Brighton 2008 press release 1 draft

Over 200 nude cyclists expected on Brighton's third World Naked Bike Ride

On Saturday 7 June, over 200 people are expected to take part in Brighton's third annual World Naked Bike Ride. The event is part of an international environmental campaign promoting cycling and protesting against oil dependency. As of last year, following negotiations with Sussex Police, full nudity is permitted at the event. This year a post-ride picnic is also planned at the city's naturist beach.

The ride celebrates cycling and the human body, and is a protest for safer, more sustainable and environmentally-friendly transport. It forms part of a growing global movement for stronger action on climate change. The naked element of the event is a powerful symbol of the vulnerability of cyclists on the road. The ride also highlights Brighton's national status as a Cycling Demonstration Town. Skaters are also welcome.

Riders are invited to write slogans on their bodies, and there will be a body painting session before the ride sets off.

The ride is designed as a naked sightseeing party on wheels, and will pass a number of Brighton and Hove landmarks including the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Pier, Hove Lawns, the Lanes and Kemptown. It is a mostly flat, easy route and ends with a post-ride swim and picnic at Black Rock naturist beach.

Reactions to the ride have been almost unanimously positive, with spectators expressing a strange mixture of delight and surprise as the ride passes by.

Ride organisers have worked closely with Sussex Police to ensure the ride takes place safely and lawfully. As of last year, full nudity is permitted at all UK rides. Public nudity in itself is not illegal in the UK. However, complete undress is not mandatory - the ride's dress code is "as bare as you dare!". If participants are afraid of being recognised, wigs and sunglasses are a good means of disguise. Cycling naked is no less comfortable than riding clothed, although a flat route as been chosen with this in mind.

Rides will be taking place in several other cities around the world during the same week, and it is possible to take part in more than one. This year new events in Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast join London, Manchester, Southampton and York, where rides took place in 2007. London will be staging its fifth ride on 14 June, a week after Brighton. Last year saw a record-breaking 1,000 naked people cycling through the heart of the capital.

The Brighton ride will assemble at The Level park, BN2 3FX, at 11am on Saturday 7 June. It will start off at 11.30am and finish around 1.30pm in Kemptown for the naturist beach picnic. There will be bike and body decoration at the Level from 10am. The event is free and people of all ages and appearances are warmly invited to join.

Participants should bring bikes or skates, bags to carry clothes, sun protection and shoes. Bike hire is available from Planet Cycles (01273 748881), where a 10 percent discount is available to people hiring bikes specifically for the ride.

Ride organisation is a grassroots, community effort with a shoestring budget. People willing to help plan or facilitate the event are thus invited to contact ride organisers in the run-up to the event.

Visit http://worldnakedbikeride.org/brighton for further information.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS:

For further press information on the Brighton ride, visit:
http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/wiki/Brighton_press
http://www.pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/q99432.php

The route of the ride will be roughly the same as in 2007:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1063791

• Photographs and video footage

Stock photography of previous Brighton rides is available at the following sites (search for "brighton naked bike ride"):

Alamy - http://www.alamy.com/ (Photos: Roger Bamber)
Rex Features - http://www.rexfeatures.com/ (Photos: Paul Brown)
John Connor Press Associates - http://www.jcpa.co.uk/ (Photos: Nigel Bowles)

Further images and video footage is available for use by sympathetic publications, non-profit organisations and charities. Details on request. For links to other image and video galleries, visit:

http://nakedwiki.org/wiki/Brighton_photos
http://nakedwiki.org/wiki/Brighton_video

• Links:

Brighton information pages:
http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/brighton/

Global site:
http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/

Global information site:
http://www.nakedwiki.org/

• Related information

Cycling Demonstration Towns information:
http://www.cyclingengland.co.uk/demotowns.php

Brighton & Hove Council air quality action plan reports:
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1164866

Commentary on the Public Order Act and Sexual Offences Act:
http://www.n-2.org.uk/nuff/pages/legal/public.htm
http://www.n-2.org.uk/nuff/pages/legal/soa.htm

• For further information, contact:

Duncan Blinkhorn, Brighton Naked Bike Ride coordinator
Tel: 07944 152706 / Email: [email protected]

Jesse Schust, UK Naked Bike Rides coordinator
Tel: 0781 458 7361 / Email: [email protected]