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Hundreds of riders rolled through Philadelphia Saturday for the fourteenth annual Naked Bike Ride, a clothing-optional jaunt from Fairmount Park down to Passyunk Avenue and back up to Northern Liberties.
With a mantra of “bare as you dare,” the event encourages creative dressing with as little clothing as desired — think novelty boxer shorts, lacy bras, colorful tutus, and plenty of body paint.
The Philly edition began in 2009 as part of the World Naked Bike Ride movement, a protest-slash-celebration that advocates for body positivity, a lower reliance on fossil fuels, and cyclist-friendly streets. Rides typically take place in cities throughout the summer, from Chicago (which was dubbed the best city for biking in the nude) to Boston and St. Louis.
In Philadelphia, the afternoon kicked off in a secluded section of Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill, where participants were able to disrobe, mingle, and lather on sunscreen without too many unaffiliated, clothed spectators. Just before the ride began at 5 p.m., some bikers lined up for free body painting, while others had photoshoots in coordinated costumes.
Participants rode down 19th Street and Broad Street in varying states of undress, perplexing and delighting onlookers in cars, at streeteries, and on early evening walks. Fans lined up to see the emo band Los Campesinos perform at Union Transfer even got an eyeful as the semi-naked brigade turned up Spring Garden Street around sunset.
The 12-mile ride concluded with a clothing-optional dance party at Northern Liberties music venue the Fillmore, complete with food from women-owned businesses like Juana Tamale and nicecream cart Vannah Banana.
From Birds-themed body paint to shiny pink nipple tassels and artfully-placed sunflowers, scroll down for photos from this end-of-summer tradition.
