United Kingdom FAQ

Home > List of rides > UK > United Kingdom frequently asked questions (FAQ)

You'll find many of the common questions about the World Naked Bike Ride answered at the main FAQ page. This page addresses some of the common questions about UK rides. If you've got a question that isn't answered here, contact us at uk [at] worldnakedbikeride.org.

Dress code and body acceptance

Do I have to get fully nude?

No! Nudity isn't required to participate in this ride. Dress code is 'bare as you dare', so please try to challenge yourself. Wear as little as you can while still feeling comfortable about it.

Last year, people came wearing shorts, bra-tops, swim-wear, body paint/masks, etc. There will be plenty of people who will cycle fully nude, so don't feel that it is your duty to do this if you aren't comfortable showing all of your body. Many people find they get more confident as the ride progresses, so feel free to peel off as you go!

Do you have body paint information? How much does it cost to cover someone with body paint?

Yes, there is plenty of info at the general World Naked Bike Ride site here. For a good example of how a message written in paint looks, click here. There is further info about creative ideas from the London ride here.

One paint tube will cover a body, and it costs approximately £5-9 per tube. Therefore it's £5-9 to cover a body with one colour of paint (e.g. entire body painted blue). We will have some body paint at the London ride so you can write messages or designs on your body (but you should buy some paint if you want something with lots of paint or detail).

What if I am not thin / not young? What if I have scars on my body? What if my body shape just isn't normal?

Great! Please come to the ride! We'll all be there to ride with you in celebration of your body's strength and individuality. Last year there were people of all ages, sizes, builds, and appearances. At the ride, you will be treated with dignity and respect no matter what your body looks like. One of the amazing impacts of this ride is to show the world how varied real bodies can be; unlike the airbrushed images that flood the media and cause so much insecurity.

Will I be arrested for nudity?

If you are riding in London, there is almost no risk of arrest. Police are aware of our bike protest, and in 2005 and 2006 they agreed to the route and the nudity. We expect the same outcome in 2007. For more info, see the 2005 exchange we had with the police.

For other rides, note that nudity isn't illegal in the UK, but using nudity to intentionally cause harassment, alarm or distress may be illegal. Don't act offensively and you are unlikely to be arrested. These pages have a more complete explanation of the legal position.

Police may try to force the point and claim that you are offending people. You can ask them to substantiate this before deciding whether to comply. You can't be arrested for nudity unless a) police require that you put clothes back on and b) you refuse.

If you don't wish to be arrested but want to remain mostly bare, just bring along a thong/ g-string/ briefs/ shorts/ toga or anything that you can slip on in order to cover up if police decide to challenge us.

At the 2004 ride in London, the police tolerated our nudity provided that we didn't remain nude after the ride. No one was arrested for nudity at any ride in the world during the 2004 ride, but some people were forced by police to cover up (in Edinburgh, and various places in the USA). The World Naked Bike Ride has never had a UK arrest. There have been arrests in 2005 (one arrest in New Zealand during February 2005, then six in Chicago and two in New Hampshire, USA). The likelihood of arrests and police intolerance depends on local police policy. In London, our dealings with the police have been very cordial.

Will people/ the press photograph me?

They might. In London, since 2005 there has been a photography policy which bars close-ups and photos taken when people aren't on their bikes. For other UK rides, here's some advice. If it makes you uncomfortable, let the photographers know that they don't have permission to photograph you. Also, let other riders know this so they can tell photographers not to photograph you. Another approach is to keep your clothes on during the first bit of the ride, and take them off after you have left the assembly point. We recommend this approach too. Both of these approaches will cut down on photographs taken at the start of the ride, but there is a good chance that riders will be photographed during the ride.

What will the gender ratio be?

It is hard to know the gender ratio in advance. The 2005 and 2006 London rides were fairly balanced.

While many rides have been gender balanced, it is rare that females outnumbered males on any ride. Males have outnumbered females on some rides. Of course we would like it if every mass naked ride had a good gender balance, but we can't promise this.

Obviously, cycling and opposing oil dependency are not gender specific activities. Public nudity has a very different meaning for each of us personally.

