Seattle archive

From World Naked Bike Ride
Revision as of 03:50, 14 June 2006 by D (talk | contribs) (→‎Official Ride Reports: :''For other cities see Past events.'')
Jump to: navigation, search

Home > List of rides > US > Seattle > Archive

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.

For other cities see Past events.

Coverage

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

11 June 2005 Event

12 June 2004 Event

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%
Retrieved from "https://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Seattle_archive&oldid=3688"