The York Naked Bike Ride passing in front of York Minster in June 2006

World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is an international event in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport (the vast majority on bicycles, and fewer on skateboards, roller blades, roller skates) to "protest oil dependency and celebrate the power and individuality of our bodies".^[1] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1445 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): User:Matt Crypto/gallery User:Markaci/Nudity World Naked Bike Ride Metadata This file contains additional information, probably... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1445 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): User:Matt Crypto/gallery User:Markaci/Nudity World Naked Bike Ride Metadata This file contains additional information, probably... York is a city in Northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... York Minster Close The southwest tower of York Minster Inside York Minster The interior of the tower York Minster is an imposing Gothic cathedral in York, northern England. ... Three human powered vehicles: the Gossamer Albatross II and two bicycles. ... This racing bicycle is built using lightweight, shaped aluminium tubing and carbon fiber stays and forks. ... It has been suggested that Banana board be merged into this article or section. ... Roller skating girl in Rome, Italy (soul grind) Roller skating is travelling on smooth terrain with roller skates. ... ...

WNBR is a clothing-optional bike ride. The dress code motto is "Bare As You Dare"^[2]. Full and partial (especially topfree) nudity is encouraged, but not mandatory, on all rides. Requiring partial cover-up is strictly forbidden and is a distinguishing feature of WNBR versus other cycling events. Cover of Nude & Natural (N) magazine Issue 25. ... Clothing has various sociological functions, including: conspicuous consumption stating or claiming identity establishing, maintaining and defying sociological group norms Thus wearing specific types of clothing or the manner of wearing clothing can convey messages about class, income, belief and attitude. ... A motto is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... A mixed group of people demonstrating the kind of equality that this movement seeks. ... Nudity or nakedness is the state of wearing no clothing. ...

Creative expression is also encouraged to create a fun and immersive atmosphere during the ride, to capture the attention and imagination of passers-by and the media, and to make the experience more personalized and fulfilling for the riders. 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, and boomboxes), musical instruments as well as other types of noisemakers. Creativity (or creativeness) is a mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations between existing ideas or concepts. ... Bodypainting at Purim Carnival Body art is art made on, with, or consisting of, the human body. ... Two children with painted faces. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... An art bike at the Burning Man Festival, Nevada USA An art bike is generally considered to be any bicycle modified for creative purposes while still being ridable. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with public address. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sound reinforcement system. ... A megaphone, with a three-inch lighter to scale. ... 1980s JVC boombox // Overview A boombox or boom-box is a portable stereo system capable of playing radio stations or recorded music (usually cassettes and/or CDs) at relatively high volume. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ...

Pre-ride parties for WNBR have become events unto themselves featuring musical bands, DJs, bodypainting, temporary structures/installation art, political tabling, and catering. In addition to simply being able to ride clothes-free on community streets, some rides have established precedent by having body-painting parties, often involving numbers of naked riders and artists, in high-visibility municipal parks. Installation art is art that uses sculptural materials and other media to modify the way we experience a particular space. ... In law, a precedent or authority is a legal case establishing a principle or rule which a court may need to adopt when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts. ...

This distinctive form of Critical Mass and Critical Ass is often described or categorized as a form of political protest, street theatre, party-on-wheels, streaking, public nudity and clothing-optional recreation and thus attracts a wide-range of participants. San Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005 Critical Mass is a bike ride typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where bicyclists and, less frequently, skateboarders, roller bladers, roller skaters and other self-propelled commuters take to the streets en masse. ... Critical Ass is a variant of the Critical Mass anarchist bike ride, where participating bicyclists ride in their underwear or in the nude. ... Demonstrators march in the street while protesting the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005. ... It has been suggested that Street performer be merged into this article or section. ... High school students celebrate at a birthday party. ... A participant of the Bay to Breakers. ... Nudism, or naturism, is the practice of going nude or unclothed in social and usually mixed gender groups, specifically in cultures where this is not the norm. ... Bredene nude beach in Belgium. ...

History

Nudity Portal

Cycling Portal

The World Naked Bike Ride concept was created by Conrad Schmidt^[3] in 2003. Prior to WNBR, Conrad had organized the Naked Bike Rides of the group Artists for Peace/Artists Against War (AFP/AAW)^[4] 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. Image File history File linksMetadata CFportal. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... The Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. ...

WNBR rapidly started to come to life through collaborations with many different activist groups and individuals around the world. The first WNBR event took place in June of 2004 and was a collaboration between the WNBR group which rode on June 12 and Manifestación Ciclonudista in Spain which rode on June 19. 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, often at special events, such as Burning Man. June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... The Southern Hemisphere is the half of a planets surface (or celestial sphere) that is south of the equator (the word hemisphere literally means half ball). On Earth it contains five continents (Antarctica, Australia, most of South America, parts of Africa and Asia) as well as four oceans (South... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Prior to the first World Naked Bike Ride event in June of 2004, there were two independent organizations organizing very similar political events with virtually identical messages of protesting oil dependency. These organizations were AFP/AAW and Manifestación Ciclonudista. Despite having similar political messages neither of these groups knew of the existence of the other until until collaboration began many months before the first WNBR event.

