Chicago

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Next ride

Date: TBD 2023
Time: 6-8pm: gather, body painting. Sunset: Ride.
Location: TBA
Join the WNBR Chicago Fans emailing list for announcements. For details see ChicagoNakedRide.org

History

2022

Chicago's 19th annual World Naked Bike Ride was a great success the evening of Saturday June 25th 2022. A mass count video shows an estimated 842 riders.

2021

Delayed 2 months from the usual June date, to August 14th, those that longed for a later date due to weather concerns got their wish in a way, yet the actual weather was no different from the typical June date's weather. Did it end the date debate for good? We don't know yet. Despite this, and the lack of police assistance, this particular ride was widely considered one of the best, and the safest of all the rides thus far. If there was any gripe at all, it would have to be a particular unruly man in Wicker Park, but that's it. Other notable moments were the pre-ride Naked Yoga session, as well as the post-ride party. It should also be stated that despite this being the first ride since the pandemic began, there were no COVID scares among the riders after the ride. Here's to hoping 2022 matches or exceeds this ride! [by Kenny Riot]

Counts of a video of riders passing a point near the end of the route show at least 777 cyclists.

2020

Cancelled due to Covid.

2019

Thousands found their way to yet another big west loop lot covered with massive graffiti. The ride continues to operate well as a self sustaining community of broad skill levels with a solid core of experienced riders. Body painting was largely transitioned to DIY. Organization and production were great. As usual we gave away hundreds of waters and fruits which paid for themselves. Event radios worked fine but were barely used, and the modest after party was uneventful.

2018

Braving a cool forecast thousands found their way to yet another big west loop lot covered with massive graffiti. The ride continues to operate well as a self sustaining community of broad skill levels with a solid core of experienced riders. Body painting has largely transitioned to a self managing team of pros working for tips, which both increases quality and reduces our supply and storage needs. Organization and production were great. We produced a fresh poster, rented potties, and even got lunches donated to a fairly large volunteer staff. We gave away hundreds of waters and fruits which paid for themselves. Event radios worked fine but were barely used, and the modest after party was uneventful.

2017

Comfortable weather brought Chicago's largest turnout ever, estimated at FOUR THOUSAND riders! "Big changes in 2017" included a new larger launching lot and a route that ended not where it started. There were very few complaints; the ride operates well as a self sustaining community of varying experience levels.

2016

Comfortable weather brought possibly Chicago's biggest turnout ever estimated at OVER TWO THOUSAND riders. And for the first time we had a religious zealot counter-protester! Everything went fairly smoothly during ride especially given a small volunteer team and radios worked well enough. Again no donations were accepted on site, and hundreds of water bottles, bananas and apples were freely given away. Graffiti and other problems after the ride however may have ended our welcome at the traditional lot.

2015

Rainiest WNBR-C ever, but several hundred riders braved it. Good thing we're from a water planet. See the cute "River of Bikes" video of it.

2014

The 11th Annual Ride was a terrific success as always. Despite big changes (a few retired) and an overhauled volunteer system (finally added online signups), the organization was well staffed and got glowing feedback, with many compliments on improved mellowness and no major incidents. The weather was perfect, upper 70s, clear, and a full moon. Initial rider count reports are certainly over 1000, with 1200-1500 or more being quite possible. Ride was longer than usual (nearly 15 miles), with new check-in and rest stop locations, but still wrapped before midnight. Flyer, map, and ridecast are available on http://massup.us Photos, chatter, missed connections and "I had the time of my life" reports are flowing in on the Facebook page.

2013

The TENTH ANNIVERSARY World Naked Bike Ride Chicago takes its place in history.

Nudity, joy, pageantry were all excellent. Thanx so much everyone. A special feature was entertainment by the band Big Dipper, who featured the ride in their "Summertime Realness" music video last year.

Photos and videos have accumulated at http://ChicagoNakedRide.org/photos/2013

The weather was decent, clear, slightly humid and cool as usual.

Teamwork and volunteerism were good, with over 60 people on the Safety Team. Several new ride shepherding procedures were applied, such as encouraging shy to the inside and chivalrous to the outside. And a series of humorous PSA meme images were created addressing creeps, mess and booze.

Mass counting has proven challenging. Several videos exist, but even the best ones apparently are missing major portions at start or end. Try counting us yourself: http://ChicagoNakedRide.org/photos/2013

For the first time we rented nine expensive professional radios with earpieces, our largest single ride expense, replacing useless walkie-talkies. All agreed they were a huge asset. Mobile ridecasting worked well and MassUp.us showed fans our progress live. Our estimated times passing viewing points were fairly accurate, slipping to just a half hour behind schedule by the end.

A new cleanup team tackled our perennial Oz park rest stop mess after the ride passed through, and for the first time reportedly left it better than when we came.

2012

Another fantastic World Naked Bike Ride Chicago takes its place in history.

Nudity, joy, effectiveness and camaraderie were all over the top. Thanx so much everyone. We were mentioned and covered by all local press, and even got a few minutes on the Conan show.

Photos and videos are accumulating at http://ChicagoNakedRide.org/photos/2012

The weather was among our best ever, clear and not cold. In retrospect the date debate worked out fine.

It seemed like hundreds more, but the average of the four counts done so far is 1400 riders. Try counting us yourself: http://facebook.com/photo.php?v=516102465454

Mobile broadcasting worked well. Our new Twitter has over 300 followers, and MassUp.us showed fans our progress live.

Our estimated times passing viewing points were fairly accurate, slipping to just a half hour behind schedule by the end.

