York
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Other Northern rides: Newcastle Gateshead, Manchester, Scarborough, Edinburgh.
The York World Naked Bike Ride is a protest against oil dependency and car culture. It is equally a celebration of the bike and the human body.
The York WNBR is part of Bike Week
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.
Contents
Next ride
Date: Sunday 25 June 2017.
Time: tba
Location: Assembly/departure point: usually 50 metres south of Millennium Bridge on the Fulford (east) side of the river.
As always, everyone is encouraged to go "as bare as they dare" and please don't forget to affix/paint signs on your bike and/or body to indicate the reason why you are riding.
Route and schedule
Advantages of the York route: The York route is mostly flat. It runs on both streets and traffic-free paths. There are cycle-hire facilities a short cycle distance from the start. The route passes various landmarks of York including the Minster, historic Bars (city gates), and the iconic Clifford's Tower. It goes down medieval cobbled streets, traverses bridges both ancient and new, and glides along the banks of the scenic River Ouse, usually to the accompaniment of some great music. Because of the surfaces we discourage runners and skaters as it is difficult for them to keep up, so bikes, trikes, tandems, hand-cycles and experienced unicyclists only please!
Ride schedule
This was the ride schedule for 2016. It's likely to be earlier this year.
3.00 - 5.00 pm Gathering of riders at Millennium Bridge. Time to have some refreshments, decorate your bike, paint your slogans. Bodypainting gazebo will be available, we are aiming to get professional face/body painters to help out.
5.00 pm Departure from Millennium Bridge
5.20 pm - 5.50 pm (approx) Cyclists Art Installation in St Helen's Square (more info closer to the event, no preparation needed)
6.40 pm approx. - Return to Millennium Bridge
Advice for Riders
This is common-sense practical advice about preparing for and being safe on the ride. Lot of useful tips, suggestions and links to further information. It's updated every year to reflect changing needs. The 2016 version of the Advice is still available and can be consulted here. We'll post the new version in this section when it's ready.
Press and Publicity
The 2016 Press Release is downloadable via the link below:
Press Release for York World Naked Bike Ride 2016
2016 FLYER
Last year's combined York and Scarborough flyer can still be downloaded by clicking on the link below. The flyer is A5 size and prints two to a page of A4, single-sided.
York & Scarborough WNBR 2016 Flyer
Be patient: files can take a while to download!
Please try and place any publicity materials in a prominent position in your local community centre, college, bike shop etc and circulate amongst your cycling friends and fellow activists. Laminated versions can even be displayed at key locations outside, e.g. attached to lamp-posts along cycle paths. With a little ingenuity flyers can also be attached to bikes. When organising leaflet distribution we are often on the look-out for a place where we can leave flyers for people to collect (with a person or business in York perhaps). If you know of a business that might be up for this, please write to york [at] worldnakedbikeride [dot] org.
If you would like to donate some art-work for future York WNBR events, please get in touch.
Bike hire
Bikes can be hired from the following places:
Giant Bikes (formerly known as Bob Trotters), 13-15 Lord Mayors Walk, York, YO31 7HB, Tel: 01904 622868
City centre cycle hire store just outside the city walls, a short stroll from York Minster. Ring to enquire if they still do bike hire.
Cycle Heaven - just outside the Railway Station, York, YO24 1AY. Tel: 01904 622701/630378.
Get Cycling is a company based at 22 Hospital Fields Road, YO10 4DZ, between Fulford Road and Millennium Bridge. Phone 01904 636812. They offer a bike helmet and lock, and to guarantee a bike, pre-booking is essential. They should be open on the day of the ride.
Meetings and events
Ride planning and discussion take place online mainly on our Facebook group, occasionally on the WNBR UK/ Yahoo! group, and at York planning meetings.
Planning meetings will be advertised here and on Facebook. Please check this space regularly. From 2011 we have often used the Seahorse Hotel, Fawcett Street (near York Barbican Centre) for our meetings.
FILM & DISCUSSION EVENINGS.
Films available:
The World Naked Bike Ride - “All over the world people are stripping off and getting on their bikes” (The story of the ground-breaking 2005 London ride, narrated by Jon Snow)
Indecent Exposure to Cars - “I see painted naked people on bicycles” (Directed by Conrad Schmidt, Ragtag productions 2007). A light-hearted slightly corny take on the origins of the WNBR movement.
York World Naked Bike 2008 - see Souvenir DVD below.
No film evenings are currently planned, but if you'd like to host a screening of any of the above films, please get in touch with Tony at: york [at] worldnakedbikeride [dot] org.
York Critical Mass
Used to meet on the first Friday of every month, 5.30 pm at the west end of the Minster, but there haven't been any rides recently.
Accounts of previous rides
See York history
Planning collective
The York Planning Collective is a small group of local cyclists working together in a co-operative way to a single end. Some of us are based in York itself, some live in the surrounding towns and villages. We always need more volunteers to get involved - that could be YOU!
Here's what the Collective does:
- answers people's questions with care and consideration
- keeps track of who is doing what, and how far through things people are
- deals with problems and follow the discussions at the national level
- provides email updates to let people know what's going on
- points out where and when help is needed
- acts as a contact point for general enquiries (email and mobile phone)
- maintains contact information (and keeps it secure)
Additional responsibilities for the coordinator or one of the Collective members:
- arranges meetings, compile agendas, provide minutes
- ensures that the Collective remains non-hierarchical but organised
- moderates an email list for York ride planning
Media coverage
Most recent articles first
2015
- The Press (York),22 Jun 2013: "Cyclists dare to go bare in York" - Report on the ride with a few pictures.
