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37 riders on Cardiff's first World Naked Bike Ride 2008 - photo (c)2008 by Sara

WNBR Caerdydd! Taith Noeth Beic y Byd! (WNBR Cardiff! World Naked Bike Ride!)

The Cardiff World Naked Bike Ride highlights the urgent need to escape vehicle dependency and focus on the power and individuality of the human being.

2009 Ride Report - On the Saturday the13th of June, Cardiff's second running of the World Naked Bike Ride took place. The ride was, once again, a great success. After a slight delay with the police escort and a last minute route adjustment, the ride set of at 4:15p.m. with 62 riders. The public reception of the ride was excellent, word seemed to have gotten around that the ride was taking place and people looked like they were expecting us. After picking up five extra riders at the halfway mark we headed back through town and ended the ride with a respectable 67 riders. The media coverage of the ride was awesome. We made the BBC Wales evening news, and had good coverage in the Wales on Sunday and the South Wales Echo. A good time was had by all and there is much to look forward to with next years ride. I hope we can build no the numbers for the next one, I think we have gained a few new recruits already so we have a head start for 2010.

NODER: Mae gweddill y dudalen hon yn yr iaith Saesneg. Hwyrach y bydd dudalen Gymraeg maes o law.

NOTE: The rest of this page is written in English. We may put up a Welsh language page as well.

Please donate to the WNBR UK Fund

The UK World Naked Bike Ride fund meets the cost of insuring rides
across the UK, and provides local organisers with money for
poster/flyer printing, advertising, ride equipment etc.
Please give generously.

Next ride

Date: June 2010
Time: Gather at 3PM to get ready, paint yourself, decorate your bike etc. Setting off at 4PM
Location: Park Place, grassed area to rear of National Museum and adjacent to Cardiff University Main Building. See below for directions.

History

2009

62 riders began the ride, according to Facebook event report. However, we picked up some extra riders along the way and ended with 67.

2008

Wales's first ever WNBR took place in Cardiff on 14 June 2008. An enthusiastic band of riders planned the ride within a relatively short time and an atmosphere of growing enthusiasm and commitment was generated. Following this hugely positive event, interest in the 2009 ride soon began spreading far and wide.

2008 Ride Report - Cardiff's first ever WNBR was a resounding success - declared by many to have been awesome! The sun shone (despite forecasts suggesting otherwise) and at 4.00 p.m. 37 riders rode out onto the streets of a busy Cardiff which was also marking Veterans Day and preparing for a Bruce Springstein concert! A wonderful mix of people sporting a range of adornments and slogans made their way from Cathays Park to Cardiff Bay and back along the city's main highways, with an outstanding response from the public who snapped up all the on-ride leaflets in no time! Media coverage was wide and positive. The police escort were efficient and friendly. Riders came from all round Cardiff and area as well as a few from Bristol, Hereford and other places. Participants applauded loudly when we reached our destination in Sophia Gardens and pledged to come back next year for an even more positive and powerful event.

About the ride

Assembly point

The 2008 assembly point was in a quiet, enclosed area with grass and trees, easily found to the rear of the National Museum of Wales. The Museum is located in the Civic Centre in Cathays Park, immediately next door to City Hall, with its distinctive tower. The area in question is between Park Place and Museum Avenue. Here is a map of the assembly location. This is also the intended assembly point for 2009.

Dress code

Come as bare as you dare. Nudity makes a great statement, and many of us will be completely naked again this year - but if you're more comfortable in a little clothing, that's fine too. On the 2008 ride riders wore shorts, bras, swimwear, body paint, head-dresses, wigs, sunglasses etc. Most wore footwear and brought bags to carry clothes. Body painting and adornment, customised bikes, portable seed-trays and other creative expression are all strongly encouraged.

Route

Cardiff World Naked Bike Ride 2009 - Route

Assembly Point - Cathays Park - Grassed area adjacent to the University Main Building (bounded by Park Place and Museum Avenue).

Setting off at 4PM - Form up on the path facing Museum Avenue. Left into Museum Avenue.

Museum Avenue, City Road, left into King Edward VII Avenue. Gorsedd Gardens Road, right into Park Place. Greyfriars Street, the Friary, right into Queens Street. St. John Street, Working Street, Tthe Hayes, Hayes Bridge Road, Bute Street, Herbert Street, Lloyd George Avenue. Onto cycle path (left hand pavement) after Hemingway Road.

Over crossing to pass in front of Millennium Centre, to the rear of the Pier Head Building, pause in front of the Senedd.