I've never gone on a naked bike ride. Do you have any extra info to make me feel better informed, and more ready?

We have a page that has further information just for new riders here.

Comfort and safety

Advice for Riders

Also see our "Advice for Riders" section here.

Can I hurt myself by cycling in the nude?

Only if you don't wear any sunscreen or if you fall off the bike. We recommend that you wear sunscreen, and a helmet. Ride carefully and you won't get hurt.

What does it feel like to ride nude?

Just like it does with clothes but a bit cooler.

But, won't it hurt or damage my delicate parts?

No, it won't! No hurting or damage will occur if you ride your bike in the normal manner. It will feel just like riding with clothes, but cooler.

(Note: Whether you are clothed or nude, riding on a hard bike seat can make your bum feel sore afterwards - particularly if you haven't cycled recently.)

What about the hygiene issue? My delicate parts will touch the seat! And my bum will touch the seat too!

Indeed they will! Some people fear that they will catch something from the seat or make the seat dirty just by sitting on it naked. Unless you (or your seat) have particularly terrible hygiene already, there won't be a problem. There hasn't been a single report of this problem occuring in the many years of people cycling in the nude.

For those that are still worried, here's the simple solution. Before the ride - 1. Have a wash. 2. clean off your seat.

Should I wear shoes?

If you're not sure about this, then you should wear shoes. Most riders wear shoes for safety/comfort reasons.

Is it illegal to cycle without a helmet?

No, cycle helmets are not compulsory in the UK (yet) which is probably just as well as it might discourage - or criminalise - many budding cyclists. See this article for some reasoned debate about the issue.

By all means wear one if you feel safer - or for decoration, perhaps with some flowers, ivy, or feathery "wings" attached!

Protesting

Can I bring a placard, leaflets, etc? What message should I communicate?

We recommend bringing something that communicates the messages of the ride (opposition to oil dependency and celebration of our bodies). You could paint the message onto your body (click here for a terrific photo of painted messages from Aukland's Feb 2005 ride, and inspiring use of stencils from the USA's Republican National Convention 2004 protests in NYC). You could mount a sign/object/flag onto your bicycle. You might want to wear a prop (mask, wings, tail, etc). Use your imagination. There are some ideas at the London ride pages.

Don't feel limited by the main WNBR messages ("protest oil dependency", "curb car culture", "real rights for bikes", "celebrate body freedom"). You can communicate opposition to oil dependency through a number of UK-specific issues. You may feel strongly opposed to the UK and US led war in Iraq. It can be easily argued that this war wouldn't have happened if the world were no longer oil dependent. It would make sense to attend the World Naked Bike Ride in protest of the war in Iraq or any other conflict fueled by oil dependency.

How can I promote the ride?

We have a page all about this for the UK ride. Also visit the main pages of the global website for further ideas!

Riding

Do I have to ride a bike?

No! You won't be able to keep up with us if you are travelling on foot, but alternative human-powered transport is welcome. We've had a number of skaters, a handful of rickshaws, recumbent bikes, and work bikes. By all means surprise us! As of 2007, we have yet to see a penny-farthing cycle, but we had Santa Claus on a unicycle at the 2006 York ride!

I don't own a bike. How can I participate?

If you don't own a bike, you can

• Bring your skates
• Borrow/ hire skates (see below)
• Borrow/ hire a bike (see below)
• Hire a rickshaw bike taxi for the afternoon (not cheap, but plenty of fun).

Where can I hire a bike or skates in London?

London Bicycle Touring Company - These folks have offered a special rate to riders who hire the bikes for the ride. The bikes will have to be collected from Waterloo, but there's a very easy 15 minute ride (mostly in light traffic or car-free) to the ride assembly point (they will give you directions). You must pre-book if you want a bike for the ride, please contact them. Opening times 10am-6pm. (but they will allow bikes to be returned till 7 on the day of the ride).
Address: 1a Gabriels Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, LONDON, SE1 9PP
Phone: 020 7928 6838
Email: mail[ at ]londonbicycle.com
Web site

London Cycling Campaign has a page on cycle hire.

Critical Mass London has a page of cycle hire info.

