London

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1,000 riders on London Naked Bike Ride 2007 - photo by [email protected]

On Saturday 14 June 2008 the fifth London Naked Bike Ride took to the streets of the capital, allowing riders to see the city sights from the comfort of their own bike or skates. The ride was easy and upbeat, and riders decorated their bodies and bikes with messages of protest against oil dependency and car culture. The ride finished in record time (possibly even too quickly), and the rider numbers remained 1,000 (as with last year). The public was very receptive and enthusiastically supported the protest messages. Here are some very unique photos from Ben Lovejoy and Ramon Andarias

  • This event will take place regardless of the weather, bring appropriate clothing for before, during, after ride.
  • Numbers of riders have risen most years – 1,000 took part in both 2008 and 2007, 800 in 2006, 250 in 2005, and 58 in 2004
  • Riders joined other rides other UK rides, including nearby Brighton.
  • See also London sub-pages
  • For press enquiries see the media information page
  • To receive updates on WNBR London, please join our mailing list
  • Spread the word about the ride via our Facebook Group


Love London (www.lovelondon.org.uk)


Next ride

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Date: Saturday 13 June 2009
Time: 3pm assembly, for 3.30pm departure
Location: Meet in the south-east corner of Hyde Park, by the Achilles statue, near Hyde Park Corner (map link)

Ride details

Start location The assembly area is somewhat north of the statue of Achilles. Please assemble in the open meadow area shown on this map i.e. north of the Achilles statue, the horse ride and the next three paths, keeping between Lovers Walk and The Broadwalk. Do not ride your bike on the grass or paths at or around the assembly area. Keep all paths clear. There are toilets within easy walking distance of the ride start and finish - see maps online for toilets in the park and toilets just outside the park. Consult maps at the park for similar details.}}

Bike rental Discounted bike hire will probably be through London Bicycle Touring Company which will hire bikes to riders from 12.30pm-7pm for £10. For details of how to do this, visit the London_Bike_Hire page. Booking in advance is essential to guarantee availability of your hire bike.

Skate rental At the bargain price of £10, you can hire well maintained skates plus full padding from Club Blue Room for the entire day. They are located at Marble Arch, which is a short walk from the ride assembly/finish points. They can't hire if it's a rainy day, and they require a £100 deposit (cash or credit card) plus ID. Skates must be undamaged dry and clean when returned. Phone for details - 020 7724 4884

Body painting We encourage you to take the plunge and buy some body paints for yourself and get painted up before you come to the ride, but not everyone can manage this. From 2.30pm, volunteer body painters will be painting slogans/designs, and a self-service painting station will be available (see below for full details on Body Painting). PLEASE NOTE: Photographers and spectators are not welcome at the body painting session. and no photos will be allowed at the session. The entire body painting area is within a no-photo area outside the main assembly. Don't turn up before 2.30pm or you will be sent away.

Decorations and leaflets This year we are providing cloth flags again (£3) and these are stitched to easily fit on bamboo poles which you can tape to your bike frame/rack. We are also providing "race cards" - paper signs that easily attach to your bike with the messages of the WNBR. Donations are appreciated to help us cover the costs. There will be leaflets available which explain the ride more clearly to passers by. These items can be collected from just behind the Info Stall.

Problem photographers We hate to have to bring this up, but a few photographers were very intrusive and unpleasant toward riders at previous rides. We don't like this to happen, so we devised a photo policy and a no photo zone. We can also recommend several solutions. You can undress, body paint and wait for the ride to assemble from within the security of the "no-photo-zone" (where the body painting takes place). You can also prevent photographers by holding your palm toward the camera lens in the universal gesture of "stop/halt/no". More often than not the snappers turn away. Leafleting before and during the ride may be a good way to overcome discomfort from being stared at, and make you less likely to be targeted by problem photographers. The activity of engaging with bystanders makes you seem less vulnerable and this seems to appeal less to the problem photographers. Since most problem photography occurs at the ride start, you can simply wear something easily removed, and wait until the ride is underway to strip off fully.

