World Naked Bike Ride
From Critical Mass
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, rollerskates) to "protest oil ://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.html</ref>
WNBR is a [[=baredare>.org/ninemonkeys/past.htm Naked Bike Rides] in 2003 that led up to and became early models for WNBR.</ref>. Full and partial (especially Topfree equality|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.
Creative expression is also encouraged to create a fun and immersive atmosphere during the ride, to capture the attention anmagination 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 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. Critical Mass]] and Critical Ass streaking, public nudity and clothing-optional recreation and thus attracts a wide-range of participants. ==History== Naked Bike Ride concept after organizing the Naked Bike Rides of the group Artists for Peace/Artists Against War (AFP/AAW)[1] 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 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 collaborationetween the WNBR group which rode on June 12 and Manifestación Ciclonudista in Spain which rode on June 19, establishing a 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. Some are opposed traffic.
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.
Contents |
[edit] Health, efficiency and sustainability
Participants believe , 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. for not being what they consider sexually-attractive.
Others do not feel comfortable participating because they are ashamed of their body, because someone may photograph them, or because of -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 the WNBR is about body-positive values: living a healthy life in tune with, not against, the environment; resting the natural beauty and diversity of human bodies; establishing and projecting a positive self image; and rejecting shame. Organizers feel that WNBR is not just a ride against oil dependency; it is a ride for self-empowerment.
[edit] Legality of public nudity
Some events have been accompanied by police. In some cases police have been on hand to monitor the event; in other cases police have attpted to stop the ride; in other instances police have intimidated riders into putting on some level of clothing. Chicago (11 June The two riders agreed to having the charges reduced to "disorderly conduct" and pay a $300 fin, a major portion three months court supervision.[3] =====WNBR's successful cultural and legal encountered (1) The laws on nudity, for the most part are incredibly vague and difficult to of any legal scuffles simply not to go completely naked. Participants have used body paint, liquid latex, a strategically placed sockbody parts were used in Seattle in 1999 by Fremont Arts Council members to spoof the Solstice Cyclists in the Summer Solstice Parade in Seattle. Creativity and ve ]]). However, in most progressive societies, laws are written to discourage activities which are intended to shock or offendnothing printed this on a protest banner as documented on [http://www.wnbr.enzyme.org.nz "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 tod 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, Organizers believe a permit to of naked cyclists. The controversy made the cyclists even more popular, especially after they and aggression.
Riders are encouraged to 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 [[Wikipedia:grassroots|part of a popular blowback effect after living in a restrictive society and feeling that their concerns have not been taken seriously. 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. lity and
[edit] Fur readg
- Indecent Exposure t Cars: The story of the World Naked Bike Ride (external link), produced by Conrad Schmidt
[edit] Seelso
- Actionn climate change and Soft energy path
- [[]ccing]]
[edit] External links
[edit] Official links
- [httpjoining exist
[edit] Videos and pictures
- take place on+Naked+Bike+Ride&m=text Pictures of the World Naked Bike Ride on Flickr
- [http/www.*2006 WNBR Seattle Photos
- 2004 WNBR Seattle Photos
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ http://www.artistsagainstwar.org web page
- ↑ http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.html
- ↑ Information obtained directly from Joseph Lawrence, on of those charged in the WNBR Chicago 2005 ride.
This article or parts of this article are based on the Wikipedia article World Naked Bike Ride licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, version 1.2 or later. A list of the authors can be found here: [1]. You can help to improve the article.
