A short-lived attempt to ban nudity in public parks in Seattle raised the issue of the legality of public nudity here.
The city has a tradition of painted bicyclists taking to the streets for the Summer Solstice Parade in the Fremont neighborhood, right, and for World Naked Bike Rides. There were three of the latter in 2008.
Those traditions are safe.
The city doesn't have a law regulating nudity, and Washington state law says that public nudity is not illegal unless it is an affront to someone else or causes alarm.
The Seattle Parks and Recreation is expected to drop its proposal to make public nudity a crime in its parks after parks commissioners recommended against the idea this week.
The issue was raised after bicyclists participating in the World Naked Bike Ride in July received a permit to gather at Gas Works Park, where they prepared for their ride.
The police received complaints and took the names of 23 cyclists, but the City Attorney's Office never charged those people, reports the Seattle Times.
While the nudity ban would have only been applied to the city's parks, it raised a concern that events like the naked bike rides would be threatened.
Although I have no desire to ride my bike without clothes (the thought of riding with bike shorts is painful), the fact that other people do so on occasion doesn't bother me in the least.
It bothers some, however. For that reason, the organizers of the 2009 World Naked Bike Ride in Seattle are seeking volunteers (clothed) to patrol the International Fountain at the Seattle Center (a popular spot for families) with signs warning people that the naked cyclists are on their way.
Interestingly, the proposed nudity ban drew worldwide attention to Seattle.
Meanwhile, a judge recently dropped charges against a nude cyclist in Portland. He said naked bicycling was protected expression. Check out the interview of National Public Radio.
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