Southampton

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Southampton Naked Bike Ride 2008, © Rich Castle

Southampton had another great ride in 2009! Leading up to the ride, the local media gave much good coverage including a number of live to air pieces for the local BBC radio station. On a dry and 'warm enough' evening 150 riders attended. The convoy was led in fine style by a pair of Penny Farthings dating from the 1890s. We felt that these vehicles from a time before the internal combustion engine neatly debunked the foolish idea that roads are made for cars! Helped by the stately pace of the vintage bikes, the ride stayed closely bunched together which gave a sense of unity. We were greeted warmly by bystanders as we passed, and most car drivers were tolerant (though there were the odd few aggressive exceptions). Though numbers were about the same as last year, it seemed to me there was a greater show of nakedness this time, so hoorah for Southampton riders!

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Next ride

Date: June 2010
Time: 6pm (ride will set off around 6.30pm)
Location: East side of Southampton Common at the clearing next to Highfield Road and opposite the junction with Omdurman Road.

Ride details

Assembly point

We will meet on the eastern side of Southampton Common, in the clearing next to Highfield Road and opposite the junction with Omdurman Road. It's also close to the pedestrian underpass if you are approaching from the western side of the Common. Here's a google map showing the spot. If you are using a GPS device, the closest postcode is SO17 1BF.

At 6.30pm we'll hit the streets of Southampton on our beautiful bikes. If you have roller blades, skateboards or other (non-carbon emitting) wheels feel free to use them. The ride will take about an hour most likely.

Dress code

Come as bare as you dare. Nudity makes a great statement, and many of us will be completely naked, but if you're more comfortable in a little clothing, that's fine too. In previous years, riders have worn shorts, bras, swimwear, body paint, wigs, sunglasses etc. Most wear footwear and bring bags to carry clothes. Body painting and adornment, customised bikes and other creative expression are all strongly encouraged.

Body painting at The Art House

We encourage everyone to get painted up with a quick bike-loving, traffic-busting slogan, even if you only have five minutes before the start of the ride. But if you have a little more time, our friends at The Art House (178 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DW) have kindly offered a private space from 4pm where you can create something really impressive. Ideally come with a friend and paint one another. We will have some body paints available, but feel free to bring more.

Route

A 6.3 mile route taking in Portswood, Bevois Valley, City Centre including Oxford Street, and returning via The Avenue to the start location. The 2009 route is shown here. In brief the route will be: North on Highfield Road, right into Highfield Lane, turn right into Portswood Road. Follow Portswood Road / Bevois Valley Road / Onslow Road to Dorset Street and the Charlotte Place (Jury's Inn) roundabout. Take third exit into E Park Terrace. Continue down Palmerston Road and Queensway. Turn left on Bernard Street then bear right into Oxford St. Second left into John Street and left again on Bernard Street. Continue on Bernard Street until turning right onto the High Street. Continue straight on into Above Bar (dismount in pedestrian section if appropriate). At the traffic lights at the top of Above Bar, turn left and then immediately right into Bedford Place (passing The Art House). Third right on Carlton Crescent, then left into Rockstone Place. Turn left onto The Avenue. At Cowherds, take cycle path through The Common, past the pond, then right to the underpass. Finish at the start location on the eastern part of the Common.

Legality

Simple 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 very unlikely to be arrested. We have notified the police of our intention to ride in protest against oil dependency and in celebration of bicycles. They are fully aware that many/most of our riders will be nude and partially nude as we cycle a route through the streets of Southampton.

Public transport

The start location is a 3 mile ride from Southampton Parkway railway station, which is a main stop on the London Waterloo to Bournemouth and Poole line. Local stations at Swaythling and St Denys are closer still.

Planning

There is much planning still to do and assistance would be appreciated! Please get in touch via southampton@worldnakedbikeride.org if you plan to ride or if you are able to help.

Events

The World Naked Bike Ride was once again present at these Southampton events.

SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT & ETHICS WEEK
Highfield Campus
web site
Monday 27th April – Friday 1st May
WNBR will be represented on Friday 1st May

ENVIRONMENTAL ROCK
The Hobbit, Bevois Valley Road
web site
Sat 25 April 2009

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 Southampton (UK design)

for printing locally.

Planning meetings

Next planning meeting to be announced shortly.

Press releases

• 14 May 2007: World Naked Bike Ride comes to Southampton
• 17 May 2007: Over 1,000 Naked Cyclists Expected in Five UK Cities for World Naked Bike Ride Weekend

Media coverage

2009

• Southern Daily Echo, 13 June 2009: "Southampton's naked bike ride attracts 150 cyclists"
• Southern Daily Echo, 22 April 2009: "Southampton's naked bike ride to return"

2008

• This is Hampshire, 7 Jun 2008: "Naked cyclists take to the streets" by Corey Stephenson
• This is Hampshire, 6 Jun 2008: "Naked riders to saddle-up once again"
• Southern Daily Echo, 14 May 2008: "Who’ll dare to bare for naked bike ride?"

2007

• Southern Daily Echo, 9 Jun 2007: "May the flesh be with you!" (video) (scanned image)
• Southern Daily Echo, 7 Jun 2007: "Naked on a bike through Southampton!" (scanned image)
• BBC Radio Solent, 23 May 2008: Breakfast Show featured story (MP3, 20min, 8MB)

Photos

2008

• Alex Newstead
• Lycraboy
• Jon Forder, Sam Wise

2007

• Hembo Pagi

Videos

2008

• Bouldershorts 4 min video
• Daily Echo

2007

• Bouldershorts 8 min video
• Southamptonvids 45 sec video
• e69119 36 sec video

Links

Websites

• WNBR UK (This page has FAQ info and links to the other UK rides)

See also United Kingdom page

Discussion groups

• WNBR Southampton Yahoo! group for riders and people interested in helping to organise the ride.
• WNBR UK Yahoo! group for Announcements and discussion of all UK rides.
• Facebook event for discussing the Southampton ride