2014
2013
- The Press (York),22 Jun 2013: "Cyclists bare all for York's world naked bike ride" - Positive report on the ride with selected pictures.
- Yorkmix 20 Jun 2013: "The York Naked Bike Ride is all about freedom"- Article from another organiser about his motivations for doing the ride.
- The Press (York),19 Jun 2013: "Keep 'em on please" - More exciting debate following a letter from a dissenting cyclist.
- The Press (York),13 Jun 2013: "Cyclists who feel exposed"- Typical response from a local prude plus comments.
- The Press (York),10 Jun 2013: "Naked Message" - Letter to the Press from one of of the organisers.
- The Immortal Life, 15 May 2013: Stop Humanity's "Indecent Exposure" to cars - Interview with the one of the ride organisers.
2012
- The Press (York), 6 Jun 2012: "Cyclists bare all for World Naked Bike Ride"
- BBC York & North Yorkshire, 2 Jun 2012: "Naked cyclists take to York streets"
- The Press (York) letters, 31 May 2012: "Naked date looms"
- The Press (York), 26 May 2012: "Newly wed couple to join naked cycling event"
- The Guardian The Northerner blog, 25 May 2012: "York's naked bike ride pedals into its seventh year"
2011
- The Press (York), 6 June 2011: "Cyclists bare all for World Naked Bike Ride"
2010
- The Press (York), 21 June 2010: "Cyclists take part in the York Naked Bike Ride"
- The Press (York), 9 June 2010: "York Naked Bike Ride returns for a fifth year"
2009
- The Press (York), 13 Jun 2009: "York Naked Bike Ride"
2008
- The Press (York), 8 Jun 2008: "Naked Ambition of Green Cyclists" ride report.
- The Press (York), 6 Jun 2008: "Naked truth about responsible riding".
- The Press (York), 4 Jun 2008: "No place for naked cyclist here" letter from enraged local Councillor.
- The Press (York), 28 May 2008: "York gears up for naked cycle ride"
2007
- Nouse (York), 20 Jun 2007: In the Buff: Bareback Riders by Sam Noble
- Indymedia (York), 9 Jun 2007: World Naked Bike Ride - York
- The Press (York), 9 Jun 2007: Naked cyclists in cheeky protest
- The Press (York), 6 Jun 2007: "York Prepares for Invasion of the Naturists."
2006
- The Yorkshire Post, 30 May 2006: "Cyclists planning new twist on riding bareback" By Julie Hemmings
- The Press (Yorkshire), 29 May 2006: "On Yer Bike...and get your kit off!"
Photos
- Flickr search: "York world naked bike ride" ranked by most recent
It's recommended that you tag photos you upload with york, world naked bike ride and WNBR, plus the year (eg: 2014)
INDIVIDUAL SETS BY YEAR
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Awaiting links.
2009
Awaiting links.
2008
2007
- Georgi Mabee – excellent photo of the ride passing the castle
- Flickr photos by thenudeone (Rod)
2006
- An Extraordinary photo near York Minster at York's first WNBR (2006) by Wikipedia member Matt Crypto
- Flickr photos by Nic Thornhill
- Flickr photos by 'toniminou'
Videos
2015
- YouTube: 'York World Naked Bike Ride 2015' Great video with all the highlights by rider Tony Roach
2014
2013
2012
- YouTube: 'Report on the 2012 ride' - interviewer with the organiser, positive reactions from members of the public and brief chats with some of the riders.
- YouTube: 'OMG!' - two members of the public watch the ride go by near the Racecourse.
- Vimeo: 'York World Naked Bike Ride 2012 - The Start' - Footage of the ride setting off.
2011
Awaiting links.
2010
Awaiting links.
2009
- YouTube: 'Reactions from the public in Museum Gardens' - plus interviews with riders, including a very distinguished lady.
2008
- YouTube: 'Interview with a naked rider' You may need to sign in for this one.
- YouTube: 'Interview with a City Councillor and two naked riders' A previously critical local councillor came down to see what the ride was all about and was impressed by our aims.
- Souvenir DVD: 24-minute DVD of the 2008 York ride. Please write to york [at] worldnakedbikeride [dot] org for further details. The DVD costs £10 (includes postage and packing), payable by cash or cheque. Virtually all participants are included in the DVD. Video is a souvenir or memento for participants, their families and friends. It is only offered for sale on this site.
2007
- YouTube: 'York naked bike ride 2007' by Barry – the return leg of the ride over Millennium Bridge and along Terry Avenue
Photography policy
The York Ride broadly follows the spirit of the London Photography and Filming Policy. For exact details of the York policy please email york [at] worldnakedbikeride [dot] org.
Links
Websites
- WNBR UK – official site for UK rides
Other Northern Rides
Scarborough NEW FOR 2016!
Newcastle Gateshead NEW FOR 2016!
Sheffield - where rides have been held in previous rides and may happen again.
Scottish Rides
Discussion group/s
Join the WNBR UK list if you plan to ride and want to receive important updates or share in general UK ride planning.
- WNBR UK – Yahoo! discussion group for all UK rides
- WNBR YORK – Yahoo! discussion group for planning the York ride.
Related links
- Bike Week - The York ride is a registered event in this annual 'celebration of cycling'!
Location information
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