The first year of WNBR in 2004 saw events in 28 cities, in 10 countries, on four continents.^[1] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Issues

Sharing the road

Some are opposed to large Critical Mass-type events in general because they claim the events interfere with automobile traffic. San Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005 Critical Mass is a bike ride typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where bicyclists and, less frequently, skateboarders, roller bladers, roller skaters and other self-propelled commuters take to the streets en masse. ... Traffic jams are common in heavily populated areas. ...

WNBR participants, like those in Critical Mass counter "We are not STOPPING traffic, we ARE traffic!" Critical mass and other biketivist groups promote awareness of cyclists, they feel, out of necessity — many cyclists are seriously injured and killed by careless drivers. That includes commuters, students, children, police officers on bicycles — all cyclists are at risk. Participants advocate living streets and bicycle-friendly communities. German Woonerf or living street (Dan Burden) A living street (also known as a home zone, and by the Dutch name woonerf) is a street in which, unlike in most streets, the needs of car drivers are secondary to the needs of users of the street as a whole. ... Bicycle-friendly is a descriptive term that describes policies, places and practices which make it easier for people to ride bicycles. ...

Health, efficiency and sustainability

Participants believe that many communities were not designed to take advantage of the world's most efficient means of personal transport, the bicycle. Instead, they believe, society has subordinated common sense and community values to the requirements of large, expensive, dangerous, loud, and polluting vehicles. Oil has become a treasured commodity despite its inherent evils, the costs of war, climate change, and innocent lives. The issue of human-caused, or anthropogenic, climate change (global warming) is becoming a central focus of the Green movement. ...

Like Critical Mass, WNBR aims to promote bicycle transportation, renewable energy, recreation, walkable communities, and environmentally-responsibile, sustainable solutions to living in the twenty first century. Participants celebrate the many benefits of a car-free lifestyle: free of emissions, free parking, and an overall free feeling. Example of a traditional windmill Renewable energy sources, or RES, are those energy sources which are not destroyed when their energy is harnessed. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sustainable Development. ... The car-free movement is composed of people who believe that the automobile (and especially private car ownership) has an overall negative impact on people and the planet. ... Water pollution Pollution is the release of chemicals, physical, biological or radioactive contaminants to the environment. ... Mohandas K. Gandhi - Freedom can be achieved through inner sovereignty. ...

WNBR approach

Some cycling activists criticize the event for trivializing the issues of oil dependency, cyclists' access to roads, and car culture. Organizers argue that having fun and doing public outreach are not mutually exclusive goals. Creative advocacy stimulates people to contemplate the issues. They argue that by immersing themselves in lanes intended for cars and not for bicycles, by tossing their clothes and rejecting body shame, they are protesting a way of life which needs to abandoned. They believe that by getting people to laugh and smile is a great way to connect and share ideas in a non-threatening way. A child laughing Laughter is an outward expression of amusement (and at times, other emotions[1]). It may ensue (as a physiological reaction) from jokes, tickling and others. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ...

Body positive values, body image and offense

The ride has been criticized by some because WNBR often involves participants who are naked or topfree. Some people who are offended by nudity or topfreedom believe that it should take place in designated areas and/or times only. People who feel WNBR participants are going out of their way to get attention by using their uncovered bodies may argue that they are being exhibitionists or expressing sexually-deviant intent. Nudity or nakedness is the state of wearing no clothing. ... A mixed group of people demonstrating the kind of equality that this movement seeks. ... Morality refers to the concept of human ethics which pertains to matters of good and evil —also referred to as right or wrong, used within three contexts: individual conscience; systems of principles and judgments — sometimes called moral values —shared within a cultural, religious, secular, Humanist, or philosophical community; and codes... Exhibitionism is the psychological need and pattern of behavior to exhibit naked parts of the body to other people — that is, parts of the body that would otherwise be covered by clothes according to the standards of the local cultural norms. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Others say that participants should not be naked unless they conform to their own ideals of physical attraction. Some label riders as not being sexually-attractive. In psychology, conformity is the degree to which members of a group will change their behavior, views and attitudes to fit the views of the group. ... It has been suggested that Sexual attraction be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ...

Others do not feel comfortable participating because they are shameful of their body, because someone may photograph them, or because of moral objections to appearing nude in public. Shame is a psychological condition and a form of religious, political, judicial, and social control consisting of ideas, emotional states, physiological states and a set of behaviors, induced by the consciousness or awareness of dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation. ... Body image is a persons perception of his or her physical appearance. ...

