World Naked Bike Ride
Now, I have seen everything! In St Louis, this weekend (actually Saturday, I believe), they are having the World Naked Bike Ride. “Bare as You Dare” is their motto. I am not sure if this is an annual event or if this is the first one and they are planning more next year. According to their web page worldnakedbikeride, clothing is optional and body paint is encouraged. They do encourage you wear your helmet. It looks like this had been done in other countries, like Australia. It also looks like this has been done in Seattle as well.
The ride was supposed to start at Tower Grove Park in St Louis and continue through downtown and back to the Atomic Cowboy which is a popular bar/restaurant in St Louis. If you don’t have a bicycle, you can use something else, like roller skates or a skateboard. You just can’t use a car. That would defeat the whole purpose.
The point of the whole thing, as you can imagine, is to focus attention on how much energy we would save if more people rode bikes. The event wants to protest against gas or oil dependency and to draw attention to cycling as an alternative to driving and also to let motorists know that bicyclists have a right to part of the highway as much as the cars do. Now, that’s a cause I can get behind.
I am sad that I do not live in St Louis so I could participate in the ride. No, seriously, even if they bring this to my city, I might ride to show my support, but no one wants to see me naked. You can take my word for that.