71 Replies to "This time, you're warned (or invited!): "Naked bike ride" Sunday"

• jiggers September 8, 2009 (8:44 pm)

  Naked young women only please..

• CrazyDogLady September 8, 2009 (9:09 pm)

  Doesn’t look too well attended.

• jcb September 8, 2009 (9:14 pm)

  I agree! Very creepy. Thanks for the heads-up!

• mj September 8, 2009 (9:35 pm)

  Publish a route or I hope you go to jail. I would prefer my kid not see Aaron’s show.

• MargL September 8, 2009 (9:43 pm)

  I think we’ll just head over to the Pacific Science Center and check out the naked mole rats instead. Much more interesting.

• OP September 8, 2009 (10:04 pm)

  It’s always the people that you DON’T want to see naked that go naked.

• Rob September 8, 2009 (10:20 pm)

  I am just thinking what if a bunch of West Seattlites beat them to the punch and do a counter rally telling them they are not welcome here???? Would anyone show up?

• Vanessa C September 8, 2009 (10:58 pm)

  Aren’t there laws about public nudity? I’m sure if I walked downtown in my birthday suit, I’d be locked up either with SPD or Happy Acres for observation. So what’s the difference with naked bicycle riders????WTF? I really don’t care but I think it could cause car accidents due to the shock value. On another note…I took my bike into Aaron’s for a tune up on my bike. They had the nerve to place one of their stickers as an advertisement on the main body of my bike. It’s one you can’t even get off with a razor blade. Really made me mad, defacing my property. I never went back. Jerks. So Mr. Friendly, your free website ads on my bike lost you a long time customer.

• WSB September 8, 2009 (11:16 pm)

  We checked last year after the “naked bike ride,” as there were some questions regarding the fact that they rode along Alki the day of a big public event (Statue of Liberty Plaza dedication) Rather than me retyping here, read my long followup in last year’s comment thread regarding how police leadership explained it:
  https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=10260#comment-465322

• deoiridh September 8, 2009 (11:22 pm)

  The weather is supposed to be very nice on Sunday. I think it would be very pleasant to ride unencumbered by society’s burdens (small-minded thinking).

• SmoothBob September 8, 2009 (11:27 pm)

  Does Aaron’s joint sponsor/condone this? They may be convenient, but I bet I can find someone else for bike maintenance who doesn’t support activity like this.

  Maybe they’ll get lost and end down in White Center or Burien where KCSO won’t look the other way. There is a reason why these Critical Mass-types don’t stray North or Sound into KCSO territory.

• WSB September 8, 2009 (11:35 pm)

  Please ask him yourself before making any judgments. This information did NOT come from him – as attributed and linked above, I first found it on organizer Daniel Johnson’s Twitter feed, and then on the WNBR wiki (which had for the past couple months said “West Seattle ride in late August or September, details soon” – now it has the date). His languaging was, as you can see on the links, that they’re meeting up there, but it’s a public sidewalk, they could have as easily listed another location or business (last year they were first noticed in the spot shown in the photo above – a residential street in Hansen View, south of The Mount, just west of 35th) … TR

• Jeff September 9, 2009 (12:03 am)

  I think my wife and I saw them last year while walking along Beach Drive. Would have expected a bigger group, given past publicity, but there were only a half dozen or so. They were definitely naked, though.

  To borrow a phrase from the Brits, don’t get your knickers in a twist over this. They’re not like strippers or doing anything overtly sexual. Lots of body paint obscuring the naughty bits. Much more like National Geographic than Playboy.

• Matt September 9, 2009 (1:40 am)

  Why do I do this? For me it’s to desensitize people to nudity. We all have one of two kinds of pluming. We are all of the same species of animal. What is the big deal? Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and they should be celebrated instead of hidden. I believe that we in America are overly worried that nakedness equals sex. One does not have to be part of the other. To be out in the woods or in your back yard naked or even better on a mountain top is a great feeling. I hope others can enjoy this freedom without fear of being arrested.

  Other riders have their own reasons that are just as good. Promoting cycling instead of driving (less emitions and healthier for us obese Americans), making people aware that bicyclists on the street are vulnerable. I also ride for these reasons. What a great way to draw attention to a cause. People look and remember a bunch of naked people on bikes.

• Matt September 9, 2009 (1:54 am)

  We welcome the West Seattlites to join us. Help celebrate freedom. Help bring attention to an important topic.

  · Sixty percent of bike fatalities in Washington State were in urban areas in 2007.