Photography policy We've devised a Photo Policy to make it clear what photography behaviour is unwelcome. We also have a sign you can download that you can put up if a rider doesn't respond to verbal requests to stop taking intrusive photos - media:London2008photopolicyboard.pdf. For more about this see London#Photography_policy

Finish The ride finishes at Wellington Arch (the traditional finish location since 2005). Please, please, please be very careful not to get any body paint onto the Wellington Arch stone (which is very porous). If they have to clean body paint off of the stone (very expensive), we may not be welcome in future years.

Ride length Approximately 10km (6.2 miles)

After the ride

When you ride through Wellington Arch at the end of the ride, congratulate yourself and fellow riders on staging a successful protest. Wellington Arch is to be used as a dispersal area, not as a venue for prolonged naked socialising. So when you've found your friends, taken your photographs and celebrated the highlights of the ride, please get dressed and move on to continue your celebrations elsewhere. In particular, please note that playing games, such as Frisbee or ball games, in the Wellington Arch area is not allowed.

Riders are advised not to climb onto the Wellington Arch
Yes, it makes a great photograph, and it is fun. However, it makes the ride unpopular with English Heritage because the stone is easily damaged. Climbing onto the Wellington Arch puts the traditional ride finish location into jeopardy. We want to be allowed back here in the future, so please do not climb onto the Wellington Arch.

Painted Riders must avoid touching Wellington Arch
The stone of the Wellington Arch is extremely porous and absorbs the colour from body paint very easily. Avoid touching or leaning against the Wellington Arch if you have body paint on yourself.

Official photo
The ride organisers want to take a photo to remember the event. This photo may go into the newspapers and be used for publicity purposes. The Stewards will announce the photo being taken, and if you wish to be in the group photo, you'll need to mass to the West of the Arch and look up at the top of the Arch (where the photographer will be).

Dispersal
If you decide to move into Hyde Park, please show consideration for other users of the park, and behave discreetly if you want to sunbathe in the park. Remember that any misbehaviour that is associated with WNBR riders may jeopardise our ability to continue assembling in Hyde Park in future years.

After party
There may be parties arranged for after the main event. If so, they are hosted by sympathetic organisations, not by the WNBR London ride planning collective. Ask around at the end of the ride for information about possible after parties.
We mention here one party which shares the ecological campaign goals of the ride and is unlikely to be distributing leaflets at the ride. The Campaign Against Climate Change hosts a major Climate Forum over the weekend, and this includes a Saturday night party is open to the public for £5+ from 7pm (details of the "Climate Caper" Party are here).

Objectives and demands

Each year, the World Naked Bike Ride collective in London agrees on a set of objectives and demands for the year's ride. The objectives and demands of the ride are shown below:

Objectives

  • Protest against the global dependency on oil
  • Curb car culture
  • Obtain real rights for cyclists
  • Demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets
  • Celebrate body freedom

Demands

  • “Real rights for bikes”:
    • Safer streets for cyclists
    • Cycle-only zones in cities
    • Separate 2-way cycle lanes
  • A ban on car advertising

Participating in the ride

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

See the United Kingdom FAQ and global FAQ. Visit both pages to find out answers to your questions. We've tried to avoid an overlap of information.

Route

The ride features approximately 10km (6 miles) of central London with mostly left turns and a mix of high traffic and low traffic riding. There are a park start, no major hills and a finish area. The route starts at Hyde Park Corner, then takes in Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, Aquarium/London Eye, IMAX cinema roundabout, Waterloo Bridge, Covent Garden, Charing Cross Road, Centre Point/Tottenham Court Road Tube, Oxford Street, Oxford Circus, US Embassy, Park Lane, and finishes at Hyde Park Corner around the Wellington Arch.

Like in 2007, this year's assembly area will be within Hyde Park, just north of the statue of Achilles (London's oldest nude statue!).

2008 London route

The 2008 route is almost identical to the 2005, 2006 and 2007 routes. We have met with the Police and agreed the route, and there is just one small change - we'll do a short detour around the east side of Centrepoint before going West down Oxford Street. We've updated our detailed official map here (977KB JPEG), and will be adding smaller schematic maps. You can also find a nifty alternative map of the route here that includes an elevation profile! A map showing the ride assembly point is shown here.

The 2006 route map is here and it shows how we would shorten the ride in the extremely unlikely event of of extreme weather.

