduced by the ‘Stiff Upper Lip Society’, and originated from New York’s 2002 ‘No Pants Subway Ride’. However, as society’s focus on issues of sexual harassment has grown, the event has come under increasing criticism in recent years. British fashion writer Clarke pointed out that this event ‘has long been regarded as harmless fun’, but criticized the ‘tradition’ for causing secondary harm to victims of sexual violence. During the pandemic, she personally experienced sexual harassment on the subway while the perpetrator went unpunished, and she commented that the event runs counter to demands for women-only subway carriages, thus posing a safety risk.
Police statistics show that in the 2024/25 period, there were 595 recorded cases of sexual offenses on the London Underground, marking a five-year high. Online reactions are also polarized, with some condemning the event as ‘disturbing, outdated and disgusting’, while others see it as a ‘lighthearted rebellion against a stuffy social atmosphere’.
Whether the event still holds entertainment value or has lost its relevance, debate continues within London society.