See Phoenix go pantsless in public during the No Pants Light Rail Ride

They were half-dressed but fully committed. For years, Valley residents joined the No Pants Light Rail Ride Phoenix, an annual prank where riders ditched their trousers or shorts and went pantsless on public transit trains.

The cheeky, body-positive event took place every January in Phoenix and other cities worldwide. Originally launched in 2009 by Improv Arizona, the urban prank was meant to be an unconventional experience aiming “to challenge the mundane day-to-day life.”

Its pantsless participants definitely got attention.

The No Pants Light Rail Ride became a Phoenix tradition; hundreds of people joined the fun each year. They earned stares and amused looks from other riders and plenty of online infamy.

No Pants rides were born in 2002 on the New York City subway before the concept spread to other cities worldwide. Phoenix’s version debuted weeks after Valley Metro Rail launched in 2008.

It attracted a legion of local pranksters and took place each year until the pandemic derailed the event from 2021 to 2023. Michael Maurer, an organizer of the event who helped resurrect the ride in 2024, told Phoenix New Times going pantsless on public transit is a unique experience.

“It’s really fun to do, but definitely isn’t for everyone,” Maurer told New Times. “But for those with a curiosity for the weird or those wanting to push themselves to try something different, this is the event. There is no shaming or judging at these events.”

After Phoenix’s No Pants Ride returned in 2024, the event sparked a storm of controversy and backlash from critics who claimed it exposed younger light rail passengers to indecency. In January 2025, ride organizers announced they were pausing the event.

Valley Metro, the agency overseeing public transit in metro Phoenix, later revealed it raised concerns with ride organizers due to the negative feedback from 2024’s event.

This weekend, the 2026 No Pants rides will take place in New York City and London on Sunday, Jan. 11. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s version of the prank won’t be happening. Organizers have revealed no plans to resurrect the event, despite earlier claims that the event would eventually return.

Here’s a look back at Phoenix No Pants Light Rail Ride over the years.