World Naked Bike Day

Held on : 10th June

World Naked Bike Day is an event which is is a peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture. A celebration of the bicycle and also a celebration of the power and individuality of the human body.The ride also demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road. It is a major event in U.K. and is generally held around or before 13th June. In other countries the dates may vary. Some rides are scheduled on different days, clustered around these main dates. Most rides will go ahead rain or shine, but some cities have a backup date in case of bad weather. Any type of body-powered transport is used on this day like skateboards, inline skates, rollerskates, rollerblades, unicycles, tricycles, chopper bikes, tandems, recumbents, rickshaws etc. Though it is known as World Naked Bike Ride one does not need to go nude. One can go as bare as they wish and travel by bicycle or rollerblades. Participation is free and is filled with fun. Local police officially acknowledge the legality of full nudity and and no one is arrested for nudity. In some areas of UK and some countries full nudity isn't permitted and as such the groin area and female nipples need to be covered. However, buttocks can be shown by either men or women. The day is also the same day as the Queen's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour. The world's biggest naked protest was held in over 50 cities and thousands of riders participate worldwide, including around 3,000 in the UK in 2009. In 2010, the rides will take place across the UK during the week commencing June 11th, several thousand riders will participate in it. It is a great spectator event and many people across the world come to watch this colourful event.

History - The first Naked Bike Ride was celebrated in Zaragoza, Spain, in 2001. In 2003 Conrad Schmidt conceived the World Naked Bike Ride after organizing the Naked Bike Rides of the group Artists for Peace/Artists Against War (AFP/AAW) which took place in the early part of the same year, as well as other high-profile political/media events leading to the creation of The Work Less Party of British Columbia. WNBR rapidly started to come to life through collaborations with activist groups and individuals around the world. The first WNBR event in 2004 was a collaboration between the WNBR group (June 12) and Manifestación Ciclonudista in Spain (June 19), establishing a precedent as a solstitial Saturday observance. 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.

Prior to the first World Naked Bike Ride event in June 2004, two independent organizations - AFP/AAW and Manifestación Ciclonudista - had been organizing very similar political events with virtually identical messages of protesting oil dependency. Despite having similar political messages neither of these groups knew of the existence of the other until collaboration began many months before the first WNBR event. The 2004 WNBR saw events in 28 cities, in 10 countries on four continents. The first World Naked Bike Ride was held on 12 June 2004 when 58 cyclists rode naked through London's Hyde Park. The police were tolerant and there were no arrests, and the public enjoyed the event. At the Hyde Park ride, nearly a dozen clothed cyclists were inspired to disrobe spontaneously and join the leisurely nude ride. The event has continued to grow in popularity and in 2007 and 2008 over 1,000 people rode through London. From 2004 to 2009, there have been 30 UK Naked Bike Rides with a cumulative total of 7,000+ riders in 11 locations.

List of participating countries:

Argentina.
Australia.
Austria.
Belgium.
Brazil.
Canada.
Czech Republic.
Denmark.
France.
Germany.
Greece.
Ireland.
Israel.
Italy.
Japan.
Latvia.
Mexico.
Netherlands.
New Zealand.
Peru.
Poland.
Russia.
South Africa.
Spain.
Sweden.
Switzerland.
United Kingdom.
United States.

Events - On this day participants in cities around the world, ride naked on cycles as a peaceful protest. In London, the ride starts at Wellington Arch, then to Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Embankment, Houses of Parliament/Big Ben, London Aquarium/London Eye, IMAX cinema roundabout, Waterloo Bridge, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Centre Point/Tottenham Court Road Tube, Oxford Street, Oxford Circus, US Embassy, Park Lane, and finishes at the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner.

Some of the activities:

• The UK World Naked Bike Ride fund provides local organisers with money for poster/flyer printing, advertising, ride equipment etc.
• The event is covered by most TV, Radio, print and online coverage of the WNBR in the UK, but most of this info is stored with the local rides webpages.
• People tend to be creative and colourful in expressing themselves. Body art (such as body painting) are common forms of creative expression, as well as costumes, art bikes, portable sound reinforcement systems such as public address systems / bullhorns, boomboxes etc.
• Other creative expressions are also used to convey the message and to complement their physical forms.

Alternate Name - World Naked Bike Ride, World Naked Bike Ride Day.

Holiday Status - It is not a public holiday.