“As bare as you dare”: Nude cyclists take over city streets to protest fossil fuels and spruik body positivity

Hundreds of nude and near-nude cyclists flooded the streets of Chicago and London recently, and it looks like they’re coming for Sydney and Melbourne next.

The World Naked Bike Ride kicked off on 14 August in London and Chicago to advocate for sustainable transport and body positivity.

With a motto of “go as bare as you dare”, the annual event hosted its first ride in London almost a decade ago in 2004.

According to Time Out, 120 cities around the world usually participate in the nude ride, and at least 1,000 people normally show up for the Chicago leg of the event.

Lead organiser of the Chicago ride, Elizabeth Tieri told Time Out the event ran smoothly.

“I don’t want to say it was perfect – because that’s not reality – but it felt perfect,” she said.

This year’s Chicago event carved a whopping 22.5 kilometres across the city.

According to the London event’s website, a number of measures were put into place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including the shortening of stationary gatherings and cancellation of this year’s after-party.

If you fancy taking a scantily clad bike ride through city streets, Sydney and Melbourne have already set dates for their iterations of the World Naked Bike Ride.

COVID-19 restrictions permitting, Sydney siders will meet at Mrs Macquaries Point on 27 November for a nude ride through Hyde Park, Circular Qua Barangaroo and The Rocks.

Melbournians will kick off their clothing-free jaunt at Carlton Gardens on 5 December.

Featured image source: wnbrsydney.com.au