If you're wondering why the route doesn't include Constitution Hill, Buckingham Palace, The Mall, Birdcage Walk, Horseguards Parade, the Metropolitan Police asked us not to use these routes because Trooping of the Colour has caused there to be various traffic restrictions on these streets on the day of the ride.

Legality

We have notified the police of our intention to ride in protest of oil dependency and in celebration of our bodies. 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 central London. Since 2005, police have indicated that they would not be arresting us or trying to prevent the protest ride. Since 2006, the police have played a helpful role in traffic control to facilitate the ride. Visit our FAQ answer about what the Metropolitan police said in 2005. We will try to ensure that the next ride is endorsed by the police, as all previous London rides have been.

Notice: The terms of the 2008 ride have been agreed with the police as in previous years.

Body painting

The best way to make sure you are ready for the ride is to get painted at home beforehand. Wear loose-fitting clothing that won't rub it off, and you can always leave final details and touch-ups for the ride. The advise on getting and using body paint, see the UK FAQs. The easiest thing is to have a friend body-paint you, but you can paint yourself if it's an all-over-in-one-colour or message on your legs.

For people who aren't able to paint themselves at home, body painting - provided by Sitech Creations Ltd [1] & others - will be available from 2.30pm at the assembly area. There are limited numbers of paints and painters, so access may be limited. Spectators and photographers will be turned away. Photos are not allowed during the body painting session. Photo the riders during the ride instead! Body Painting will happen under trees north of the Assembly area. Don't turn up earlier than 2.30pm at the assembly area or you will be turned away.

NOTE: If you are bodypainted, please take care NOT to touch or lean against the Wellinton Arch at the ride finish location. The stone is very porous and will easily absorb body paint (resulting in a difficult cleaning job, and the possibility that we won't be welcome at the traditional ride finish location).

Bike decoration

We have some great race cards that you can print on card and then attach to your bike. We recommend you use elastic or twist-ties to secure to your bike. There are PDF instructions here. If you are feeling generous, print and prepare a few extra to give to other riders. There is a selection of four cards for you to choose from; click on the captions to download the full-size card for printing.

Public transport

See the UK FAQs.

Weather

We've had good weather at each of the UK rides so far, indeed stunning hot sunshine in 2006 and 2007. Does that mean statistically we're predicting rain? The ride will not be cancelled in the event of rain. If it rains, bring some warm dry clothes to change into after the ride, and keep them dry. A large, thin plastic bag (such as you get from your dry cleaner) could be an effective protection if you want to seem naked in the rain. Maybe we can beat the Vancouver record for most naked riders in the rain! For a weather forecast, visit the Met Office, MetCheck or BBC Weather.

Bike rental

There are many places in London where you can hire a bike. For a PDF of the recommended bike hire locations, visit the following page from LCC http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=171. For discounted bike hire, see the item below.

Discounted bike rental

London Bicycle Touring Company will do a discounted bike rental of £10 for the afternoon of the 2008 ride. On the day of the ride, you will be able to collect your bike from the shop between 10.45-11.45 or 12pm-3pm. Please try to collect your bike before 1pm. The earlier the better. Bikes can be returned to the shop at any time before 7pm. Bikes delivery will not be available - bikes must be collected from the shop. Advanced booking is required to guarantee bike availability. For full details/instructions on how to pre-book your bike, visit the London_Bike_Hire page.

Wnbr hire.gif

The shop has provided downloadable directions for a relatively traffic-free journey of 15 minutes to the ride assembly point (see the London_Bike_Hire page for these directions).

Skate rental

See above (in the Next Ride section) for full details of renting skates through the (Club) Blue Room.

Discounts

Are there any discounts available to riders? We are hoping to get some discounts arranged.

Getting involved

There are lots of ways you can help to organise or promote the ride.

Spread the word

Everyone can help to make the next ride even more successful than the last. There are lots of ideas for promoting the ride at the UK Promote page.

World Naked Bike Ride stalls

The WNBR will have stalls at the following events. Please get in touch if you can help with the stall or leafletting at these events.

