The mood is light as the annual Philly Naked Bike Ride passes by City Hall on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)

Thousands of cyclists took advantage of a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to get in a ride, celebrate body positivity and support street safety at the 15th annual Philly Naked Bike Ride. 

Starting at Glendinning Rock Garden at 5 p.m., the cyclists rolled through Center City wearing little more than body paint and glitter, catching the attention of spectators and spreading their message of body positivity before finishing up at Drexel Park.

Philadelphia’s ride has been an annual ritual since 2009 (except for a COVID postponement), and it’s one of the largest in the U.S. With the largest such event, in Portland, canceled this year, it was expected to be even larger than usual, with some participants coming all the way from the West Coast.

Like other events connected to the World Naked Bike Ride, which tracks more than 120 such meetups around the globe, the Philly ride promotes cycling as a form of transport and serves to advocate for less reliance on fossil fuels. (Hence one of PNBR’s slogans: “Less gas, more ass.”)

This year’s event comes as bike safety advocates have pressed the city to strengthen safety measures after the death of cyclist Barbara Friedes, a CHOP resident who was struck by a driver while cycling on Spruce Street. The driver has since been charged in her death, including charges that he was under the influence when he struck her.

While the event included calls for safety, it retained its fun, party flavor.

Scroll down to check out (NSFW) photos from the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride.

PNBR participants paint each others’ bodies at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride begins. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Jim paints “PNBR” on his leg at Glendinning Rock Garden before the start of the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
A “No More Bicycle Deaths!” sign rests under a bike at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Jo (left) and Caragh share a hug at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Stanley Ware
Event organizer Stanley Ware, of Philadelphia, waves zebra and green flags at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride on Sunday, Aug. 24. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Jim paints “PNBR” on his leg at Glendinning Rock Garden before the start of the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
“We met during the 2012 PNBR. We were biking separately, and at the after-party, I asked to take his picture. He found me on social media, and we’ve been together ever since. We haven’t missed a ride — PNBR is our anniversary,” says Melanie (left) as she paints her partner Jim’s chest. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Rocket (left) pours glitter on a PNBR participant at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
PNBR participants relax at Glendinning Rock Garden before the start of the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Joe Cox, an organizer with PNBR, poses for a portrait with his two Chihuahuas at Glendinning Rock Garden before the start of the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Keino poses for a portrait at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Camille (right) pours glitter on Amaury’s chest at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Brian (left) and Claudio pose for a photo together at Glendinning Rock Garden before the start of the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Claudio (left) shows off his “Make America Drunk Again” drink holder next to DJ, wearing a Trump mask, at Glendinning Rock Garden before the 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
People near City Hall react to the annual Philly Naked Bike Ride as it passes by on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
The annual Philly Naked Bike Ride passes by City Hall on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
A spectator films cyclists at the annual Philly Naked Bike Ride near Broad and Chestnut streets on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
Jah King Odacious films the annual Philly Naked Bike Ride as it passes by City Hall on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
PNBR participants wait at a red light at City Hall during the annual 2024 Philly Naked Bike Ride. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)
The annual Philly Naked Bike Ride heads down Broad Street on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Solmaira Valerio)

Solmaira Valerio is a North Philly native photographer. They studied photography at the Community College of Philadelphia and graduated with a BA in Journalism and a minor in Clinical Psychology from Temple...