Phoenix light rail riders to bare legs Saturday for annual no-pants event

PHOENIX – Valley Metro light rail riders might find themselves feeling a bit overdressed Saturday afternoon.

That’s because Phoenix is once again taking part in the annual Global No Pants Subway Ride.

Comedy collective Improv Everywhere started the cheeky tradition in New York in 2002, and pants-free rides are planned in more than 20 cities in North and South America, Europe and Australia this year.

The Phoenix version, which is in its 11th year, is organized by Improv AZ and includes an afterparty at The Churchill.

Participants are asked to bring a bag or backpack to carry their pants and wear any kind of underwear that keeps them from being overexposed, which means thongs and G-strings are no-nos.

Four stations that will be manned by Improv AZ representatives have been designated as starting points: 19th Avenue/Dunlap in Phoenix, Veterans Way/College near Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Sycamore/Main Street in Mesa and Sky Harbor Airport.

Pants-free riders should plan to board the first train to arrive at their station after 1 p.m. (Make sure to leave time to buy a ticket.)

Those who start at the airport should meet at the Arizona Highways store in Terminal 4 at 1 p.m. From there, they will walk to the Sky Train to pick up the light rail at the 44th Street/Washington station.

Riders can begin their voyage at others stops in order to meet up at one of the starting points by 1 p.m.

The Central Avenue/Roosevelt stop is the end of the line for the no-pants ride, and from there everybody will walk to The Churchill on Garfield and First streets for food, drinks and games.

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