Set off along the front of the Pier Head Building, returning past the front of the Millennium Centre. Left across the forecourt to the crossing giving access to the westbound carriageway of Lloyd George Avenue. Across the crossing and north up Lloyd George Avenue. Left into Herbert Street, ahead into Callaghan Square, St. Mary Street, High Street, Castle Street, Cowbrdge Road East. Onto the cycle path (left hand pavement) over Cardiff Bridge, concluding in Sophia Gardens. Riders are advised bring a bag or pannier to carry clothes and possessions.

Legality

The police facilitated both the 2008 and 2009 rides; riders found the officers most helpful, and they in turn fully acknowledged our right to demonstrate in our chosen manner. They have embraced the ride again this year, saying that they were impressed with the public reaction last year. One of the veterans on the Veteran Day celebrations actually told the police that he thought that it was marvelous. To put it simply, simple nudity isn't illegal in the UK, but using nudity intentionally to cause harassment, alarm or distress may be illegal. Don't act in an offensive or lewd manner and you are not going to get arrested.

Public transport

The 2009 ride will start within easy cycling distance of Cardiff Central Rail Station, served by frequent trains from various parts of Wales and England.

Signing up

It's not essential to sign up for the ride - you can just turn up on the day - but it does help to get an idea of anticipated numbers. To sign up, visit the yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wnbr-cardiff/ . Facebook users can also sign up by following the link to our facebook events page http://www.facebook.com/cardiffwnbr

Events

The Johnny Zapatos film about the 2005 London ride was shown at a film night in Chapter Arts Centre in December 2007. Much positive discussion was generated. To contribute ideas on further film screenings or other activity anywhere in Wales please visit WNBR Cardiff/Caerdydd Yahoo! group.

Planning

Cardiff riders are underway with planning the 2009 WNBR! Please get in touch via WNBR Cardiff/Caerdydd or WNBR UK Yahoo! groups if you plan to ride or if you are able to help.

Planning meetings

Whether involved in planning last year, a 2008 participant, or a new rider for 2009, you are very welcome to join in the preparations this year. If you would like to contribute, please come to the initial meeting, or post a message on the wnbr-cardiff/caerdydd Yahoo! group. Also join our Facebook group at (http://www.facebook.com/cardiffwnbr) to let us know that you want to come along!

Publicity

Poster

For the 2009 ride, some A4 posters have been printed. If more are needed, a PDF file can be downloaded from

• Full colour A4 Poster for Cardiff (UK design)

for printing locally.

Media coverage

2009

• Wales Online Photo Slideshows: "The World Naked Bike Ride in Cardiff" (direct link)
• WalesOnline, 14 Jun 2009: "Whacky races as naked cyclists take to Cardiff streets"
• WalesOnline, 13 Jun 2009: "Naked bike ride in Cardiff"

2008

• ITV Local YourNews, 16 Jun 2008: 'Cardiff Naked Bike ride', 'Cardiff Naked bike ride' and 'Cardiff world naked bike ride' video clips by Sarah Garvey
• BBC Radio Cymru, 14 Jun 2008: Welsh-language radio interview with a rider on the "Post Cyntaf" show
• BBC Radio Wales, 14 Jun 2008: radio interview with two riders on the "Good Morning Wales" show
• South Wales Echo, 13 Jun 2008: "Time to get on yer bike" by Katie Bodinger
• South Wales Echo, 9 Jun 2008: "Cyclists to tear a strip off polluters" by Katie Bodinger
• Copenhagen Post, 9 Jun 2008: "Bare breasts and bicycle helmets: Nearly naked cyclists created a stir..." (mainly about Copenhagen, but mentions the Cardiff ride)
• Bike For All (Cycling News), 6 Jun 2008: "English cities to see hundreds of naked cyclists" (focused on UK cities, but mentions the Cardiff ride)

Photos

• Flickr search: cardiff naked bike ride
• pilipala9 (Siriol) – one photo

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frw_gcXNIAc

Links

Websites

• WNBR United Kingdom on the main site – FAQ, info and links to other UK rides
• United Kingdom page on this wiki

Discussion groups

• WNBR Cardiff/Caerdydd Yahoo! group – Join to give an idea of numbers and for announcements and discussion of the ride. Having joined you can access the "Files" section to print A4 size Welsh language ride cards – with WNBR slogans - to use on your bike on the ride (for English versions, see London)
• WNBR UK Yahoo! group – announcements and discussion of all UK rides

Press contact

Nick (WNBR Cardiff coordinator)
ratboygoon [AT] yahoo.co.uk
07929 212 507

To arrange interviews with riders or get a press release call the Cardiff ride Coordinator.

Supportive local groups

• Cardiff Friends of the Earth
• Cardiff Transition Project