Participants claim that non-sexualized, colorful and creative nakedness in uptight societies is a refreshing way to remind people of some of the fundamental freedoms of life that people have collectively handed over, without really thinking of the consequences. They claim that it is about body-positive values: living a healthy life in tune with, not against, the environment; respecting the natural beauty and diversity of human bodies; and establishing and projecting a positive self image and rejecting shame. Organizors feel that WNBR is not just a ride against oil dependency, it is a ride for self-empowerment. Mohandas K. Gandhi - Freedom can be achieved through inner sovereignty. ... 1984 photograph of an Afghan girl (Sharbat Gula) is regarded as among the worlds most iconic and compelling images for its plain and vivid reflection of human beauty within a context of conflict and suffering. ... Diversity is the presence of a wide range of variation in the qualities or attributes under discussion. ... A persons self image is the mental picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change, that depicts not only details that are potentially available to objective investigation by others (height, weight, hair color, nature of external genitalia, I.Q. score, is this person double-jointed, etc. ... Empowerment refers to increasing the political, social or economic strength of individuals. ...

Legality of public nudity

Some events have been accompanied by a police presence. In some cases they are on hand to monitor the event, in other cases the police have attempted to stop the ride, in other instances police intimidated riders to wear some level of clothing.

Arrests and charges

Arrests during WNBR events are rare. There have been arrests in Auckland (13 February 2005), North Conway (11 June 2005), and Chicago (11 June 2005). Two male riders were arrested during WNBR North Conway 2005 and were charged with "indecent exposure and lewdness". The two riders agreed to having the charges reduced to "disorderly conduct" and pay a $300 fine, a major portion of which was paid for by the WNBR Legal Defense Fund.^[5] Six male riders were charged with "public indecency" during the 2005 WNBR Chicago ride and later prosecuted with sentences ranging from fines and non-expungable conviction to three months court supervision.^[6] The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... February 13 is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... North Conway is a census-designated place located in Carroll County, New Hampshire. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

WNBR's successful cultural and legal precedent

The reason the majority of WNBR events have encountered few problems is fairly simple.

(1) The laws on nudity, for the most part are incredibly vague and difficult to enforce. As WNBR is clothing-optional, organizers urge those who are uncomfortable going completely naked or are afraid of any legal scuffles to simply not go completely naked. One probably does not not need to cover up much to be legal. Participants have used body paint, liquid latex, a strategically placed sock, underwear, and duct tape. As an example, flesh-colored body suits with exaggerated body parts were used in 1999 by Fremont Arts Council members to spoof the Solstice Cyclists in the Summer Solstice Parade in Seattle. Creativity and imagination are strongly encouraged whether the partipants goes fully bare or not. The Synchronised Cycling Drill Team shown performing. ... Solstice Cyclists The Summer Solstice Parade and Pageant is an annual event sponsored and produced by the Fremont Arts Council (FAC), an organization that supports the arts and artists in and around the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. ...

(2) Some cities have restrictions on nudity in public areas, and some cultures have harsh restrictions on nudity in public (such as Saudi Arabia). However, in most progressive societies, laws are written to discourage activities which are intended to shock or offend. Many laws on nudity hinge on something called "indecent exposure". Most participants believe that there is nothing indecent about a naked body and counter that the only thing that is indecent are the laws on indecent exposure. Many contend that the shame is on those who demand coverups, not on those who can go without. Progressivism is a term that refers to a broad school of contemporary international social and political philosophies. ... Indecent exposure is the display of bare parts of the human body that, according to the standards of the local cultural norms, would otherwise be clothed. ...

Simon Oosterman, organizor of the Auckland 2005 WNBR, and the first ever to be arrested during a WNBR event, is credited with going further and refocusing the issue on oil-dependency. He urged "Stop the indecent exposure to vehicle emissions!"^[7] Oosterman later defended a charge of indecent exposure in the Auckland District Court in 2006 and after hearing evidence the Judge dismissed the charge. Protesters gathered outside a courthouse on 17 Feb 2005 to protest against the arrest of Simon Oosterman (second from left), Aucklands 13 Feb 2005 World Naked Bike Ride organiser. ...

"I have had many fun encounters with police officers, one of the most interesting was when this grumpy police officer came up to me and told me that he thought that what I was wearing was indecent. I looked him straight in the eye and told him that I thought his opinion was indecent. I was right —and no— I was not arrested." - Conrad Schmidt, Vancouver, BC

Organizers believe that there are many indecent laws that citizens of the world have to stand up to, such as those that are infringing on personal freedoms.

