Want to go Bike Riding Nude?  Here are some answers. 

What does riding bikes naked have to do with protesting oil dependency?
We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians as well as the negative consequences we all face due to dependence on oil, and other forms of non-renewable energy.

What if I am not thin? What if I am not young? What if I have scars on my body? What if my body shape just isn't normal? What if I look different?
Great! Please come to the ride! We'll all be there to ride with you in celebration of your body's strength and individuality. Last year there were people of all ages, sizes, builds, and appearances. At the ride, you will be treated with dignity and respect no matter what your body looks like.

Can I hurt myself by cycling in the nude?
Only if you don't wear any sunscreen or if you fall off the bike. We recommend that you wear sunscreen, shoes, and a helmet. Ride carefully and you won't get hurt. Your butt will probably not hurt any more than when you ride with your clothes on. If you get sore, perhaps you need to get a padded bike seat or get in shape by cycling more often.

What does it feel like to ride nude?
Just like it does with clothes but a bit cooler.

Should I wear shoes?
If you're not sure about this, then you should wear shoes. Most riders wear shoes for safety/comfort reasons. If you are not going to wear shoes, you better try it out first on an urban ride before you decide you try it at Naked/Nude Biking Event

Will people/press photograph me?
They might. If it makes you uncomfortable, let the photographers know that they don't have permission to photograph you. Also, let other riders know this so they can tell photographers not to photograph you. Another approach is to keep your clothes on during the first bit of the ride, and take them off after you have left the assembly point. We recommend this approach too. Both of these approaches will cut down on photographs taken at the start of the ride, but it's not really possible to stop people from photographing during the ride.

Naked/Nude Biking Event local events often do have a documentary team taking pictures and video, but they are generally very considerate people and will try to keep your best wishes in mind as much as possible. You can see many of their images on this website and on Naked/Nude Biking Event-generated media, which is sometimes shared with other non-profit progressive groups.

There are also those who are at the event to use the images for other reasons, and you won't know without asking. If someone is being aggressive, acting suspiciously, or making you feel uncomfortable please tell a Naked/Nude Biking Event team coordinator or someone who can confront them and tell them to back off a bit and give people personal space. People need to understand the positive message of Naked/Nude Biking Event and understand that part of respecting each others' bodies is giving each other enough personal space to be comfortable, this is especially important for those that have never been naked in front of strangers or in public before. They have their own issues they are dealing with and aggressive gawking or unwanted exposure adds an additional unwanted complication to their experience. So speak up!

What will the gender ratio be?
It is hard to know the gender ratio in advance.

While many rides have been gender-balanced, it is rare that females outnumbered males on any ride. Of course we would like it if every mass ride had a good gender balance, but the only people who can help make it happen is the promotion team and the people who show up themselves.

One good example of a gender-balanced painted naked cycling group is the painted cyclists of the Summer Solstice Parade in Fremont, Seattle. That group has been cycling for years, and there is a strong tradition of creative diversity. Having a ride that approaches the diversity of the community is a sign that the ride is maturing, has earned the trust of the community, and is attracting a wide range of people.

Obviously, cycling and opposing oil dependency are not gender-specific activities. Public nudity has a very different meaning for each of us personally and this often relates to our experience of being male or female.


Do I need to get a permit to ride naked on the streets in a large group?
How many Critical Mass groups seek permits to ride in the streets? Do car drivers get permits to cause traffic jams? Do you think you need permission to ride your bicycle with others? Isn't bicycle riding one of the most responsible and efficient ways to get around? Shouldn't the community government be supporting activists who encourage change for the better? Do you need a permit to swim naked at the beach or to sunbathe in the park? Think about it. Think about the implications of asking The Man for your freedom versus giving yourself permission to live fully and completely.

"Argue for your limitations and they're yours." -Richard Bach, from Illusions

Its one thing to work with officials or other community groups to make sure the event happens in a successful way if you are using city resources or community space, but quite another to ask for permission to use the roads that you collectively own with other tax payers to go cycling in a responsible manner.