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Find out more about past WNBR Seattle Rides by reading a history, the official WNBR Seattle ride reports and also view the press and media coverage, blogging, journals, newswire, discussion groups. For other cities click here.

History

Seattle was the second city to organize a WNBR event, after Vancouver BC, and the first United States city to organize a ride. Daniel Johnson met with Conrad Schmidt after both participated in an Artists Against War/Artists for Peace/Work Less Party (AAW/AFP/WLP) Go As Bare as You Dare ride (which Conrad organized) in Vancouver, BC. Conrad expressed interest in creating an international naked cycling event modeled after the rides in Vancouver and Daniel committed to having one in Seattle.

The idea to start off the ride in the Fremont and Wallingford districts of Seattle was because these neighborhoods have been supportive of painted/naked cycling in the past. This is due to the continuing success and growing creativity of the Painted naked cyclists of the Summer Solstice Parade who have been a highlight of the Summer Solstice Parade held annually in Fremont. The Painted Cyclists participate in the artistic spirit and non-political atmosphere of the Summer Solstice Parade in Fremont, held on the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice (exactly one week after WNBR). The painted cyclists are world famous — no one has outdone them in terms of the numbers of uniquely-made full-body bodypainting and kustom bike jobs!

Gas Works Park has traditionally been the end of the parade route and the end of the naked cycling, yet its easy access to The Burke-Gilman Trail beckons riders to continue on to explore other parts of the greater Seattle area. In addition to the Painted Cyclists, WNBR Seattle was also inspired by the the AAW/AFP/WLP Rides in Vancouver BC and Manifestación Ciclonudista in Spain, which predate WNBR.

With regard to the WNBR Seattle route, Daniel felt that leaving the area via the Fremont Bridge would provide a feeling that the cyclists would cover new ground, outside the established safe-haven of primarily artistic freedoms, into those that also integrate more political and social concerns. In 2004 he stated that "our aspirations are symbolized by our push to reach the International Fountain at the Seattle Center, giving the event an international scope and highlighting the global appeal and need for our message". Having reached that goal, Daniel is encouraging others to reinvent the ride every year, to keep the event fresh and interesting for riders and spectators alike.

In 2003, Conrad and Daniel chose the June 12th, 2004 for WNBR to coincide with other ride events, which predate WNBR; and to take advantage of the nice weather around the Summer Solstice. There was an attempt to combine both painted naked rides in Seattle at the time, however, many of the Solstice Cyclists preferred that their event appear to be more spontaneous and without an overt message, respecting the parade's festive, non-political context. Up until early 2006, the name and e-mailing list of the painted cyclists group was kept somewhat secret to avoid unwanted hassles.

Those participating in WNBR, operate in a distinctly different context and respect the request that the two events stay separate. While both groups strive to have a fun time, those involved with WNBR are also biking in solidarity with others in cities across the globe who wish to engage the public with a message. Up until 2006 they were the only painted/naked ride to openly publicize their events so that a larger number of people have the opportunity to participate. This changed in 2006 when Body Pride Ride launched highly visible naked promo rides during Seattle Critical Mass in March and April 2006, and when the Solsice Cyclists launched their public web site.

In 2005 there were four naked bike rides in Seattle. Three of those occurred in three consecutive saturdays in June alone! The other two Seattle naked cycling events included the painted naked cyclists of the Fremont Solstice Parade (18 June, featuring about 160 riders!), and the premiere of the First Annual Body Pride Ride (BPR, read "beeper"), at the Seattle Pride March on 26 June (see Beeper Yahoo! group). So, with WNBR, that was three separate naked rides in three weeks! In addition to ongoing monthly Critical Mass rides, 2005 marked the First Annual Independence From Oil Day Parade (3 July) and the emergence of the Ghostcycle project, raising awareness of cyclists on the streets with evocative installations around the city.

Official Ride Reports

Find out more about past WNBR Seattle Rides.

• Saturday 12 June 2004: WNBR Seattle #1 Gas Works, Seattle Center International Fountain, Capital Hill
• Saturday 11 June 2005: WNBR Seattle #2 Gas Works, Denny Park, City Hall, Capital Hill. View the ClothesFree TV coverage of the 11 June 2004 ride (Courtesy of ClothesFree International).
• Saturday 24 Sept 2005: WNBR Seattle #3 Autumnal Equinox Mini Ride from Myrtle Edwards Park to Discovery Park Beach.

For other cities click here.

Coverage

Includes press and media coverage, blogging, journals, newswire, discussion groups.

