Vancouver commuters drop pants in flash mob

If it looks like something weird is going on, that's because there is something weird going on. It's the sixth annual no-pants SkyTrain flash mob in downtown Vancouver.

More than 400 passengers on Vancouver's mass transit SkyTrain all made their commute on Sunday without something that you might consider essential given the cold, rainy weather -- their pants.

The bizarre tradition started in 2002 in New York City by a comedy group known as Improve Everywhere. The No Pants Subway ride has since become a worldwide tradition, with bare legs appearing in cities in more than two-dozen countries.

Vancouver residents have been dropping their pants on the city's SkyTrain now for six years, with the number of participants and onlookers expanding each year.

Organizers said this year's turnout appeared to be double that of 2014, despite rainy weather and a temperature of only eight degrees Celsius.

While Xinhua reporters probed a couple of pants-less train riders, the interviews were less than revealing.

Toga Boy said, "What do you mean what's going on? We're just riding the train. Yeah, there's nothing going on here. Just riding on the SkyTrain, you know, enjoying the commute. What else would I be doing?"

The tradition emerged as an underground improve event, but has evolved into more of an organized spectacle, with large contingents of media and onlookers now joining the fray.

Local transit security officials worked to keep the flash mob organized and safe without trying to stop it. Endi