Mike Grenville
at flickr.com
Updates:
Nov. 15, 2008 — “Bare truth about naked bicycling in Seattle”
June 2, 2008 — 2008 naked bike rides scheduled in US and Canada
June 16, 2007 — “Naked Painted Cyclists enjoy the sun in Fremont Solstice Parade”)
A few weeks ago I wrote that Seattle's contingent of World Naked Bike Ride was struggling to find a date for the ride because so many naked/painted-body bike rides were scheduled around the same time.
While many cities chose Saturday for the demonstration, Seattle riders must have been relieved the ride was rescheduled here, what with a constant drizzle and temperatures hovering in the low 50s.
Seattle's official date for its World Naked Bike Ride is July 14, with a corresponding night ride on June 30, Critical Mass.
Many cities around the world went ahead with the ride on Saturday, including Vancouver, BC, whose weather wasn't any better than Seattle's. Also Washington, DC, London, Paris, Denver, Portland and elsewhere. Pictures online at the flickr.com World Naked Bike Ride photo pool; more information at the World Naked Bike Ride website.
The Seattle ride, like the others, is a protest against the world's dependence on oil and an expression of the vulnerability of bicyclists. It also celebrates the joy of cycling and advocates the use of renewable energy.
There are two other au naturel cycling events coming up this month in Seattle. The Painted Cyclists of Fremont Solstice Parade is happening Saturday, June 16. Body-painting starts at 7 a.m., and cyclists will enter the Fremont neighborhood parade at 11:30.
The following Sunday, June 24, the Body Pride Ride “beepers” will participate in the Pride Parade downtown. See the Body Pride Ride website for more details.
The Seattle World Naked Bike Ride is scheduled for July 14 and will start with Ciclomundo — the body painting, costuming and bike art party from 9 – 12:25 in Fairview Park.
As usual, the riders will pedal to the International Fountain at the Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle. From there, it head down to Seward Park, past the University of Washington graduation and back to Fairview by about 7 p.m.
If you're thinking of participating, check the websites frequently for updates. The dates are hard to pin down. Also, bring plenty of sunscreen.
Read also: “So many naked bike ride — a scheduling headache in Seattle”
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