www.theblisspages.com - world naked bike ride 2006
www.theblisspages.com - world naked bike ride 2006
See my poem the naked cyclist
links on this page: world-wide event : what a paine : please sponsor me : 2006 Brighton ride : 2008 Brighton ride
The World Naked Bike Ride was on 10 June 2006, and there were many rides worldwide on this day.
It is now a global phenomenon, with rides in many countries.
In 2005, 250 people took part in the London World Naked Bike Ride, making it the UK's biggest naked protest, but in 2006, numbers were up to 900 - I believe this is the largest naked protest ever.
The mid-afternoon start time - clashing with the England vs. Paraguay World Cup game - obviously didn't put off too many cyclists.
There were people of all ages. The oldest participant was 84 - Marguerite "Gran" Elsley of York.
She participated in last year's London ride when it was too cold for her to take any clothes off, but this year she had the opportunity to ride as clothes-free as she wished.
She said "I'm now a fit and healthy 84 year old, and I love being free from the restrictions of clothes.
I also revel in living a car-free life. By remaining very active, I benefit from the pleasure that always follows exertion."
In Brighton, there were about 160 riders. See my report on the 2006 Brighton ride.
It is to protest against oil dependency and car culture. It is a fun and innovative way of promoting cycling in Brighton and elsewhere. We ride naked to draw attention to the vulnerability of cyclists on busy city streets dominated by gas-guzzling cars, buses and taxis. It is time to stop indecent exposure to automobile emissions and to celebrate the power and individuality of our bodies!
I rode in Brighton, starting at The Level. There was a lot of press interest - for example, see the article in The Argus. I'm also trying to raise money for Diabetes UK.
I am pleased that sponsors supported me for the bike ride, and I had generous sponsorship for the removal of my beard. You can see donations at 'please sponsor me'.
I was inspired to write a poem, the naked cyclist.
On Wednesday 24 May, a man was arrested under the Mental Health Act after walking around Hove naked, but a woman in Wales won her right to sunbathe nude in her back garden. I am amazed that a bit of flesh still gives rise to so much controversy - after all, we're all naked under our clothes.
The Brighton bike ride and route have been agreed with Sussex Police, so there's no risk of arrest for public nudity on the day ... or so we thought. See what a paine.
In June, I shaved off my beard for charity - Diabetes UK - and thought I'd try to get sponsors for the bike ride too.
To see my sponsors, have a look at theblissride and theblissbeard at Just Giving.
Other naked bike ride events took place elsewhere in the UK, including Bath, Manchester, York, and Edinburgh. Around the globe cyclists took off their clothes and hit the road in countries such as Poland, the US, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and South Africa.
In the Czech Republic, a handful of young cyclists took to the streets of central Prague for an hour, wearing paint - or less.
In Mexico, two dozen brave individuals took to the streets of Mexico City.
The morning of 10 June 2006 was bright and cloudless. I put on plenty of sunscreen and my new thong - a bit small - and covered it - for the moment - with some shorts.
I then decorated the bike with some placards and set off for The Level (BN2 3FX). I've put in a map of the route.
See worldnakedbikeride.org/uk for more details.
When I arrived, there were already a lot of people in various stages of undress. I chatted to a few people, but mainly Helen, who was a little nervous at the prospect of stripping off in public. She soon overcame her fears and inhibitions, and seemed to enjoy the ride and dip in the sea at the end - but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Some people tried to go nude, but were warned by police to cover up, so had to put a sock in it, or rather on it, in some cases! Other than this, the police were friendly and helpful - they seemed a little embarrassed that they were under orders to force people to wear something.
Lots of people were decorating themselves or others with decorations, foliage and body-paint, but I was hoping for as much vitamin D as possible, so refrained.
There was a lot of press interest, with cameramen and snappers, both clothed and unclothed.
After a while we moved off, at around 10:45, and it was a surreal and empowering experience as we set off down the main road towards the seafront, with our police bike outriders blocking off traffic so we could proceed unimpeded except for our thongs.
We were a cacophony of energy and happy noise - bells, hooters and horns joined by yodelling voices and laughter.
We soon reached the sea front and wheeled right along the coast.
Half-way down the front, we paused to let the traffic past, and I was pleased to see some friends waiting there - and thanks, Bill, for the sponsorship!
The crowds were overwhelmingly friendly, with just a few sour faces - and voices. Amid the cheering and shouts of encouragement, there were a couple of cries of "get some clothes on", and "disgusting", but perhaps they were just aimed at me.
Overall, the atmosphere was magnificent - and people we passed seemed to grasp our pro-bike, pro-body, pro-fun, anti-oil, anti-car message.
We handed out leaflets as we cycled, but more pennants and posters would have helped spectators to understand why we were there.
A legal adviser rode with us but luckily was not needed - in fact, I gather nobody was arrested on any of the rides.
A couple of girls were sharing a bike - one mostly sitting side-saddle, but running up the occasional hill.
After a very enjoyable - but hot - ride, we arrived at the beach and gratefully stripped off.
I jumped in the sea with fifty or so other riders. It was welcome, but unbelievably cold. I would have liked to stay on the beach for another couple of hours, or even gone on the London run, but duty called.
I soon jumped out, dressed, and cycled home to look after my children.
I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored me, and you can see the donations at theblissride and theblissbeard at Just Giving.
In a complete U-turn, Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine - who did not attend any of the meetings between riders and police, and turned down requests for discussions with the organisers - overruled the previously positive guidance given by Sussex Police on Brighton's first ever World Naked Bike Ride. Following unspecified public complaints, he said that, "The ride can go ahead but people will be arrested for Public Order offences if they expose their 'rude bits'".
What a complete and utter pratt. I don't think people have 'rude bits'. It's all in the context. Wearing a thong is far more sexual than being naked - it just draws attention to the genitalia and shouts, "Look at me!"
Cyclists responded creatively to the police ruling by wearing such disguises as fig leaves, "censored" signs and pubic wigs. I searched unsuccessfully for my thong - last worn in the late eighties, but eventually gave up and found a good range in Anne Summers in Brighton. They are very reasonably priced at five to six pounds. I'd still rather go naked.
Several people have told me they were going to attend the ride as spectators. I would be grateful for any pictures of me. Please send any pictures, comments and observations to wnbr@theblisspages.com. Any submissions will be assumed to be for publication on my website unless you indicate otherwise.
The London ride was unaffected by this ruling, with Met Police allowing the riders - numbering between seven and nine hundred - to ride bare and providing a cycling police escort to manage traffic.
updated Thu 15 Jun '06 give feedback...
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: © Mike Bliss 2009