June 27, 2018

WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE REPORT


the fabulous poster art from PDXWNBR.ORG


Following the rides in Los Angeles and Portland its worth getting some first hand accounts from the people who actually showed up and put some skin in the game.

photo by larameeee

Portland's ride gathered in Cathedral Park under the St. John's Bridge in North Portland at 8pm and depared at 9. Of course when you have more then ten thousand people departing it takes a while to disperse. Thankfully there was music by the High Step Society and the sidewalks were lined with countless enthusiastic supporters and a few people that were worried their clothes might not make it to the afterlife.
even naked bikers have their haters
The ride winded its way to Woodlawn park, about 7 miles away a pretty short ride, historically speaking. Of course most were not done partying and there were several options to choose from including following the Tiki Bike to a undisclosed beach party along the Columbia River.


There are some insightful comments on Bike Portland (and some obnoxious ones)
and some photos from

Apparently both I-5 traffic and ICE were invited to eat naked biker ass.

Now we move our attentions down the west coast a thousand miles to Los Angeles, where about 400 people joined in two daytime, naked celebratory protests of a different, uh flavor.
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We met in an industrial corridor of downtown LA at 9am, just across the train tracks from the skyline. A friend visiting from Phoenix joined me. We were some of the first to arrive, and when we did, at first it definitely had a very SoCal ex-hippy naturist vibe to it.
As it began to fill in, the group became much more diverse in age, race, and gender expression. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and we all took pictures with each other. It felt very relaxed and supportive. There were a couple taco trucks, body paint lead by the teenage daughter of one of the organizers, and overall had a very kid-friendly vibe. Very diverse in terms of age range.
At 10:30 we began the first leg of the ride.
LA WNBR is technically split into two shorter rides. The first leg it the political part and goes through the downtown municipal buildings boldly stating our messages: freedom from fuel and legal toplessness for everyone. We rode past the highway then headed back to the starting point.
Then we geared up for the second leg of the trip, where we were joined by many more riders totaling about 350 at its peak. The organizers provided water for the riders, and people were able to buy food at the trucks. There were also a few different groups tabling: naturalists, LA history buffs, and WNBR organizers mainly.
We left for the second leg of the ride, and rode through downtown, through Chinatown, and down the LA River Path. It was beautiful. People came out of shops and restaurants and cheered us on, smiling and saying they'd join us next year.
It was an extremely welcoming ride, I think having it during the day gives it a very different feel.
We stopped at a restaurant that was located just off the River Path, the restaurant let us use the bathrooms and order food and drinks and we were very well received by staff and patrons.
Then we headed back through the neighborhoods, and eventually wound around to the starting point again. People hung out and talked and networked when we got back, then it eventually dispersed at about 5:30pm.
It was very fun to experience WNBR in a new city for my 10th year doing it. I plan on getting involved with the organizers next year. It is a smaller ride, but it is mighty, and I think it is doing some really wonderful things.

(Pic below: me and part of the LA skyline.)




This weekend Vancouver and Victoria, BC host their WNBRs!
Find them! Support them! Join them! As bare as you dare!!

June 20, 2018

THE SEASON TO RIDE NAKED

Dear readers, we have failed you.

For 10 years we have documented our seemingly perpetual sojourn for joy and liberation. Embracing  self-mobilization and and sex-positivity as our our primary tool of emancipation from single-occupancy cars and general puritanical bullshit we have doggedly traveled and shared these ideas with the world. We are quite proud of our accomplishments but even with a massive collection of radical art the gratitude of our audience we are humbled by many of our best theoretical ideals so simply put into direction action by the participation in the World Naked Bike Ride.
Already in 2018 so many naked rides have come and gone. Besides the entire Southern Hemisphere (where they ride in March) Chicago, Toronto, Austin, Madison, New Orleans, Mexico City BrusselsThessaloniki, Manchester, Cambridge, Brighton and Bristol, all had rides in the past 10 days. But where we when all this naked action was going down?

Promoting and documenting our own plucky little film and performance festival is the primary thrust of this blog but we must not turn our backsides on the news and cultural phenomenon that works towards our ideals.
Alas, our primary organizers are worn. Despite slowing the number of shows to a polite trickle we are still not staying on top of our stated goals of sharing excellent ideas that mirror ours. The wear on our tires is starting to show but we are still rolling (more or less) and we are hopeful that these rare moments when we actually have something to chirp about will be appreciated that much more (said every blogger since 2012).

We have slowed the fuck down and we need to make amends. The only way we can think of to make it up to you is sharing some photo-heavy pictures from naked rides around the world.
Chicago has one of the largest rides in the world
We express our regret being unable to participate in the rides of the past; now let us embrace the sweet anticipation of rides to come!
The brilliant smiles of Bristol, UK
June 23
Portland, Oregon
Los Angeles

June 30
Vancouver, BC
Victoria, BC ... ah... well maybe having it the same day can help?

July 7
Amsterdam

July 14
Halifax,
Buffalo,

July 21
Helsinki, Finland 
Boston
St. Louis

September 8
Las Vegas
A misty night in Chicago

Have you ridden a bicycle naked? In public? As a visitor to a new place?!? It is pretty exciting to visit a city during a WNBR. As a spectator or a fully-presenting nude-tourist (... a Nudurist?) it's an exhilarating way to experience a city. But before you increase your carbon footprint, check to see if there is a naked ride happening near you. This website: http://worldnakedbikeride.org/ is a helpful place to get started. Just imagine, you could plant the seed that blooms into a naked revolution!




The WNBR in Thessaloniki, Greece included a sit in. protest + celebration = revolutionary party!
And even if you don't think you will join a naked ride take a moment to consider the creative slogans that YOU would present on your body. As one of the most attention-getting forms of peaceful protest its worthwhile keeping a catchy/cheerful/cheeky phrase in mind because you never know when a naked ride could happen and you will be completely unable to think up something clever in the moment. What's the best text you have read on a human body? Post your comment below and if it makes us smile we will send you a sticker in the fucking mail.
Is the Toronto WNBR mascot a mullet? No really! Go to their website then click on 2018 posters
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Thessaloniki pics by Φώτο Eurokinissi
Chicago Mist at Dusk photo by Brendan Forkin
Bright smiles from the Bristol WNBR 
Walgreen's Naked Bike Ride in Chicago photos by Raf Winterpacht
(warning some of these are FaceCrack links, which may be responsible for stealing souls, elections)