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World Naked Bike Ride

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Overview

World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) http://worldnakedbikeride.org is an international event in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport (the vast majority on bicycles, and fewer on skateboards, roller blades, roller skates) to "protest oil dependency and celebrate the power and individuality of our bodies".

WNBR is a clothing-optional event. The motto is "Bare As You Dare", which was popularized during the "Bare As You Dare" Bike Rides that Artists for Peace/Artists Against War held leading up to WNBR. Participants are encouraged to wear as much or as little clothing, body paint, or other forms of flair as they feel comfortable. Bicycle decoration is also encouraged.

The ride can also be categorized as a form of political protest, streaking, public nudity, clothing-optional recreation and is also considered a Critical Mass event.

History

The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) concept was created by political/social activist Conrad Schmidt of Vancouver, BC. The idea rapidly came to life through collaborations with many different activist groups and individuals around the world. The first WNBR event took place in June of 2004 and was a collaboration between the WNBR group which rode on June 12th and Manifestación Ciclonudista in Spain which rode on June 19th. Since that time rides have also taken place in February and March (mainly in the Southern Hemisphere). A smaller number of rides have taken place at other times of the year, often at special events, such as The Burning Man Project.

Prior to the first World Naked Bike Ride event in June of 2004, there were two independent organizations organizing very similar political events with virtually identical messages of protesting oil dependency. These organizations were Aritsts Against War/Artists for Peace in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Manifestación Ciclonudista in Spain. Despite having similar political messages neither of these groups knew of the existence of the other until until collaboration began many months before the first WNBR event.

The first year of WNBR in 2004 saw events in 28 cities, in 10 countries, on four continents.

Issues

Sharing the road

Some are opposed to large Critical Mass-type events in general because they claim the events interfere with automobile traffic

WNBR participants, like those in Critical Mass counter "We are not STOPPING traffic, we ARE traffic!" Critical mass and other biketivist groups promote awareness of cyclists, they feel, out of necessity — many cyclists are seriously injured and killed by careless drivers. That includes commuters, students, children, police officers on bicycles, every body is at risk in a society that promotes car culture over cyclist culture and walkable communities. Participants point out that many roads were not built for bicycle traffic and that needs to change.

(Refer to Critical Mass page for an extended discussion of this issue).

Health, efficiency & sustainability

Participants belive that many communities were not designed to take advantage of the world's most efficient means of personal transport, the bicycle. Instead, they believe, society has subordinated common sense and community values to the requirments of large, expensive, dangerous, loud, and polluting vehicles. Oil has become a treasured commodity despite its inherit evils, despite the costs of war, climate change, and innocent lives.

Like Critical Mass, WNBR aims to promote bicycle transportation, recreation, walkable communities, and environmentally-responsibile, sustainable solutions to living in the 21st century. Participants celebrate the many benefits of a car-free lifestyle: free of emissions, free parking, and an overall free feeling.

WNBR approach

Some cycling activists criticize the event for trivializing the issues of oil dependency, cyclists' access to roads, and car culture. Organizors argue that having fun and doing public outreach are not mutually exclusive goals. Creative advocacy stimulates people to contemplate the issues. They argue that by immersing themselves in lanes intended for cars and not for bicycles, by tossing their clothes and rejecting body shame, they are protesting a way of life which needs to abandoned. They believe that by getting people to laugh and smile is a great way to connect and share ideas in a non-threatening way.

Body positive values, body image & offense

The ride has been criticized by some because WNBR often involves participants who are naked or topfree. Some people are offended by nudity or topfreedom believe that it should take place in designated areas and/or times only. People who feel WNBR participants are going out of their way to get attention by using their uncovered bodies may argue that they are being exhibitionists or expressing sexually-deviant intent.

Others say that participants should not be naked unless they conform to their own ideals of physical attraction. Some cruelly label riders as not being sexually-attractive.

Others do not feel comfortable participating because they are shameful of their body or because someone may photograph them. Many people have been brought up to have negative feelings about their so-called "sex organs".

Participants claim that non-sexualized, colorful and creative nakedness in uptight societies is a refreshing way to remind people of some of the fundamental freedoms of life that people have collectively handed over, without really thinking of the consequences. They claim that it is about body-positive values: living a healthy life in tune with, not against, the environment; respecting the natural beauty and diversity of human bodies; and establishing and projecting a positive self image and rejecting shame. Organizors feel that WNBR is not just a ride against oil dependency, it is a ride for self-empowerment.

