We’re bombarded with press releases everyday, and it’s our job to filter out the interesting stuff from the rubbish. Sometimes something will jump out at us, but not always for the same reasons. News of the Brighton Naked Bike Ride caught our attention though, and we couldn’t possibly go about the rest of the day without sharing it with you. 

On Sunday June 12 1,000 nude cyclists are expected to join the annual Brighton Naked Bike Ride. 

Why? That’s a good question. It’s a protest and carnival on wheels, part of the World Naked Bike Ride – one of 50 similar events in cities around the globe – against oil dependency and a celebration of cycling as ideal eco-friendly transport for a low-carbon future. This year’s event will highlight body power as one of the most efficient forms of sustainable travel.

One of the organisers, Duncan Blinkhorn, said: “This is about having fun on bikes and celebrating the human body as an important form of renewable – or should I say ‘re-nude-able’ – energy. It’s also about alerting ourselves, as human beings, to our vulnerability, faced as we are with the consequences of continued dependence on fossil fuels and dangerous transport. The resulting changes to our global climate are increasingly undermining our planet’s ecosystems, which will be catastrophic unless we radically change course. We are conditioned to think that lugging ourselves around in a steel casket on wheels makes us safer, when sadly this is merely storing up trouble for the future.”

He added: “The World Naked Bike Ride is about facing our fears and challenging ourselves. Many people are fearful of cycling on the roads, but evidence shows that the more people cycle, the safer we all are. By cycling naked we symbolise our vulnerability, both as individuals and as a species. It also demonstrates ‘safety in numbers’. We are stronger when we come together.”

Participants are invited to assemble on the Level (Brighton, BN2 3FX) at 12 noon, “as bare as they dare”. A ‘Bike Train’ student ride will also join the main event from the University of Sussex, meeting at Falmer House at 12 noon.

The ride will follow an easy 8-mile “naked sightseeing” route around the seafront and city centre, finishing with a big splash at Black Rock naturist beach in Kemptown. There will be spectacular bikes dressed up with flags and flowers, and bodies dressed down with painted slogans, dancing to mobile sound systems.

http://worldnakedbikeride.org/brighton

Do you dare strip off?