(3) Police do not want to be seen confronting a large group of peaceful naked people. It is too embarrassing. Attempted police/city crackdowns on popular nude events have met with popular backlash. As an example, the City of Seattle threatened to withdraw a permit to the Fremont Arts Council in 2001 for the Summer Solstice Parade due to an increasing amount of naked cyclists. The controversy made the cyclists even more popular, especially after they agreed to participate within the spirit of the event with costumes, bodypaint, and bike decorations. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Backlash has meaning in both socio-political and engineering contexts. ... The Fremont Arts Council (FAC) is an organization that supports the arts and artists in and around the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. ...

(4) Participants who encounter police or any other aggression are urged not reciprocate the aggression, to keep it light, and to use humor as a weapon. It is tough getting angry at a colorful naked person on a bicycle. Anger and aggression only returns anger and aggression.

Riders are encouraged to ride loud and be proud. Organizers only allow rides to be organized in public areas for maximum outreach, not in established or ghettoized areas such as nudist/naturist clubs. Events promoted at the grassroots level, often using internet resources such as discussion groups, web sites, blogs, online journals and also by placing advertisements in local, non-mainstream newspapers and progressive journals. Grassroots is a political movement for individual constituents of a community to voice their ideas and opinions. ...

Making Waves: Backlash vs Blowback

Some believe that public nudity may threaten clothing-optional freedoms such as at-home nudity, naturist/nudist clubs or resorts, free beaches, or may result in legislation further restricting other activities involving nudity or partial nudity. However, there has been no documented backlash due to any WNBR event. Some riders feel secure and empowered in their belief that they are part of a popular blowback effect after living in a restrictive society and feeling that their concerns have not been taken seriously. Naturists find going without clothing both enjoyable and relaxing. ... Naturists find going without clothing both enjoyable and relaxing. ... People skinny dipping and sunbathing nude at Bredene nudist beach in Belgium. ... Bold textJAMES CHECKLEY Legislation (or statutory law) is law which has been promulgated (or enacted) by a legislature or other governing body. ... Blowback may refer to one of the following. ...

This year, William and Edward Stevens participated in the WNBR as part of their Tall Bike Tour Britain ride around Britain on tall bikes. Though the pair were in the Scottish borders at the time they sent a pack of postcards down to the London event illustrating their participation.

Further reading

• Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence (Paperback) by Peter Newman, Jeffrey Kenworthy (Island Press, February 1999) ISBN 1-55963-660-2
• The Offense of Public Nudity by Mark Storey

See also

• Action on climate change and Soft energy path
• Bohemianism and Counterculture
• Critical Mass
• Culture jamming and Direct action and Flash mob and Smart mob
• List of public outdoor clothes free places
• Naturism and Nudism
• Nude beach and Nudity in sport and
• Public nudity
• Reclaim the Streets
• Sydney Body Art Ride
• Utility cycling

The issue of human-caused, or anthropogenic, climate change (global warming) is becoming a central focus of the Green movement. ... The soft energy path is an energy use and development strategy delineated and promoted by some energy experts and activists, such as Amory Lovins and Tom Bender; in Canada, David Suzuki has been a very prominent (if less specialized) proponent. ... Though a Bohemian is a native of the Czech province of Bohemia, a secondary meaning for bohemian emerged in 19th century France. ... In sociology, counterculture is a term used to describe a cultural group whose values and norms run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition or swimming against the tide. ... San Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005 Critical Mass is a bike ride typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where bicyclists and, less frequently, skateboarders, roller bladers, roller skaters and other self-propelled commuters take to the streets en masse. ... Culture jamming is the act of transforming existing mass media to produce negative commentary about itself, using the original mediums communication method. ... Direct action is a form of political activism which seeks immediate remedy for perceived ills, as opposed to indirect actions such as electing representatives who promise to provide remedy at some later date. ... A downtown Toronto pillow fight flash mob. ... The Smart mob is a concept introduced by Howard Rheingold in his book Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution. ... This is a list of public outdoor clothes free areas for recreation. ... Bredene nude beach in Belgium. ... ... People skinny dipping and sunbathing nude at Bredene nudist beach in Belgium. ... Nudity in sport, i. ... Nudism, or naturism, is the practice of going nude or unclothed in social and usually mixed gender groups, specifically in cultures where this is not the norm. ... Reclaim the Streets (RTS) is a group of people with a collective ideal of community ownership of public spaces. ... // Sydney Body Art Ride The Sydney Body Art Ride is a community driven artistic project which raises funds for childrens cancer research while promoting healthy sustainable living. ... Ugandan bicycle taxi or bodaboda Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for fitness, recreation such as cycle touring, or sport such as cycle racing, but simply as a means of transport. ...

External links

Official links

• World Naked Bike Ride official site – general information and other resources
• World Naked Bike Ride wiki site – lists upcoming and past events, provides information for joining existing and creating new rides
• Tall Bike Tour Britain – website documenting this marathon British tall bike adventure.

Footnotes