  · Most fatal bike accidents in Washington State were associated with crossing roadways (35%), riding against traffic (27%) and turning into the path of a vehicle (10%).

  · Washington has allotted $18 million for bicycle safety programs and safe school route programs from 2007-2009.

  · There are about 700 cyclist deaths per year, while 90 percent of those losing their lives are male.

  · About 45,000 cyclists are injured each year, although many believe this number is significantly under reported. Cyclists are 4.5 times more likely to be injured than motor vehicle drivers, per mile of travel.

  · Three out of five at fault drivers involved in cyclist accidents are never cited, even in the event of fatal crashes and hit-and-runs.

• rw September 9, 2009 (5:02 am)

  Apparently this is a mini-Critical Mass sort of ride.

  I could care less about the nudity (more power to anyone who tweaks our prudish society and promotes a more natural “view,” in my opinion).

  But I really hope the police are there and arrest or cite some of these people if they try to bring traffic to a crawl with their “spontaneous” demonstration.

• rw September 9, 2009 (5:07 am)

  I just looked at the report on last year’s ride. I noticed several riders without helmets. If you really want to promote bike safety, Matt, I would think that some clothing, and a helmet in particular, would be called for.

• bb September 9, 2009 (5:16 am)

  not sure why you removed my first comment that these are a bunch of “pedalphiles” but riding by public parks where children are IS CREEPY!

• Smitty September 9, 2009 (6:28 am)

  I have no problem with it, as long as they wear helmets.

  But then they aren’t technically naked, are they?

• What? September 9, 2009 (6:30 am)

  It’s interesting to me how America is So very freaked out by nude.
  I travel to other countries like Australia, Europe, even B.C. Canada has a large nude beach. (wreck beach, at the base of the hill at UBC) and to them nude is not a big deal. Violence is. They don’t embrace even half the violence the U.S. does. I notice a lot of great shows from Europe don’t get aired over here. I’m told it’s because of the level of nudity. Over half of the shows from America don’t make it to other countries. When I ask my friends why they say, “Way to violent.” Just an interesting bit of sociology.
  The solar parade in Fremont is Always kicked off by the painted naked bicycle riders. I don’t think the up coming ride is out trolling for children. Their on bikes…. They will be moving pretty quick.

• Aaron Goss September 9, 2009 (6:40 am)

  Aaron’s Bicycle Repair neither condones or endorses the World Naked Bike Ride. They asked if we knew of a spot they could start and since they ride bikes, my manager and I figured, “Why not?” Plus they might give us some business!
  We will “promote” any event that is bicycle related. We will post any flyer for any event in our shop window that has a bike on it. Over time many festivals have started to include bike images! The Junction Street Fair and the Arts in Nature Festival are 2 fine examples.
  We don’t care if you are black, white, gay, straight, clothed or naked, if you are riding a bicycle, you are OK with us!

• Ken September 9, 2009 (6:58 am)

  You want to protect your kids from nudity when it has no sexual connotations (except in your own head) and yet no one complains about the non stop viagra commercials and detailed discussions of various human plumbing problems in High Def on cable and broadcast tv ?

  You’re so desensitized to violence you don’t notice it until the blood sprays higher than the laws of physics allow in a movie (and left in when it is “censored” for tv), but a butt crack must be digitized.

  I blame religion and the creeping Calvinism that has infested it. The puritans were kicked out of England for being insufferable and here we celebrate their advent with a paean to gluttony?

  I don’t intend to participate or watch but I support the riders efforts as art. Art can be beautiful or disturbing. Sometimes it is both.

• homesweethome September 9, 2009 (6:58 am)

  Can we not just look at something anymore, such as this ride, and say – wow, great for them but its not for me? West Seattle has really become a horribly judgemental area on all issues big and small. I’m not worried these folks will swoop up my child, I’d prefer they wear helmets to at least demonstrate to protect the most important part of the body if safety is the message, but other than that – just turn the other way if you don’t want to look.

• Kayleigh September 9, 2009 (8:41 am)

  Well, it’s easy to say “nudism is okay for some and not for me” when the nudists aren’t riding down your street. Not so easy when they are in your face (yes, I can look away, and probably would.)
  .
  Other parts of the body could get seriously injured too. Just sayin’.

• fj September 9, 2009 (8:55 am)

  such a big tizzy about a little nudity? seriously sad. It’s just a human body, people. And if your darling-precious-kids see? It’s still just a naked body. Get over it!

• Mark September 9, 2009 (9:28 am)

  I say good for them!! I just wish I had a body decent enough to display like that. I think the only reason to check them out is to see how all the up-tight people respond to them.