Southampton University Environment & Ethics Week(Stall to be Confirmed)
From Monday 27 April 2009
Building 42, University Highfield Campus, SO17 1JB

Environmental Rock (Southampton)(Stall to be Confirmed)
Saturday 25 April 2009, from 12 noon at the Hobbit Pub.
ENTRY = Free

AFTER 21 YEARS, THE KINGSTON GREEN FAIR HAS NOW CLOSED. WE NORMALLY HAVE A STALL THERE ON THE LATE MAY BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY, AND WE'RE VERY SORRY TO SEE THIS GREAT FAIR COME TO AN END.

Camden Green Fair and Bike Fest
(Stall to be Confirmed) Sunday 7 June 2009 from 12 noon to 7pm in Regent's Park, London.
ENTRY = Free

Events to leaflet

Please help us by distributing leaflets at the following events if possible!


London Critical Mass ride Friday 29 May 2009 at 6pm outside BFI Southbank (which is under Waterloo Bridge and was previously known as the National Film Theatre). Please volunteer to leaflet at this event between 6pm and departure (usually 6.30pm-7pm)
ENTRY = Free

The Friday Night Skate
Friday 22 May 2009 at 7.30pm assembling near the Wellington Arch (the skate leaves at 8pm)
ENTRY = Free
Note that this event doesn't happen if the weather is poor.

The Friday Night Skate
Friday 29 May 2009 at 7.30pm assembling near the Wellington Arch (the skate leaves at 8pm)
ENTRY = Free
Note that this event doesn't happen if the weather is poor.

The Friday Night Skate
Friday 5 June 2009 at 7.30pm assembling near the Wellington Arch (the skate leaves at 8pm)
ENTRY = Free
Note that this event doesn't happen if the weather is poor.

Planning meetings

Riders are invited to any of the London ride planning meetings. The London ride organising group is a collective, and holds just 5 meetings to make all the key decisions about the ride (and allocate responsibilities). Any rider is welcome to attend the meetings (and thus be part of the "London ride planning collective"). The meeting agenda can include route/time, negotiations with police, improving the experience for new riders, presswork, and any other matters that people bring to the meeting. Meetings are open to non-London riders who are involved in planning rides in their local area. Press are not welcome to the planning meetings.

The 2008 meetings are as follows (6.30pm start for all meetings):

  1. Thursday 7 February 2008
  2. Thursday 6 March 2008 (Rob to chair)
  3. Thursday 10 April 2008 (Chris to chair)
  4. Thursday 8 May 2008 (Kat to chair)
  5. Thursday 29 May 2008 (Jesse to chair)

Plus a post-ride review meeting (for people who participated in organising the ride)

  1. Thursday 19 June 2008 (Bryan to chair)

We normally meet in the Great Court on the Main Floor of the British Museum (map and floor plans) at the large cafe tables nearest the Enlightenment Gallery (on the east side, formerly known as the King's Library). We try to remember to have WNBR things out, so it is easy to spot the meeting.

Get in touch (or just show up at a meeting) if you want to join in the planning the next ride. uk [at] worldnakedride.org or 0781 458 7361

Interviews

The press, radio and TV are fascinated by WNBR. We need riders to explain their personal perspective on the ride in interviews. If you are willing to help out with interviews, please contact uk [at] worldnakedride.org or glee194584 [at] aol.com.

On the day

We need people to pass out leaflets at the assembly point and during the ride. If you plan to pass out leaflets on the ride, you need to have a good scheme for carrying the leaflets, so they don't spill out or blow away, but so you still can reach them to pass out. We're going to try to pass out leaflets to the crowd at the assembly point and then during the ride.

Being a volunteer steward

In order to ensure the smooth running of this year’s London World Naked Bike Ride, we are asking for volunteer stewards to look after the welfare of riders. Last year's stewards did a great job, and we're looking to provide even better stewarding this year (eg- more effective, more friendly, more responsive).

The purpose of WNBR stewards is to monitor the safety and wellbeing of riders and to provide advice and assistance where necessary. Stewards will be a visible presence amongst riders and will help to ensure that participants are safe, that they don't get lost or separated from the main ride and to provide assistance to those who get left behind or have breakdowns or punctures. During the Assembly, the Stewards will primarily be directing riders into the ride assembly area, and helping the ride to form up for departure.

Stewards are NOT meant to police the ride - that is the job of the police - we just need people willing and able to look out for others and to lend a helping hand when required. Assembly Area Volunteers (see below) will be working along side the Stewards by intervening when problem photography is spotted at the ride assembly. Stewards and Assembly Area Volunteers will enforce the ride's photo policy through polite but firm verbal intervention.

