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Photos: World Naked Bike Ride Rolls Through Town (NSFW)
Today a hundred or so adventurous souls stripped down to nothing (or next to it) and pedaled through the streets of Echo Park and downtown—and LAist was there to document the whole thing.
The ride is an international event called the World Naked Bike Ride. The ride has a whimsical feel, but the founders of the annual event say that they started to ride to call attention to the plight of cyclists and pedestrians and an oil-dependent culture:
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].
The rides in each city have their own flavor. In New York City, riders used their mostly-naked bodies to protest the NYPD's controversial frisking policy. (San Francisco recently had their own ride as well.) Some of the riders in L.A. used body paint to express their love for the environment. But riders got creative with what little they wore: there were riders with fairy wings, furry hoods, ties, masks and, of course, pasties.(Note that our photographer did his best to honor the wishes of those who did not want to be photographed, particularly at the starting site. Taking pictures out on the street, as the organizers noted, is a protected right thanks to that whole freedom of speech thing we have going on in the United States.)
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Interested in giving it a shot next year? We have some tips for you.
Previously:
6 Tips for Naked Bike Riders This Weekend
Bare as You Dare: Get Ready for L.A.'s World Naked Bike Ride
Fighting A Naked Guy: Two Cyclists Assaulted, Subjected To Anti-Gay Slurs During Nude Bike Ride
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
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