• Sarah September 9, 2009 (9:33 am)

  “Can we not just look at something anymore, such as this ride, and say – wow, great for them but its not for me?”

  I agree. And I say, kudos to law enforcement for letting the riders be. There are much more horrific things going on in the city, and if they focused on this, everyone complaining would call it a waste of time.

• Bruce W September 9, 2009 (9:33 am)

  OMG, I’m offended and dismayed at this. After all, if God had intended for us to be nude, we would have been born…oh, wait. Never mind.
  (Sarcasm included at no additional charge)

• austin September 9, 2009 (9:37 am)

  As usual, the whiners make a shallow and pathetic point. Makes me wonder where some of these people come from.

• big gulps,eh? well, see ya later. September 9, 2009 (9:56 am)

  I am thankful I live in a city where these folks can do this without prosecution. I am also thankful that others that dislike it can voice their opinion without prosecution. Seattle is a durn sweet place.

• AJP September 9, 2009 (10:00 am)

  Wheeeee! Things like this are what make Seattle quirky and fun.

• AJP September 9, 2009 (10:01 am)

  And…as my Great Aunt Benny used to say when she’d stop on the side of a long, treeless highway to relieve herself, “If they haven’t seen it yet they will someday!”

• deoiridh September 9, 2009 (10:39 am)

  I much prefer simple nudity in my face occasionally, which is pure and without fault, made in the Creator’s image, rather than smokers/christians/politicians/self-righteous “i’m better than you are” bastards in my face every day (you know who you are).

• squidburger September 9, 2009 (10:47 am)

  I always get a laugh when I see the naked cyclists. Then I cheer. I love that we live in a place that isn’t censoring such activity. I often think it would be uncomfortable (especially for men) to ride a bike naked, but it’s certainly harmless. Lighten up! No one is being harmed.

• Mike September 9, 2009 (10:49 am)

  That’s gonna be some nasty rash they get along with sun burns on a 75 degree day in the sun.

  Hope you don’t crash, that’s a hell of a road rash in all the wrong spots.

• Misty September 9, 2009 (11:13 am)

  You people piss me off the people that have the biggest problem with this are the same people that are into doing nasty sexual things in the bedroom we come into life nude. Riding a bike nude is not sexuall in any manner whats soever people need to stop associating the human body in it purest form as a sexual thing.And to the people complaning about how the only people that ride nude are the ones you don’t want to see again asscosiating the humane body with sex just because someone is naked dose not mean any sex act is taking place. the same people so unused to the human body oggling the girls that work at the coffee stand in bakinies you don’t have an issue with that. witch is way more sexual basicly its prostitution. My point is no one has a rite to tell you what to do with your own body weather you want to make coffee in your under garments or if you feel like riding your bike in the nude.

• Hoagie September 9, 2009 (11:21 am)

  Here’s something I found at SEATTLE.GOV in the SPD Blotter

  Is nudity illegal?

  This is a topic that has been in the news lately. The answer is a little more complex than simply yes or no. There is no law against being naked. However, there is a law against indecent exposure. Citizens who have written the Seattle Police Department for more information on this subject have received the following letter. It is concise and provides additional clarification on this issue.

  As you know, a recent protest of nude bicyclists came through Seattle, as well as, nude bicyclists at the Fremont Solstice Parade. The perpetual enforcement question surrounding public nudity during the summer is both a legal problem and a public policy issue.

  Washington’s indecent exposure law makes it a misdemeanor to “make any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm.” In other words, there must be lewd or obscene behavior for an officer to take action. In order for the police to make an arrest, we must have witnesses currently in the public place where the nudity is occurring who must make a complaint. These witnesses must be willing to appear in court. Also in order to prosecute, the burden is on the government to prove that the offender was knowingly aware that their conduct created alarm and offense of others. There are, of course, incidents involving nudity in which the person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol or is having severe mental problems and the police can take appropriate action.

  Historically, it has been difficult in Seattle to prosecute cases of public nudity. The position of the police department is to take a report upon receiving a complaint, identify the individual involved, and forward the complaint to the City Attorney.

  Sincerely,

  R. Gil Kerlikowske
  Chief of Police

• ? ? Nulu September 9, 2009 (11:28 am)

  squidburger-
  Lowered sperm count and impotence are two (maybe?) harming effects on male bikers. With-out your chamois and padding it may be more dramatic.
  And simple nudity is great,
  as long as the Creator’s image is not marred by tattoos.