As a steward you will be required to:

  • register to be a steward in advance (no turning up on the day with an offer to help)
  • attend the pre-ride Steward Induction and Training Session at 11am-1pm on Saturday 31 May 2008 in Hyde Park
  • arrive in Hyde Park by 1pm on Saturday 14 June 2008 for an additional Ride Briefing
  • act as a steward for the event from 1pm until 6pm (very busy from 2pm-5pm)

Additionally, you will be expected to:

  • be a confident and proficient cyclist
  • be able to follow instructions from the Chief Stewards.
  • be reasonable, responsible and approachable
  • maintain a courteous and friendly disposition (even under pressure)
  • bring a small rucksack in which to put useful items such as: a puncture repair kit, spare T-shirt, bottle of water & a bike pump (if you have any of these, it would be most appreciated if you could bring them along, if not, we will endeavour to provide them)
  • carry a mobile phone (for use only in emergencies)

In return, you will receive:

  • a FREE World Naked Bike Ride flag (Normally only available for £3 donation)
  • a sign identifying you as a WNBR steward
  • a free DVD of the 2005 World Naked Bike Ride which normally costs £10 (you receive this at the 31 May training session)
  • support, assistance and guidance from the Chief Steward and Assistant Chief Steward
  • a warm glow knowing that you’ve helped to make the London WNBR a success!

As a steward, you are welcome to go "as bare as you dare" although you may want to consider not riding completely in the nude as this may affect your willingness/ability to assist others. If you do ride nude, we ask that you get the word "STEWARD" prominently painted onto your body. You must wear shoes.

The up to date copy of the guideance for stewards can be downloaded from here.Media:WNBR_Stewarding_Guideline_2007.pdf

If you are interested in volunteering as a London WNBR Ride Steward, please contact Paul at pagarner [at] btopenworld [dot] com or phone Jesse (part of the Steward planning team) 0781 458 7361

Be an Assembly Area Welfare Volunteer

WNBR is a spectacular and highly photogenic event and we welcome respectful photography and filming from the press and between friends. Some photographers can however be intrusive and become a nuisance. To help make the assembly feel safe and fun for everyone, we need 10-15 people to act as Welfare Volunteers in the Assembly Area between 1pm-3.30pm. After 3.30pm, the Welfare Volunteers will no longer have any responsibilities, and can join the ride if they wish. The volunteers will-

  1. Physically define and enforce a temporary "No Photography Zone" for bodypainting. This zone will be also be available for those wanting to undress more privately.
  2. Roam the site, keeping an eye on photographers' behaviour and politely intervening if necessary.

If you wish to be a Welfare Volunteer for the assembly area, please contact Jesse at 0781 458 7361

Note: The roles of Assembly Area Welfare Volunteers and Steward are distinct. You will not be allowed to volunteer for both roles. The role of Welfare Volunteers will finish at the time of ride departure (and the volunteers can join the ride as normal riders if they wish. The Stewards role is part of the Police requirements for the ride, and Stewards may be active from 1pm-6pm (though not always busy). The police will coordinate traffic control in consultation with the Stewards, but the Welfare Volunteers won't be consulted by the Police at all. Stewards are overseen by the chief steward and assistant chief steward. Welfare volunteers are overseen by a Welfare Volunteers coordinator. Although Stewards will also address the problem photographers they witness at the ride assembly (and ride), their primary responsibility before the ride will be directing riders into the assembly area and forming up the ride start.

History

See London history

Media coverage

Moved to London media coverage page.

Photos

Moved to London photos page.

Videos

Moved to London videos page.

Photography policy

See London photography policy

Links

Websites

Discussion groups

Join the WNBR UK list if you plan to ride and want to receive important updates or share in general UK ride planning. Join the WNBR London list if you want to help plan the London ride. If you're after photos, don't bother joining these lists – they are for ride planning only.

  • WNBR UK – Yahoo! group for all UK rides
  • WNBR London – Yahoo! group for the London ride

Listings

Related interest groups

Skating
Cycling
Ecological campaigns
Body freedom/Naturism
Naked protest

Location information

Categories

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