In 2006, fourteen men and women got naked and rode their bicycles through the streets of Melbourne, Australia, in order to demonstrate that bicycling is a safe, environmentally-friendly form of transportation.During the last twelve years, the World Naked Bike Ride has grown to include thousands of riders in Melbourne and over 50 other cities around the world, including Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco in the United States.
Sometimes they try to bypass public nudity laws by wearing elaborate body paint instead of clothes. I think this guy is dressed as a pineapple.
A cloud, maybe?
Riders also take the opportunity to post political or inspirational messages.
Or messages of other sorts.
Participants come in all sizes and shapes.
Of course, nothing in the rules says that you have to wear body paint. You can be "as bare as you dare."
The next World Naked Bike Ride is March 18th in Melbourne. In the United States, it will be in June.
There are nudity permits, right? It's performance art.
ReplyDeleteDepends on the state in the U.S. In some states, nudity is permitted "as part of a parade or public show." Sometimes it's only illegal if there's an intent to arouse, annoy, or harrass. Sometimes only if someone is "likely to be offended."
DeleteThe only state I'm aware of where "intent matters" is Vermont. Arguably California, but most local statutes ban nudity there too. (It's even been a casualty of San Francisco's efforts to gentrify itself out of existence. And Berkeley has made sure there will never be another Naked Guy.)
DeleteWyoming: "Intent to arouse or disturb"
ReplyDeleteWell, it arouses me no matter what :)
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