• datamuse September 9, 2009 (12:15 pm)

  37 comments on this, two on the post about the team of bank robbers.

  Hmm.

• Kelly September 9, 2009 (12:33 pm)

  Maybe if they were naked bank robbers they’d get more attention.

• Andy September 9, 2009 (12:37 pm)

  Funny how these people get all haughty about their naked protests, and then nobody ever talks about the issue being protested. Perhaps dropping the sensationalist, confrontational nudity method would leave some of our attention available for discussing the issues.

  On the upside, bicycle riding has been known to cause sterility in men.

• WS Dog Lover September 9, 2009 (12:53 pm)

  oh my!

• Mark September 9, 2009 (1:46 pm)

  I don’t currently do not do my bike shopping at Aarons and I am a little bummed that they are not sponsoring this event. Aaron, you need to get some “AArons” stickers for the naked riders to wear, that might be enough for me to actually figure out where you are!!

• Hmmm September 9, 2009 (2:54 pm)

  I’m not against this. I can only imagine one can’t be too comfortable riding in one’s birthday suit though.

• Scuba02 September 9, 2009 (6:08 pm)

  I’m against my kids seeing a bunch of naked adults on bicycles and otherwise – and if it’s anything like the Critical Mass bike ride we witnessed, the riders will undoubtedly be cursing up a storm to boot.

  How about insted of being passive and letting these ‘activists’ walk all over our laws (riding en masse across the West Seattle Bridge), we arrest the lot of them this time?

  I nor any of my friends who’re bike riders will ever shop at Aaron’s again.

• datamuse September 9, 2009 (7:14 pm)

  Well, Scuba02, a couple of people have posted what you’ve gotta do to make that happen, so go ahead, I guess.

• bean September 9, 2009 (7:19 pm)

  I’m surprised and a little disappointed in the uproar of West Seattlites over a little nudity. Shower much? Or is that too much skin for you?

• Steph September 9, 2009 (11:32 pm)

  Who are these people who do this? Do they care if I am out walking with my kids that their junk is hanging out for everyone. Why arn’t the police doing anything about this? These people have no brains. Go move to a freakin nudist place if you want to be naked. Or do it inside your own home. It is a sad day when these people can go down the street doing whatever the hell they want. This frustrates me to no end. Hope every last one of them gets arrested for something. Stupid People.

• Steph September 9, 2009 (11:35 pm)

  Lets take all the seats off their bikes before their “ride”

• Ugh. September 10, 2009 (1:34 am)

  Honestly,we really don’t want to see you. We all know what’s underneath your clothes…please. For the love of (insert preferred Diety)!

  BTW, nicely said, Andy.

• Rick Hamell September 10, 2009 (11:41 am)

  Quite a difference between Seattle and Portland here. Portland’s annual naked bike ride is MUCH better attended, has nothing to do with Critical Mass and draws little to no criticism.

  And here we were thinking you all were the more progressive.

• WSB September 10, 2009 (12:06 pm)

  Portland’s light rail is light years ahead … for that alone we will envy you. Seems like a city where you can get around much more easily without a car, whether you’re dressed or not.

• IslandLvr September 10, 2009 (2:05 pm)

  Good for them! Good luck with the bike ride and WEAR SUNSCREEN!!

• Smitty September 10, 2009 (4:10 pm)

  Maybe I’ll go take a naked crap on one of these riders front lawns – after all it’s “natural”.

  I promise to pick it up. Daily.

• Been here September 10, 2009 (5:54 pm)

  If you don’t like naked people, fine.
  But you have be threatening?
  Does everything have to end in retaliation?

• Cait September 10, 2009 (9:17 pm)

  Get over it. We come into the world that way and we leave it that way. Why not embrace it. If you don’t want to, fine. Your kid won’t be traumatized, I promise. They’re going to see it in the YMCA shower room anyway.

  I bet those are the people to ask about which bike seats are the most comfortable.

• Smitty September 10, 2009 (9:27 pm)

  Sweet!

  Email me your address so I can come poop on your yard.

  “We come into the world that way”…

• Matt September 12, 2009 (10:19 am)

  WNBR is not Critical Mass. We do not intentionally block intersections nor do we screm profanities at people. We just ride or walk, if safer, our bikes through the streets. We do have important issues we hope to bring attention to and hope to have signs on our bikes to get these across. We are a bunch of happy hooting funloving people. Come join us on our ride. Wear cloths if you want. We consider these rides bare as you dare rides.

