Portland, Oregon announced as location for this year’s World Naked Bike Ride event

Organisers for the World Naked Bike Ride, an international cycling event that draws thousands of nude riders to Portland, Oregon, have announced the details for the bare-skinned event. On the evening of 25 June, nude riders will converge on Mt Scott Park in southeast Portland.

Then the bikers will take to the streets, though the actual route has yet to be announced.

World Naked Bike Ride participants, London, 2014. Image by bjpcorp / CC BY 2.0

Last year over 10,000 people showed up for the event, which was first conceived in 2003 by a Canadian activist. Officially a protest against dependence on oil and for cyclist safety on the road, the ride also allows individuals to state their own causes, such as body positivity or gay rights.

‘I do think that it’s important for people to realize that protests can be fun,’ said Meghan Sinnott, an organiser of the ride in 2015. ‘I think that this one proves the point on that.’

Cyclist at the World Naked Bike Ride, Portland, 2008. Image by butterbits / CC BY-SA 2.0

As the name suggests, the World Naked Bike Ride is an international event held in cities across the globe. Naked bike rides are also held in Australia, Denmark, Mexico and many others.

Besides bicycles, all human-powered transport, such as skateboards, unicycles and rickshaws, are encouraged. Nudity is optional, with the dress code being ‘bare as you dare.