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World naked bike ride

By Lori Bongiorno

Posted Sat Mar 7, 2009 8:06am PST

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Thousands of bike riders are shedding their clothes in the hopes that they can get us all to stop and think about the negative effects that cars (and the pollution they create) have on people and the planet.

World Naked Bike Ride kicks off on March 7, 2009 in Nimbin, Australia, and Pretoria, South Africa. Events continue through March 15, in Sao Paulo, Lima, Sydney, and other cities throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Most of the Northern Hemisphere rides will take place on June 13, although exact details depend on each individual location. The list of participating cities is long: New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Dublin, Mexico City, Tel Aviv, and many more.

It's certainly a powerful way to make a point, but what does it feel like to ride nude? According to past riders: "Just like it does with clothes, but a bit cooler." And, apparently, it's not any more uncomfortable than riding with clothes on. Click here for answers to other popular questions.

One big question, though, is whether it's legal. The answer: In most places riding your bike naked is illegal. However, only one arrest has ever been made at a WRBR event (in 2005, the year of the first bike ride). Some bikers use body paint and other creative ideas to cover up, and others choose to ride with a minimal amount of clothing.

Anything goes, even the choice of wheels (within reason).The organizers say any alternative body-powered transportation is welcome: skateboards, rollerskates, and more. In fact, several events have had people riding on unicycles, chopper bikes, and rickshaws.

Want to embrace the message of alternative forms of transportation and fuel, but aren't up for something as wacky as taking your clothes off in public?

Bike (with your clothes on, of course) or walk instead of driving whenever you can. Click here to see how walkable your town is.

While the organizers of the protest want to promote life without cars (and likely wouldn't approve of any suggestions that involve the use of oil), anything you can do to cut back on driving will help the planet. Some suggestions:

Take the bus, subway, or train. Find out about nearby public transportation options and calculate potential money savings here.
Carpool when you can. Use the Internet to connect with potential car-mates. Start with ZimRide, GoLoco, Facebook, or find links to regional options, at this Rideshare directory.
Even just bundling your errands instead of making separate trips to the store (or shopping online) can help.

Or, how about this? Next time you grab your car keys, picture thousands of naked bikers, and ask yourself if there's an alternative.

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Showing 16 - 30 of 176 comments

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Posted by eric r Sat Mar 7, 2009 11:33pm PST
Mike N, Why? What did your son do wrong?
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Posted by eric r Sat Mar 7, 2009 11:39pm PST
Mike N, Why? What did your son do wrong?
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Posted by Echo49 Sun Mar 8, 2009 12:20am PST
nudity is not the answer. it is a noble cause but surely there is a more mature answer to this situation
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Posted by Michael Sun Mar 8, 2009 12:41am PST
Get over your prudish hangups,they are riding bikes not having sex, your kids will be fine. The human body is amazing and beautiful.
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Posted by Echo49 Sun Mar 8, 2009 1:54am PST
if the human body is an amazing and beautiful thing then it shouldn't be degraded in this way.
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Posted by Echo49 Sun Mar 8, 2009 3:06am PDT
i think kenneth p has the correct mind frame
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Posted by Bob Sun Mar 8, 2009 3:19am PDT
There are many people that just shouldn't ride naked! I am one of those. Pretty people should, large people like myself shouldn't. In fact, I should be required by law to wear full cover sweats! Actually it would be better if I was required by law to not ride before nightfall, that way the impact would be smaller and fewer people would need therapy...I'm thinking there will be some seats that need to be wiped off at the end of this demonstration ride....
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Posted by Old Smokey Sun Mar 8, 2009 4:53am PDT
Going to be a lot of vehicle wrecks? Insurance going up.
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Posted by thomas Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:06am PDT
i was on line to check the weather. saw that there was going to be this naked bike ride, curious i had to read it. people wil do anything to get their point across, does not mean i agree but agree or not it will take place. what i am more curious about is the fact that all of you have so much time on your hands to argue about if this is moral. i just first noticed today that you could comment after an article. i have sat here at my desk and read all of your reply's and must say ... don't you all have other things to do than to blow hot air. i would not be sitting here however i felt the need to tell you don't waste precious time and attack one another.. who cares if they bike naked... they are gonna do it inspite of your thoughts on the event. too much time is spent on internt fighting. go do something that is useful.
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Posted by weaslewise52 Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:07am PDT
Just because you like ol petey hangin' around or those peaches swinging to and fro, doesn't mean I'll stop guzzling gas. You are only strutting off your wares to turn someone on. Never for stopping people from driving 2 tons of steel.
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Posted by rich l Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:29am PDT
I'm with you Mike N, if I was with my kids and one of those perverts exposed themself like they are doing I believe I would have to do the same. Just another excuse for some perverts to go around exposing themselves to people. Plan and simple, they are perverts no way around it.
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Posted by Action Man Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:32am PDT
To Chris and friends, It amazes me to see comments like yours...There are far worse examples of what you don't want your kids to see or hear. Examples that come to mind are...women blowing themselves, and many innocents, up in the name of religon. People living out of shopping carts in the year 2009 whilst indicted criminals are living in $7 Million penthouses. Sports 'stars' getting paid Millions but choose to grumble. Read the papers, watch the news and I am sure you will find many more examples.... Final comment, I am betting that you have taught your children that sex should be something to be done in the dark and to be ashamed of.
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Posted by George Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:32am PDT
These people are sick
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Posted by HARRY M Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:33am PDT
This is a great event for the "Seat Sniffers of the World"! They will be right behind them.
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Posted by Snake B Sun Mar 8, 2009 5:35am PDT
Why don't we all just go nakid all the time? We would save billions of gallons of fresh water,& by doing less laundry. We would no longer be supporting "sweat shops" in third world countrys. The main draw back to biking is all the overweight, lazy, automobile drivers, will run over you on the way to the fast food joints, they be soo lazy they only go to drive in window, cause they too lazy to even get out of the car!
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