World Naked Bike Day London 2009
Saturday May 30, 2009
Saturday 13 June 2009 is World Naked Bike Day when in cities around the world, people will be riding naked as a peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture. The ride demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road. (And yes, that is the same day as the Queen's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour!)
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.
Why not join in? You don't actually have to go nude, just go as bare as you dare, and travel by bicycle or rollerblades. It's free, and its fun! Assembly is at 3pm and the ride starts at 3.30pm. Meet at Hyde Park Corner near the statue of Achilles (see map).
If you don't fancy participating, this is a great spectator event! 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.
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.
Why not join in? You don't actually have to go nude, just go as bare as you dare, and travel by bicycle or rollerblades. It's free, and its fun! Assembly is at 3pm and the ride starts at 3.30pm. Meet at Hyde Park Corner near the statue of Achilles (see map).
If you don't fancy participating, this is a great spectator event! 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.
- World Naked Bike Ride UK - official website
- Free skating in London
Comments
A world wide “event”? For whom?
Well, it’s going to be fun for the perverts and acne faced teenagers who haven’t lucked out yet. It is nothing I would inflict on my chilren. .
Or maybe stitched up trolls who love to inflict body image issues on their children by teaching them only perverts and pimply teenagers are interested in them once they get their kit off.
Why didn’t you mention all the WNB locations around the world? It’s not just a UK event. There’s a ride scheduled in nearly every country and in multiple states and cities in the U.S.. Chicago’s ride is huge!
Sorry, I missed the link to the WNB web site. Still, I think for a better article you should have mentioned more locations.
And Catmoves, I suppose you were born in your lime green spandex jumpsuit and your fruit covered hat?
World Naked Bike Day is a peaceful day so do be nice to each other. I know it’s not for everyone but it does happen all around the world in far too many cities to list.
It’s a peaceful protest and, certainly in London, has been a fun and happy day for many. Friends have watched each year and have never felt they were surrounded by people with inappropriate intentions. Of course, some people may find it titillating but most enjoy the ‘free spirit’ feel of the day and everyone goes home laughing and smiling, and hopefully aware of the issues the protesters want to raise.
I came out of Topshop on Oxford Street and was shocked to see hundreds of naked bodies on bikes. It was great, very funny. Maybe I’ll join in next year!
A better way of getting the point across would be not to be offensive to people and they would be more open to your environmental point. Just cycle in shorts or so and not try to expose yourself to others.
This is all a bit of a sham.
Women are there but they don’t enter in to the spirit of the occasion. They wear knickers if not full bikinis with a small number of exceptions. I wish people would call this event what it is naked men day or better Amnesty for flashers to expose themselves to children day.
This is about nudists (not naturists) hijacking environmental issues to mainstream nudity with some idiot men falling for it. But I suppose you’re not real man if you don’t expose yourself to children.
Paul_Davies12@hotmail.com
Peaceful, imaginative, fun? Enjoyed by the public?
Fun? I suppose grown men exposing themselves to little children has always been fun to some.
Imaginative? As in grown women exposing themselves to little children? That’s the equality we all fought for.
Peaceful – using the police to ensure everyone on the street is forced to endure their pathetic behaviour.
Grow up!