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Thousands of cyclists will dare to bare tomorrow afternoon when the 17th edition of the Philly Naked Bike Ride runs through the city’s streets.
The group revealed this year’s route map Friday afternoon, which will begin at the Dragon Boat Dock off of Martin Luther King Jr Drive and end by the Iroquois Statue in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The roughly 12-mile route steps off at 5 p.m. and will take the clothesless cyclists through Logan Circle, City Hall, Rittenhouse Square, the Independence Mall and Chinatown, Northern Liberties, Olde Kensington, down Broad Street from Temple University and finally to Fairmount.
Philly’s ride is one of the largest in the United States, and the balance of previous rides has been equal parts party and protest. This year, the organizing committee said it expects “a joyful celebration of cycling culture while demonstrating how vulnerable cyclists are and demanding safe cycling culture.”
Riders can gather at the Dragon Boat Dock from 2 p.m. People can strip down as much as they’re comfortable with and get creative with it, though the group also strongly recommends carrying your clothes with you in case you need to stop somewhere. Other forms of human-powered transportation are welcome to join the ride. If you go with a rented bike like Indego, the organisers do strongly recommend wrapping or covering your seat.
Professional body painters will be on hand to decorate folks with messages until 4:30 p.m., including artist and Bodypaint.Me founder Matt Deifer. Deifer will be running a “tirebranding ceremony,” where riders will be painted with a quick “tiretread body mark” and given caution tape headbands. Together, the markings aim to create “a procession of road touched bodies crowned in caution, riding together to demand safety, space and respect from the city.”
The annual event, this year labelled “Shameless Naked Bicycle Joy,” part of the World Naked Bike Ride movement and organized by members of the social cycling volunteer group CycleScenePHL.
The message and goals of the World Naked Bike Ride are promoting “fuel-conscious consumption, positive body image and cycling advocacy.”
Last year’s ride ran from East Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill to the Art Museum. Organizers said it drew between 2,000 and 2,500 riders.
The Philadelphia Police Department is told about the route before the event, but has had no involvement. Lewd, obscene behavior or sexual activity is against the group’s code of conduct — and most local laws — as well as “unwelcome verbal remarks or physical behavior of a sexual nature, especially when concerning a person’s body or sexuality.”
The ride is free — beware of online scams asking you to register or buy tickets — and you are welcome to join at any point along the route.
Tomorrow’s forecast currently has some rain, but it looks like there may be a showers-free window at the time of the ride. Regardless, the ride is rain or shine, so plan accordingly.
For those looking for a more modest cycling experience, Love City Brewing has the “Tour de Love City” on Sunday from noon till 3 p.m. That ride runs from the brewery’s Callowhill location to the Manayunk one, one week before the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.
