JUNE 8, 2008 - Yesterday, The World Naked Bike Ride held its northern hemisphere segment in about 70 cities, drawing the usual media frenzy which it seeks to create public awareness about automobile pollution and oil dependency. The fourth annual protest isn’t a naturist event, but counts on the participation of many nudists. The slogan is “bare as you dare”, thus participants can be naked, or half-naked, or even fully clothed, although full nudity is encouraged to illustrate how vulnerable bicycle users are in traffic-choked streets. Most do opt to go nude, albeit with sometimes elaborate body paintings. The first WNBR ever was in 2004, in Vancouver, Canada.

Paris, France again saw more than a hundred riders, and once again protesters were forced to wear at least undergarments, lest they be arrested by the scores of “gendarmes” patrolling the streets. According to the city’s ordinance, women were also prohibited from exposing their breasts. Several who defied the ban on public nudity were quickly pounced upon and led away. Ironically, France is considered a pioneer and bastion of naturism.

Ottawa, capital of Canada, saw 75 people ride through the city without incident, despite a searing spring heat wave.

In the popular English Channel resort of Brighton, an estimated 500 people rode nude. The Sussex police allowed full nudity explicitly for the event, although one can’t forget that this is the country which locked-up Stephen Gough, aka The Naked Rambler, for years for claiming his rights to be as he was born wherever he chooses.

Mexico City saw 500 mostly nude men and women cycle through city streets, converging on the Zocalo, site of the biggest nude photo shoot in history last year. The Mexican capital is one of the most polluted cities in the world, largely due to car emissions getting trapped in the valley in which the metropolis sits.

Not all Naked Bike Rides are held the same day, thus several major cities will hold their version in the days to follow.

More articles on WNBR
BBC video of Mexico City 2008 WNBR
El Mundo video of Madrid 2008 WNBR [in Spanish]