11 June 2005 Event

• The Seattle Times Cyclists flesh out their stand against cars — and clothes By Nick Martin, Seattle Times staff reporter. Sunday, June 12, 2005. Front of Local News Section. Two color pictures by Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times. 050612&query==world+naked+bike+ride
• KIRO 7 TV News coverage, June 11, 2005. (see below)
• WLTX-TV Columbia, SC "Naked Bike Ride Extended Kiro TV coverage stream (some apparently did not show on TV) [1]
• Nude & Natural (N) magazine 25.1 Features WNBR cover shot and global coverage, as well as an article on WNBR Seattle (also refers to Solstice cyclists)
• ClothesFree TV coverage of the 11 June 2004 ride (Courtesy of ClothesFree International).
• The Seattle Sinner magazine

12 June 2004 Event

• The Seattle Times Bicyclists will shed clothes in protest ride Tan Vinh June 11, 2004 [2] (Reference to Solstice Cyclists in article) (leads to Associated Press distribution)
• The Seattle Times Nude biker protest catches some attention Jessica Blanchard June 13, 2004 [3] (also refers to Solstice cyclists at bottom of article)
• The Seattle Times Uncovering a pointless complaint Danny Westneat / Times staff columnist June 18, 2004 [4]
• The Seattle Times "Day of action" plans trigger FBI warning June 12, 2004 [5]
• KING 5, Seattle, 12 Jun 2004: "Eco-protest event limited to nude cyclists"
• KING 5 TV News Seattle, 11 Jun 2004: Cyclists gear up for Naked Bike Ride Day) (Associated Press)
• Komo 4 News, Seattle, 13 Jun 2004: "Naked Bicyclists Ride In Protest Over Environmental Abuse"
• Nude & Natural (N) magazine N Magazine (published by The Naturist Society), Issue 24.1, Autumn 2004: "World Naked Bike Ride" by Jim Meyer, "The Wheel Deal, The World Naked Bike Ride — An Idea Whose Time Has Come" by Jim Meyer, "World Naked Bike Ride, Seattle-Style" by Mark Storey, "Naked in the Streets" color photo section included pictures of the painted naked cyclists of 2004 Summer Solstice Parade in Fremont.
• N Magazine (Nude & Natural), 'N' Trends, Issue 23.4, Summer 2004: "An Idea Worth Pedaling"
• British Airways High Life in-flight magazine, available on all flights, Nov 2004 Issue: "The Cheek Of It" by Jennifer Cox, Seattle. Talks about WNBR, BFC and the painted cyclists of the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade. Jennifer interviewed Daniel Johnson and another Seattle cyclist. Unfortunately there are several major inaccuracies in the article.
• Indymedia Seattle, 1 Apr 2004: "World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) - June 12, 2004"
• Shannon Kringen blog, 4 Mar 2004: blog entry
• Smoking Room, The (Greg Piper's blog), Seattle, 12 Jun 2004: "Naked Lunch"
• The Stranger, Seattle, Vol 13 No 38, 3-9 Jun 2004: "Tread Marks: Naked Bikers Descend on Seattle Center" (see also correction/derragatory remarks: "In a June story regarding an upcoming World Naked Bike Ride...")
• AOL CityGuide: Seattle - "Top 11 Naked Experiences" (Seattle WNBR rated at number 4, 2004
• ClothesFree TV "Nudes in the News" (Show #63, 19 June 2004) USA. A production of International Naturist Association (INA). Contains coverage of Manifestación Ciclonudista/WNBR, including Seattle photos. http://www.clothesfree.com. Windows Media format video
• Flutterby! blog, 14 Jun 2004: "WNBR Seattle" (coverage with 41 images)
• MISCmedia, Jun 13, 2004 [6]
• KZOK 102.5 FM, Seattle, USA: Bob Rivers Show poll: "Seattle is one of 22 cities around the world where nude bicycle riders plan to protest..."
• The Bob Rivers Show Mornings on KZOK 102.5 FM "Classic Rock" Seattle. A WNBR Seattle - related daily online poll was posted asking:
  

Seattle is one of 22 cities around the world where nude bicycle riders plan to protest oil dependency and [rest of question lost]

Total 236 votes cast.

Yes. We’re way too uptight about nudity in America. If humans were meant to wear clothes all the time, we would have been born with longjohns that have the little flap where the sun don’t shine. Let’s have Nudestock in Downtown Seattle! 59.75%

No. The last thing I want to see on the mean streets of Seattle is a gaggle of puffy white blobs on bikes. Not only that, I’ll have to do some ‘splaining to my kids when they ask about those funny dangling things. We should keep our clothes ON 40.25%