Over 1,000 naked cyclists are expected to gather on June 8 and 9 to ride through the streets of London, Brighton, Manchester, York and Southampton for World Naked Bike Ride Weekend next month.
Most of us are trying to contribute towards saving the earth one way or another, but some more committed individuals like Carlos Pinha are taking a bolder approach to convey their message. He has taken part in the World Naked Bike Ride every year since 2004, when it first started.
The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) which takes place in 50 countries worldwide, will take place in England for the fourth year in a row.
The UK rides are part of a growing international movement of annual protests against oil dependency and car culture. Not only that, they are also a unique celebration of the body and the bike.
"For many people, the irrefutable evidence of man-made climate change is causing them to think again about the impact modern forms of transport have on the environment," said Martin Ireland, press officer for London WNBR. Riding under the slogan "real rights for bikes", participants cycle naked to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists on
city streets and to draw attention to the destructive effects of car culture, he added.
The London event alone is likely to attract between 1,000 - 1,250 participants, setting a new record for naked protest. The 2006 ride was the largest naked protest in British history, with more than 800 participants cycling through the streets of the capital for over two hours. Debut rides in Brighton, York and Manchester last year were attended by an impressive 160, 60 and 30 riders respectively, according to WNBR`s website.
The participation "should be to alert people of the fact that everyone needs to change and opt for other modes of transport for environmental benefits" said Pinha.
The London Naked Bike Ride is making specific demands: cycle-only zones in cities, real rights for cyclists, safer streets, separate two-way cycle lanes and a ban on car advertising, said Ireland.
Besides the feel-good factor associated with participating in an event for a good cause, the ride offers participants an enjoyable "naked sightseeing experience", as they cycle past a number of London's most famous landmarks. As in previous years, cycle-mounted police will facilitate the ride and provide traffic control.
Rides in Manchester, York and Southampton will take placeon the 8th June, the day before the London ride begins. The Brighton and Hove ride starts on the morning of Saturday 9 June at 10am. The rides are timed to allow participants to attend locally and join the London ride at Hyde Park Corner at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
A previous rider, 28-year old Emma Jackson said: "The ride is fun, but has a serious side as well. Unless we change the way we think about transport and start calling on the government to do the same, it'll be too late. It's up to each and every one of us to take responsibility, get on our bikes and call for real, practical action on climate
change."
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