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On Saturday March 13th one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline hosted over one hundred people taking part in the World Naked Bike Ride, the longest running global protest where clothing is optional. The three kilometre section of road between Tarakohe Wharf and Pohara Beach, in Takaka, Golden Bay, boasted boobs, bums, costumes and painted slogans, all in the name of raising awareness of cyclists as legitimate road users.

This was the seventh ride which started in Vancouver by a cycling advocacy group who were (and still are) desperate to change the trend whereby motor vehicles have priority on our roads. In New Zealand, our roads are so narrow that it may not be possible to create cycle-ways everywhere, at least not in a short space of time, but the supporters of this event are crying out for more funding to be channelled in this direction.

This year the focus was also on the 1.5 metre campaign which is calling for legislation to require drivers to give cyclists at least 1.5 metres of space when passing. Organiser Victoria Davis constantly hears horror road cycling stories and is often told by people that they would ride their bike on the road if they felt safer. These are the things she finds indecent, not the naked body.

The World Naked Bike Ride is a quirky, jovial way of highlighting a serious issue, but using the human body as a canvas for this important message is just one part of Davis’s mission. She attends to all the bureaucratic facets as well. Citing research claiming that the Government would save $200 million a year if there was only a 5% increase in cyclists (which would only bring us back to where we were in the 80s), Victoria emphasises that ‘we take these measures because it’s a battle, the authorities are shitty to us’.

The transport agencies here support the spending of hundreds of millions of dollars on expensive highways like the Ruby Bay Bypass in Tasman, which only shaves two minutes off the travelling time in a vehicle, but they cut funding for more environmentally friendly and health-promoting transport alternatives.

2010 brought more nude riders than ever, serenaded by a group of guitarists, as they rode their messages home cheered on by roadside support. One petticoat-attired woman bore the slogan, ‘Ladies Do It On A Bike!’, while Nigel Marsden’s back stated, ‘My Bum Smells Better Than Your Car’. Whatever the specifics, the overwhelming message is the same: reduce our oil-consuming, environment-destroying, cyclist-harming ways.

You too can make a difference: email Transport Minister Steven Joyce for free, it will only take a couple of minutes to make a demand for change, for awareness, for prioritising alternative transport like cycling and for more funding to be channelled into making it an easier and safer option: [email protected]

Author’s Note:

While my article above conveys the goings-on at a naked bike ride, my own small-minded thoughts veer dangerously in the direction of the whole ‘naked’ part of it. Questions arise and bubble away behind my twinkling eyes:

What is this?

– How does this affect her nude lady-garden or his air-freshened fruit basket?

– What happens to the bike seat?

– In the history of the rides, have there been any big pile-ups resulting in unsightly gravel-rash?

– Are the supportive bystanders supporting the cause or simply leering at your nudity?

– What drives (ha!) one to remove all your clothing in public anyway? As someone who is so frightfully uncomfortable nude (it’s a struggle to just strip off for a shower, on my own! Just kidding… ) I find it interesting that someone can feel so utterly comfortable in their skin that they are quite happy to share it with the world.

Thankfully my questions can be answered–on the World Naked Bike Ride website!

Check out this link: http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Frequently_asked_questions to have your own questions answered.

Tags: cycling, event, good news, positive news, Sustainability