Edinburgh

List of rides > UK > Edinburgh 

Northern English rides: York, Newcastle Gateshead, Manchester, and Scarborough.

Join the Ride!

Like us!

Join our Group

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: Saturday, 8th of June 2019
Time: 2pm Meet from 1pm.
Location: Middle Meadow Walk, Meadows, Edinburgh

Ride information

Dress Code: "Is Nudity mandatory?"

It's not such a silly question when you think about the name of the event but No, nudity is not mandatory.

For the first time in Edinburgh, a change in the application of the law means nudity will be possible. Edinburgh should no longer be the only clothed WNBR on the planet!

In previous years, obliged to be part covered, riders have worn shorts, bras, swimwear, body paint, wigs, sunglasses etc. Most wear footwear. Bring a bag to carry your clothes, as we can't promise they would still be there on your return if you left them in the Meadows. If your bike breaks down and you don't have something to wear you will be naked and alone in the middle of Edinburgh...

Body painting and adornment, customised bikes and other creative expression are all strongly encouraged.

See also the United Kingdom FAQ for more information on this topic

Legality

We are assured by the fiscals office, and the police that simply being naked is not illegal. See the British Naturism advice at [1] Bring something to cover up, as this is the first time a naked WNBR has been possible in Edinburgh. If someone complains we will have to cover up. If several people complain the police will have to look into it, and send a report to the fiscal, so don't do anything to harass, alarm or distress people, and nothing you wouldn't do clothed. Play nice.

This is an organised event, the police are aware, but don't feel it justifies an escort. The Police were fantastic and friendly in previous years and this event would like to continue having an amicable relationship.

The clothing options are pretty simple: Bare-as-you-Dare. Decoration! Bring an emergency cover up!

Now on to the fun stuff: Decoration!

Decoration

Lets have fun with it. In previous years people were plastering each other with body paint and wearing comedy G-strings. We work best when we are forced to improvise, so improvise your hearts out.

We will do our best to provide some screens to get changed behind, and apply decoration. Why not have a 'painting-party' beforehand, and really go to town? We are trying to organise a venue & some paint, where for a donation you can paint up. Watch this space!

Best of all, take some inspiration from other rides around the world, many of which manage to post pictures that are totally work-safe due to the sheer weight of ornamentation!

Photography

Edinburgh prefers riders rather than photographers. Rider-photographers are OK but we will probably be using the London photography policy [2] unless posted otherwise. It contains some good advice for both riders and Photographers. Riders should note that when EWNBR started, most photographers were at the start. On the route it was mostly random tourists. Now everyone has a phone or tablet with a camera. If you are worried about appearing online, possibly a hat or wig, some fancy dress, and a pair of dark sunglasses may reduce the chance of being recognised. If you do take pictures, there is a flickr group at [3] any photos that publicise our cause are good, but play nice and if someone indicates that they are unwilling to be photographed, please respect that. There will be a "No photography zone." for changing/body painting behind a screen.

What if I don't have a bike?

It is possible to hire bikes in Edinburgh. There are several shops, and we now have our own version of the Boris Bikes. If you use any of these, we strongly suggest that you put some sort of cover over the saddle. After all, you don't know where it's been!

Could I use some other form of human powered transport?

Yes, but the route has some hills, both up and down. Whatever you use needs to be roadworthy, and have brakes! Otherwise you will probably end up as a smear on the side of a bus or tram!

What if my Bike Breaks Down?

Please try to ensure it doesn't! Check it over and fix anything that needs it the day before. Make sure it's roadworthy. If something does break, we will carry some tools, but if it's something that needs more than two minutes to fix, we can't wait. We will wait while you cover up, but you will then have to make your own way back to the start, or home!

Directions

Middle Meadow Walk is a long tree lined avenue through the Meadows Park. At the north end of the Walk is Teviot Place and at the south end is Argyle Place. Here is a map Here is an excellent photograph that shows what Middle Meadows Walk looks like.

Publicise the ride

Please share our Facebook event [4] or retweet us @wnbredinburgh

Get involved

If you want to get more actively involved in the ride, join our group There's a call for volunteers to help organise it. Volunteer! We still need more stewards and first aiders.

History

2011

Saturday 11 June 2011

In spite of temperatures of less than ten degrees and continuous rain, 10 people were still game enough to make the ride wearing only bodypaint and some scraps of lycra. The ride started at approx 4:30pm, half an hour late due to a last minute storage issue.

• Map of the Route

2010

Saturday 12 June 2010

Our WNBR started at 3pm with about 20 to 30 participants - check pictures below

2009

Saturday 13 June 2009

Ride report:

• Will WNBR Happen In Edinburgh this Year? - James' reply

2008

Sunday 29 June 2008

Ride report:

• Jacquie Phelan’s Weblog: "Swan Song to the Eden-birds"

2004

A partially-clothed WNBR took place in Edinburgh on 12 June 2004 and it had more participants than the London ride on the same day. At least one rider participated in both rides!

Photos

2011

• David Monteith-Hodge (flickr.com)
• Yao Hui (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

2010

• sandy_beach_cat (flickr.com - tagged as adult, flickr sign in required)
• byronv2 (flickr.com)
• WNBR EDINBURGH 2010! (facebook.com)

2008

• Flickr: Chris Hill
• Flickr: Mojtaba-2008

Videos

2011

• a short film by Andy Cameron of the start of the ride (Youtube.com)

Media coverage

2011

• Edinburgh Spotlight, 4 May 2011: "11th June will see naked* cyclists assemble at Middle Meadow Walk"

• The Scotsman, 25 May 2011: "Cyclists gearing up to grin and bare it " By Laura Cummings

2010

• The Scotsman, 08 June 2010: "Cyclists not allowed to let it all hang out for naked event " By Rory Reynolds

• Edinburgh Guide, 12 June 2010: "World Naked Bike Ride in Edinburgh"

2008

• The Herald, 24 May 2008: "Cyclists’ naked ambition to take to the capital’s streets" by Brian Donnelly

2004

• Scotsman, 11 Jun 2004: "The naked truth" (Opinion piece)
• BBC News, 12 Jun 2004: "Protest cyclists opt to cover up"
• Sunday Herald, 13 Jun 2004: "Edinburgh covers up after protests"
• Scotsman, 14 Jun 2004: "Barely no trouble at naked ride"

Links

Websites

• WNBR 2011 Edinburgh Facebook event
• WNBR Edinburgh Facebook group
• Critical Mass Edinburgh
• WNBR UK (This page has FAQ info and links to the other UK rides)

See also United Kingdom page

Discussion group/s

• WNBR UK Yahoo! group for Announcements and discussion of all UK rides.

See also United Kingdom page

Location information

• ViaMichelin Map of Edinburgh
• Wikipedia: Edinburgh
• Wikipedia: City of Edinburgh
• Wikipedia: Lothian