  Matt

  Matt

• Matt September 12, 2009 (10:22 am)

  Thanks again to Aarons Bike Repair for the use of their space. WNBR wishes you all the best. See you tomorrow,
  Matt

• Scuba02 September 12, 2009 (1:19 pm)

  So it does appear Aaron’s Bike Repair is sponsoring this in some capacity. Thought so, and that’s too bad as I thought he was a stand up guy =/

  Why force nudism on people? That’s what you’re doing. You may think it’s just a simple bit of tom-foolery, or a funny hijinks, but it’s not. In fact I’d bet the majority of innocent observers aren’t amused (particularly those of us with kids). You can’t possibly think that everyone’s been notified of your route?

  “We come into this world naked…”, But we’ve been clothed for centuries good friends – again why force this on us? It’s not natural to be naked, it never was. We’re warm blooded and have required some sort of covering to ward off the cold, hypothermia etc. Even our distant primative relatives (Australopithecus Afarensis) wore animal skins for warmth. What a weak argument, “it’s natural”!?

• WSB September 12, 2009 (1:31 pm)

  Aaron spoke for himself earlier in this thread. Promoted and sponsored aren’t the same thing.
  https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=20464#comment-704701
  Meantime, regarding the route, it’s not posted yet on the WNBR site if it’s going to be posted at all (still just says they “may” go thru Admiral, Alki, to Lincoln Park),
  http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Seattle#13_Sept_2009
  so nobody’s been notified. We will be covering this and sending updates via Twitter to the best of our, and the iPhone’s, ability:
  http://twitter.com/westseattleblog
  .
  TR

• Scuba02 September 12, 2009 (1:51 pm)

  So we’re to be surprised by the naked rascals?

  What a way to promote cyclist’s rights. I’m no political genius, but there has GOT to be a more effective method of activism?

  We’re all thrilled to be spontaneously bombarded by their wretched genitals.

  -SIGH!-

• What? September 12, 2009 (4:03 pm)

  Scuba02
  Why are you So afraid?
  They aren’t coming over to stay. They will streak past and be gone. By Tuesday the water cooler news will be on to something else.

• deoiridh September 13, 2009 (1:40 am)

  Scuba02 said: “It’s not natural to be naked, it never was”. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t born with a fur coat. Tomorrow’s supposed to be up around 80 again – you can sweat your a$$ off fully covered, but I’m going to be comfortable. Also, “Why force nudism on people?” – we’re Not Forcing Anything on you. Do you smoke in public? (FORCING SMOKING ON ME) Do you drive a car? (FORCING CARS ON ME). Grow up, get a life, look the other way.

• Hoagie September 13, 2009 (8:35 am)

  Here’s a link to the proposed ride. If you come out to see us, be sure to support the local businesses and tell them why your there.

  http://bit.ly/ZIEUA

  peace

• Hoagie September 13, 2009 (8:48 am)

  Better yet join the ride. It’s a bare as you dare ride. Wear whatever you feel comfortable with. Remember Nude not Lewd. Starts to gather around noon and ride begins around 2pm.

  peace & love

• Scuba02 September 13, 2009 (10:27 am)

  I’m hardly afraid, What? – more irritated and concerned for my kiddo’s eyes. Deo, you sound like a delight. Hoagie Peace and Love to you as well good brother/sister!

  I still think streaking belongs in a nudist camp or on a college campus somewhere. Moreover, nude activism for the sake of cyclist’s rights detracts from the message. Like Critical Mass demonstrations, it just seems like an excuse to act silly and break some rules.

  That being said, be safe and I do wish you well.

• Hoagie September 13, 2009 (10:39 am)

  In response to

  Maybe I’ll go take a naked crap on one of these riders front lawns – after all it’s “natural”.

  I promise to pick it up. Daily.

  Comment by Smitty — September 10, 09 4:10 pm #

  It’s illegal to urinate or defecate in public as well as unsanitary and just plain stupid. If you have a problem with incontinence, that’s what adult diapers are for.

• I.P.A. September 13, 2009 (11:00 am)

  I’m showing up to support these NBR.

  By the way, Aaron’s Bicycle Repair gets my praise. His shop has the best employees. Aaron will never sell you something you don’t need and he is the best mechanic around…period. He loves bikes and it shows.

• a naked guy September 13, 2009 (12:34 pm)

  there are naked people at Aaron’s!

• Been here a long time September 13, 2009 (1:27 pm)

  Sorry scuba2
  but as far as your child’s eyes,
  magazines, The new red carpet see though dresses and the Ymca or Allstar locker room probably got to those eyes already.

Sorry, comment time is over.