Legality of public nudity

Some events have been accompanied by a police presence. In some cases they are on hand to monitor the event, in other cases the police have attempted to stop the ride, in other instances police intimidated riders to ride some level of clothing. Arrests during WNBR events are rare. There have been arrests in Auckland, New Zealand (13 February 2005) and North Conway, NH, USA (June 2005). However, no known charges have been filed.

The reason the majority of WNBR events have encountered few problems is fairly simple.

(1) The laws on nudity, for the most part are incredibly vague and difficult to enforce. As WNBR is clothing-optional, organizers urge those who are uncomfortable going completely naked or are afraid of any legal scuffles to simply not go completely naked. One probably does not not need to cover up much to be legal. Participants have used body paint, liquid latex, a strategically placed sock, underwear, and duct tape. As an example, flesh-colored body suits with exaggerated body parts were used in 1999 by Fremont Arts Council members to spoof the naked cyclists in the Summer Solstice Parade in Seattle. Creativity and imagination are strongly encouraged whether the partipants goes fully bare or not.

(2) Some cities have restrictions on nudity in public areas, and some cultures have harsh restrictions on nudity in public (such as Saudi Arabia). However, in most progressive societies, laws are written to discourage activities which are intended to shock or offend. Many laws on nudity hinge on something called ""indecent exposure"". Most participants believe that there is nothing indecent about a naked body and counter that the only thing that is indecent are the laws on indecent exposure. Many contend that the shame is on those who demand coverups, not on those who can go without.

Simon Oosterman, organizor of the Auckland 2005 WNBR, and the first ever to be arrested during a WNBR event, is credited with going further and refocusing the issue on oil-dependency. He urged "Stop the indecent exposure to vehicle emissions!"

"I have had many fun encounters with police officers, one of the most interesting was when this grumpy police officer came up to me and told me that he thought that what I was wearing was indecent. I looked him straight in the eye and told him that I thought his opinion was indecent. I was right —and no— I was not arrested." - Conrad Schmidt, Vancouver, BC

Oragnizers believe that there are many indecent laws that citizens of the world have to stand up to, such as those that are infringing on personal freedoms.

(3) Police do not want to be seen confronting a large group of peaceful naked people. Its too embarrassing. Attempted police/city crackdowns on popular nude events have met with popular backlash. As an example, the City of Seattle threatened to withdraw a permit to the Fremont Arts Council in 1991 for the Summer Solstice Parade due to an increasing amount of naked cyclists. The controversy made the cyclists even more popular, especially after they agreed to particpate within the spirit of the event with costumes, bodypaint, and bike decorations.

(4) Keep it loud and fun! Participants who encounter police or any other aggression are urged not reciprocate the aggression, to keep it light, and to use humor as a weapon. It is tough getting angry at a colorful naked person on a bicycle. Anger and aggression only returns anger and aggression.

Riders are encouraged to ride loud and be proud. Organizors only allow rides to be organized in public areas for maximum outreach, not in established or ghettoized areas such as nudist/naturist clubs. Events promoted at the grassroots level, often using internet resources such as discussion groups, web sites, blogs, online journals and also by placing advertisements in local, non-mainstream newspapers and progressive journals.

Making Waves: Backlash vs Blowback

Some believe that public nudity may threaten clothing-optional freedoms such as at-home nudity, naturist/nudist clubs or resorts, free beaches, or may result in legislation further restricting other activities involving nudity or partial nudity. However, there has been no documented backlash due to any WNBR event. Some riders feel secure and empowered in their belief that they are part of a popular blowback effect after living in a restrictive society and feeling that their concerns have not been taken seriously.

Comparable events

WNBR is similar to Critical Mass, with the distinction that Critical Mass rides tend to happen more frequently (often monthly) and WNBR participants are encouraged to wear as little as they feel comfortable.

WNBR is one of many clothing-optional/or partially clothing-optional events around the world which include:

  • the painted naked cyclists of the Fremont Arts Council's Summer Solstice Parade (Seattle, Washington, USA)
  • "Manifestación Ciclonudista Mundial" http://www.ciclonudista.net in Spain
  • "Critical Tits" at The Burning Man Project at Black Rock City, Nevada, USA
  • "Body Pride Ride (BPR)" at the Seattle Gay Pride March in Seattle, Washington, USA
  • "Bare As You Dare" Ride by Artists Against War/Artists for Peace in Vancouver, British Columbia
  • "Critical Mass Ciclonudista" in Italy
  • "The Sydney Body Art Ride" http://sydneybodyartride.org in Sydney, Australia (participants are not allowed to ride completely naked)

Further Reading

See also

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