New Urbanist Memes for Transit-Oriented Teens is a Facebook group where members go to post “any and all content, meme or otherwise, relating to , urban planning and urban policy.” With recent profiles in The Guardian, The New York Times, City Lab, Chicago Mag and even a definition in 2000s relic Urban Dictionary, its membership has blossomed to over 117,000 people.
But not just regular people are NUMTOTs. Famous people can be, too. Famous musicians.
So while we can’t confirm that the following celebrities are members of the meme group (nor that all of them are frequent transit riders), their transportation habits earn them honorary NUMTOT memberships.
Charli XCX
You may know her as “the Judy Greer of pop,” as Grantland writer Steven Hyden eloquently put it. A prominent feature artist and writer of pop bangers such as “I love it” and “Fancy,” Charli XCX has evolved into the future of pop with her ground-breaking mixtapes “No.1 Angel” and “Pop 2.” She also embraces the future of transit and is a certified NUMTOT as seen in this video that she retweeted on Twitter. Here is her taking advantage of Metro Bikeshare (LA County’s bikeshare program), hilariously synched to her song “Vroom Vroom” from the EP of the same name.
https://twitter.com/fischerlemos/status/1025590725919092737
Kim Wilde
While not as popular as Charli XCX, this 80s pop star is also a certified NUMTOT. She’s best known for her song “Kids in America,” famously covered by the Muffs in the classic teen rom-com Clueless. Here is a video of her performing that song on the London Underground. (The lyrics about America’s sprawling suburbs comment on the need for transportation demand management in Northern Virginia, in our opinion.)
Noel Gallagher
He’s best known for anthems “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Wonderwall” in addition to his never-ending beef with fellow bandmate/brother/Britpop survivor Liam Gallagher. But unknown to most, he is also a NUMTOT. Noel Gallagher can be seen flashing his Oyster Card and discussing how he is “always on the Tube” and that he “loves the Tube.” It’s great that he still takes public transit after all the years he has been an elder statesman in UK rock.
U2
Ah, the perpetual dads of Alternative Rock™. This arena rock band attempts to stay relevant by posing as NUMTOTs. Here is a video of them in disguise performing their 1980s hit song “I Still Haven’t Found What I am Looking For” at Grand Central Station in NYC. While I probably will continue to avoid their material from this decade due to them forcing their album “Songs of Innocence” on everyone’s iTunes, I still must give them props for providing New Yorkers with an entertaining commute.
Jay-Z
Despite his legendary rap career, from releasing the power-couple cementing album “Everything is Love” with Queen B/Bey and collaborating with Kanye West on “Watch the Throne,” Jay-Z is still a man of the people. Here is a photo of him taking the R train to his gig at the Barclays Center, where he introduced himself to a subway rider who didn’t know who he was (video below).
Colleen Green
Out of all these musicians, this L.A based noise-pop/pop-punker is the most NUMTOT. From professing her love for LA Metro bus route on her reddit AMA, to using public transportation exclusively on her first European tour. This NUMTOT is crossing her transportation habits into indie culture. Here is her sarcastic song about wanting to be a Taxi Driver.
Note from Jenna, the editor: After publishing this article she told us that she even has a song about riding the bus, called “Here it Comes.” It’s now our office jam.
Nick Jonas
Depending on your age, you may know him as either a member of the Jonas Brothers, Boone Clemens in the soon-to-be cult TV series “Scream Queens” or as an aspiring solo artist with indie cred™ with features in Pitchfork and a performance at Rough Trade NYC. I am also happy to announce that he is a certified NUMTOT. Here is a photo he posted to his Instagram of him taking the subway to the Met Gala.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BigGJsflm4Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Carly Rae Jepsen
I can already hear the NUMTOTS protest. As member wrote, “Please stop. We don’t care if Carly Rae Jepsen (praise be unto her) once rode a bike.”
Yet Carly did not simply “ride a bike once.” She has admitted to going on “three-in-the-morning bike journeys” with her boyfriend while she is on tour. In addition to enjoying this excellent NUMTOT-approved date activity (I would recommend including this activity on your NUMTinder profile post), we can definitely christen her with deserved NUMTOT™ status.
Taylor Swift
Best known for her well-crafted and intelligent pop with songs like “Blank Space” and “Style,” Swifties can rejoice as she is also a certified NUMTOT. Taylor Swift’s iconic 2009 VMA performance on the NYC subway has earned her this prestigious status, as well as her recent music video for Delicate, which also featured a scene on the subway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R3OrW_mXbM
Oppenheimer Analysis
This cover art says it all! Need I say more?
For those, interested, here is a list created by Tyler Walter, the creator of NUMTOT spinoff groups such as GRTC Memes for Tank-Loving Teens and Amchad Memes for American Rail Apologists Teens that were mentioned in the New York Times article mentioned above.