World Naked Bike Ride - campaigning for cycle safety!

[will golden]

OK, I'm going2 repeat myself (Burp!)

I am on the organizing collective for the World Naked Bike Ride London. As such I have first hand insider information for many of the UK rides (for a small fee! ....naaah! I can't do that! ).

The World Naked Bike Ride is the world's largest demonstration of any kind. We involve some 35,000 riders in upward of 50 locations worldwide, all bar a few (mainly in the southern hemi) virtually simultaneously, viewed in total by millions of people in the streets. Moreover it is the only major demonstration that is non-aggressive.

All the rides in England are full-nudity permitted, but we encourage bodypainting 2convey our messages. The three main tenets are.....

• for increased road safety for cyclists
• against overdependence on carbon fuels
• for body freedom & acceptance and against body elitism & perversification

Why naked?

• Because it symbolizes our vulnerability on the roads. We are naked in the face of the enemy!
• Then there is the public perception. If we all wore grey t-shirts with slogans nobody would take any notice. But 1,200 naked riders in the streets of London in the eyes of a mainly lascivious populace?????

And, hey, it's hellish fun! On a bike, naked in the face of nature; what a sensation of total liberty!

Hugz Will

 

[redcard]

Getting naked for a good cause.... Bit passé innit.

 

[Red Light]

You're not naked if you wear a helmet

 

[will golden]

Getting naked for a good cause.... Bit passé innit.

No.... as long as the majority of the UK population is brainwashed into some kind of sexual OCD (trended by: dress sense, popular magazine choice, social trends, TV preferences, relationships based on sex only, prurient spare time activities) nudity will always catch the lascivious eye of a population mass largely incapable of seeing nudity without thinking of sex.

The day a discerning majority accepts public nudity for aesthetic, lifestyle reasons rather than cheap titillation, then the World Naked Bike Ride will no longer be effective.

 

[will golden]

You're not naked if you wear a helmet

UR not naked ifU wear shoes either. But barefoot cycling goes against the tenet of campaigning4 cycle safety. It is imperfection that makes the world interesting.

 

[TheDoctor]

Sounds fun. When is it?
I shall ensure my helmet is on display.

 

[numbnuts]

At this point I was going to post a photo of me on a bike wearing a helmet, sandles and a thong but most of you have seen it before

 

[Gary E]

I'm not squeamish about getting naked I just don't like the idea of my man-parts not being help up out of the way of the saddle. My eye's are watering just thinking about it!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Sounds fun. When is it?
I shall ensure my helmet is on display.

Only if your helmet exceeds british (safety) standards, plz, otherwise it's all a bit
This is the prurient, lascivious, can't see nudity without blah blah bit of the population

 

[TheDoctor]

Sounds fun. When is it?
I shall ensure my helmet is on display.

Only if your helmet exceeds british (safety) standards, plz, otherwise it's all a bit
This is the prurient, lascivious, can't see nudity without blah blah bit of the population

That rather depends on the weather...

 

[redcard]

No.... as long as the majority of the UK population is brainwashed into some kind of sexual OCD (trended by: dress sense, popular magazine choice, social trends, TV preferences, relationships based on sex only, prurient spare time activities) nudity will always catch the lascivious eye of a population mass largely incapable of seeing nudity without thinking of sex.

The day a discerning majority accepts public nudity for aesthetic, lifestyle reasons rather than cheap titillation, then the World Naked Bike Ride will no longer be effective.

Not really. I've seen about 30 'nude' calendars in the last year. I couldn't give a stuff about any of them, or their causes.

You might get a picture in the Daily Mail, and people will have a glance before going on to read about Pippa's new handbag.

 

[mickle]

I've never been on the NBR but I do have the official T shirt from the 2008 event. I like the irony of a garment which celebrates nudity.

 

[400bhp]

A demonstration.

:sigh:

 

[Recycler]

It's an excellent way of making cyclists look like cranky hippies rather than normal road users who need proper consideration.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

It's an excellent way of making cyclists look like cranky hippies rather than normal road users who need proper consideration.

... or perhaps of showing that not all Brits are uptight gymnophobic busybodies who can't stand to see other people having a bit of a laugh whilst making a point.
I must admit, though, I wouldn't like to see similar activities from most of the motorists I see on my commute; now that probably would make me feel a bit nauseous.
(Have to agree about the "Hugz" thing, though.)