Bare As You Dare

This past Saturday, June 9th, marked the 4th edition of the Chicago version of the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR). The grassroots movement to protest oil dependence was officially started in 2004 by the merging of two groups, Artists For Peace (Canada) and Manifestación Ciclonudista (Spain). The WNBR now takes place in 20 countries and over 70 cities.

Reports from the initial Denver, CO ride were mixed, depending on which side of the law you gravitate towards. Most of the 23 participants (half of whom didn’t dare to bare) exclaimed that it was the best ride in which they’ve ever participated. Denver police thought differently, attempting to shut down the event before it was able to leave the downtown area, taking names, cell phones, handing out tickets, and arresting 2 participants.

Internationally, one look at the website for the organizers of Paris’ (and no that’s not Hilton, although something tells me riding a bike naked wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for her), first WNBR event suggests that they probably didn’t run into such legal issues or law enforcement harassment.

The success of the Chicago event (approximately 600 participated this year) can be attributed to several things: great organization, not releasing the actual route until the last minute, a healthy respect for the laws governing public nudity, and a mayor whose goal is to make Chicago the most bike friendly city around (although I’m sure Daly and Chicago’s finest would probably close down the route if they knew it beforehand).

For the exhibitionist at heart, the ride certainly provides another avenue for which to show your “wares” (hopefully those of the “soft” variety). While for the activists at heart, the WNBR provides a more than ample way to get your message across, “I consume calories and not oil by riding.”

So yes Virginia, (Katie in this case) there is a World Naked Bike Ride, and no my nasal congestion on Sunday can be attributed to allergies and not from riding around Chicago neighborhoods the evening before. At least that’s the story I’m sticking with…