The World Naked Bike Ride Run will roll across New Orleans as a spectacle that is equal parts exhibitionism and activism on Saturday, June 12. The gathering of exposed bicycle riders is a visual call to action aimed at shocking and bringing attention to the vulnerability that comes with riding a bicycle across cities built for motor vehicles.
The “bare as you dare” ride will take place at 5 p.m., departing from Markey Park at the corner of Royal and Piety streets in the Bywater for its thirteen-annual course that loops through the French Quarter. Burlesque performer Bella Blue will lead the brigade down Royal Street to Franklin Street for a left turn onto Franklin Avenue, then right onto Decatur Street into the French Quarter, right on St. Louis Street, right on Burgundy Street, and right on St. Ann Street. The sun-soaked riders will then return to Markey Park via Chartres Street.
The Facebook page for the New Orleans branch of the World Naked Bike Ride explains the purpose of the event: “Our mission is to take to the streets riding nude as the best way of defending our dignity as humans on bikes. We expose just how vulnerable we are as cyclist on our own city streets. We also ride to protest the world’s oil dependency, mainly cars, that negatively impacts the environment on this planet. Cycling promotes body awareness. And by cycling naked we declare our confidence in the beauty and individuality of our bodies and the bicycle’s place as a catalyst for change in the future of sustainability, transport, community and recreation.”
Sebren Strother, event coordinator, said that participants in the World Naked Bike Ride are just a fraction of the cyclists in the city. He addressed criticisms of driver’s complaints about bike riders not following the rules of the road. “I don’t know the statistics offhand, but I am confident in saying that very few drivers et killed when a cyclist collides with their automobile.”
More than twenty nations and seventy cities will celebrate the World Naked Bike Ride Run on the same date. Rollerbladers, roller skaters, skateboarders and even joggers are also welcome to participate.
