Temps in the 20s did not dissuade the hardy souls who dropped trou in the name of the absurdist anarchy known as No Pants Subway Ride 2010.

The organizers, Improve Everywhere, say 3,000 people took part. That’s 6,000 freezing knees, give or take a few.

The event even made the cover of today’s Metro paper.

Lots and lots of photos here. Safe for work? Depends where you work.

Is this 6 train car chilly, or is it me?

Yes, the subways will be full of pantsless riders this weekend, as No Pants Subway Ride 2010 takes place 3 p.m. Saturday. 

This is actually not a joke. It’s part of Improv Everywhere, the band of merry pranksters who brought you that hysterical frozen-people stunt in Grand Central and, of course, No Pants Subway Ride 2009. Here’s the video from last year’s pants-off, and here’s what the good folks at Trainjotting wrote about it.

Here’s the link to everything you need to know about the stunt; yes, you too can partake in the ninth annual No Pants Subway Ride.  Keep in mind the weather looks like sunny and 26 degrees, and here are some basic rules:

As soon as the doors shut at the stop before yours, stand up and take your pants off and put them in your backpack. If you’d like to use a briefcase, purse, grocery bag, or whatever instead of a backpack that’s fine too. If anyone asks you why you’ve removed your pants, tell them that they were “getting uncomfortable” (or something along those lines.)

Exit the train at your assigned stop and stand on the platform, pantless. You will wait on the platform for the next train to arrive. Stay in the exact same place on the platform so you enter the next train in the same car as you exited the last train.

When you enter, act as you normally would. You do not know any of the other pantless riders. If questioned, tell folks that you “forgot to wear pants” and yes you are “a little cold.” Insist that it is a coincidence that others also forgot their pants. Be nice and friendly and normal.

Some 900 New York subway riders braved snow and freezing temps to take part in a No Pants! Subway Ride from Foley Square to Union Square. No Pants! went on in 10 cities around the world, with some 2,000 people doffing trou for the event.

The day started with the pantsless gang assembling in Foley Square in lower Manhattan, then boarding the Q, the 2 and I think the 6.

When asked why they’d opted for the no-pants look, participants responded with either “It’s hot” or “I forgot.”  

As one might’ve guessed, the stunt was pulled off by the Improv Anywhere folks, who you may recall organized a giant freeze in Grand Central, with hundreds of participants turning into statues for a few minutes.

Improv Everywhere is a bit vague as to why they did the stunt:

Our No Pants mission has grown quite a bit from the small, subtle, seven-person operation from 2002. Ever since the police handcuffed 8 participants back in 2006, the news media has gone completely crazy over the concept of pantless subway riders. The amount of coverage both before and after this year’s event is beyond absurd, but ultimately the more people who learn about it and participate, the better.

If the Village Voice’s slide show is any indication, nice legs were most certainly not a prerequisite.

For lots and lots more photos–and video–check out the Improv Everywhere site.  

[photos Paul Quitoriano]