Action Bikes - Hire a folding bright yellow brompton folding bike (which is allowed on all public transport in London) £30 for the whole weekend (collect on Friday or Saturday and return on Sunday or Monday) - here. One participant who did this, said that it worked just fine!

The Blue Room - Hire inline skates near Marble Arch (£18 for the entire weekend!) - here

Slick Willies - Another place which hires out skates for just £30 per week - here

Can I hire a bike in Brighton or Manchester?

In Brighton & Hove, bikes can be hired from Planet Cycles, next to West Pier (call 01273 748881). We don't know of anywhere hiring skates in Brighton – Oddballs used to, but they don't any more!

If you know of good companies for hiring bikes and skates in Brighton or Manchester, please let us know.

Gettting to the ride

I'm travelling by train. Can I take my bike with me?

Provided that the company and route allows you, just wheel it on, but don't obstruct the doors, obviously.

For full information on each train route/company policy, see this guide. On weekdays there are severe restrictions, but Saturdays are usually fine. However bike reservations are often required so check the guide and with your operating company if in doubt. Folding bikes are not subject to any restrictions, you just carry them on as luggage.

The one thing to look out for, however, is any engineering work. This usually happens at weekends and if the train company puts on replacement bus services instead of trains because work is being done on the line, they will not let you on with your bike. That goes for every train operator, so be careful.

You can find out about engineering work on the site: [www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney] which has an icon with an arrow called service alterations. They don't usually post alterations until about a week before and there may even be emergency work. The national rail enquiries line is pretty useless on this and rarely knows about engineering work affecting cyclists, unfortunately, and can give out duff information.

If you want to store your bike, some Rail Stations have storage facilities or good places to lock up your bike. There are paid storage facilities at each of most of the main rail stations of Central London except Marylebone, and the fee for storing a bike is aproximately £5.50 per 24 hours (open 7am-11pm). More details here.

To find your way through London you might find it helpful to use this cycling route planner for London.

See below information about travelling to the London ride from Paddington Tube and Rail station.

Can I travel with my bike on the London tube?

You can travel by tube with a bike on most overground Tube sections (mainly outer London, and the Circle Line). Click here for info on which tube lines and stations allow travel with cycles. The second thing to find out is which tube lines are open.

The nearest bike friendly tube/rail station to the bike ride is Paddington (served by the Central Line). From this station, it is a pleasant and easy 10-15 minute journey to the start of the bike ride. if you can get to Paddington there is a good, quiet, signposted cycle route to Wellington Arch across Hyde Park.

Go out of the station and cross Praed St into London St, turn left into Norfolk Square, right into Southwick Street, which becomes Hyde Park Crescent (church on your left) into Albion Street, across the Bayswater Rd on a cycle crossing, which takes you into Hyde Park and then turn left towards Marble Arch and follow the cycle lane down to Hyde Park Corner where there is a cycle crossing to the Wellington Arch island. The whole route is signposted as a cycle route and takes only about 10-15 mins, if you don't get lost.

Can I travel with my bike on the London buses?

You cannot bring even a small bike on the London buses unless it is a folding bike. Even then, some drivers will refuse (but they are supposed to allow folding bikes on).

Can I share a ride with someone?

One method of finding a shared ride is to use Freewheelers.

Can I store my bike somewhere off the street in London on Friday/Saturday night?

See the answer above about travelling with your bike by rail for details about storage at mainline rail stations.

I can't carry my bike with me. I'm travelling to the ride by bus/ train/ rideshare/ hang-glider. What should I do?

You could try any of the following:

• Arrive early, and hire a bike
• Borrow a bike from a friend nearby to the ride starting point
• Borrow/ hire a folding bike. These are easy to carry (though not recommended for those travelling by hang-glider).

I'm too scared to ride in the city centre. How can I participate?

If you are too scared to ride to the start of the ride, you can:

• Carry your skates to the ride
• Borrow/ hire skates (see above)
• Borrow/ hire a bike (see above) from a friend/shop near to the start of the ride and walk to the ride
• Persuade a friend to bring your bike to the start of the ride for you
• Borrow/ hire a folding bike (see above) so that you can easily carry the bike to the ride.