Security reported only minor incidents and no arrests. HOWEVER - TWO BIKES WERE STOLEN!!! How sick is that? I guess the world ain't perfect yet. Incredibly, one victim was almost entirely forgiving.

Various feedback is in discussion. Our impact on Oz park most significantly, but also long potty lines, understaffing, map shortages, and assorted douchebaggery and asshattery. Your feedback encouraged. Your volunteerism even more so.

2011

(Cross-posting the post-ride press release.)

World Naked Bike Ride is a massive public awareness event, promoting freedom from oil and the beauty of people.

I always say with peak oil production now history, and global warming, naked people on bikes is simply a fact.

This was the 8th annual, so at this point we've got logistics fairly well handled

The police were great as always, and this couldn't happen without Chicago being a world-class bike-friendly city.

The outpouring of joy and support by fans was massive. We are now a well known annual city phenomenon, covered by all press.

We certainly held up a lot of car traffic, but it’s hard to complain waiting for such a thing to pass. "Best cab ride ever!" is a frequent joke.

We had some special features this year including a wedding, passing Boystown’s marriage equality rally, reaching all the way to Wrigley Field, and a raffle.

Mass counts are averaging ~900. Inline, skater and pedicab participation was high.

There were some thefts after ride, including phone/keys/wallet of the naked elf ride leader himself, and words can’t suffice for how furious I am on this. Information or return welcome. But overall, drunkenness, pervs, and incidents were low.

Given icy drizzle, and low 60s temps at best, the courage and dedication of the riders was extreme.

The weather is always a challenge, but this one was particularly bitter and no doubt heavily effected turnout. We've stuck to this date forever because it’s when many cities ride, but I think that we may finally move later.

Remember the message: Celebrating freedom from oil, and the beauty of people.

2010

WNBR Chicago 2010 Naked Avatar

Chicago 2010 #7 Was a success. The weather warned rain all night, but it's drizzled assult lasted only a few minutes about a half an hour before the meetup. Tons of people cheered us on while others clenched to their steering wheels looking at the car stopped in front of them. The Chicago police department did an excellent job stopping traffic, and no arrest or serious injuries to report.

See 2010's extraordinary video on YouTube.

2009

The sixth annual Chicago World Naked Bike Ride was on Saturday June 13th 2009. Participants were instructed to check-in after 6pm near the "O" sign (oprah Winfrey's Harpo studios lot, 1077 W Randolph), then on to a large secluded walled lot for body painting and party. Spectator were told to come to Finkl (a well known steel mill on Cortland by Kingsbury) before 11pm and to wave and cheer safely from the sides and to behave and come without car. This worked extremely well, compared to prior bottlenecks through boystown. As usual the map was an artwork of great beauty.

Counts ranged strangely broadly, and not just reflecting peak and dropouts. Even with online videos (http://chicagonakedride.org/photo) guesses ranged from 600 to 1800, personally I feel 1200 is a safe guess. I've been reluctant to admit decrease from prior year, but it was cold and wet weather. I even sent a message on day of discouraging frail riders due to conditions. I'd say, with three tries and some experience counting such things, we could certainly quote "over 1000 riders in 2009".

2008

The fifth annual Chicago World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday June 14th 2008 was an overwhelming success, with an official participant count of 1700!

This count was calculated using a stationary elevated video record of the entire mass from head to toe passing a fixed point early in the ride, counted using slow-motion, repeated four times and averaged. The video was taken at the North East corner of Washington and Racine as mass left a traffic signal, using a crosswalk line as count point. Point was about 1.5 miles into ride from gathering area, about .5 miles from Union Park check-in point. Mass there averaged a dozen deep, passing about ten a second. Margin of error could be high, but certainly over 100 more joined the ride well after the count (many intentionally merging at the half-way viewing point) making 1700 a safe figure. Others may review the count using the reference video on our photos page. Several preliminary photo albums, route map, and more are also there.

1700 nearly triples Chicago's 2007 turnout, and reportedly sets the new world record! This year we intentionally under-publicized, to save on printing and distribution, to throttle growth and filter for earnest and repeat participants, and to focus on safety instead of size. In modesty, Chicago's WNBR benefits greatly from sheer population, an active bike culture and clubs, 10 years of Critical Mass, bike friendly city government, good weather on ride day, and being a night ride.

Route covered about 14+ miles, and for our first time a text messaging group was used to broadcast our progress live. The throng of fans at viewing point (Belmont and Halsted) was exceedingly thick (compressing and lengthening the mass) and we arrived there fashionably late. Some 24,000 informational handouts were distributed en-route. Accidents, flats, and altercations with cars were few.

Cheers to everyone for their tremendous courage! I'd guess that over 90% were in briefs or less (and paint), and 5-10% of those were nude or bare-breasted despite risk, with gender mix not far from even. The mass included a marching-type band and several large music systems, over a dozen inline skaters, several skate boarders, many art bikes, and a rear-guard of trailers. As usual, participants have trouble describing the experience, with even gushing words like magical, miraculous, incredible, unbelievable, transcendent, and "best time of my life" barely sufficing.

Huge kudos to the volunteers and coordinators who gave outstanding performance and dedication under pressure. Body painting capacity was more than doubled, and additional activities and more snacks and water were added. And for the first time we rented porta-potties.

ANYONE WITH PRESS clippings or TV NEWS captures of the Chicago ride PLEASE retain and reply. Don't assume we already have it. I'm told I was on TV again this year, but have yet to see it.

Finally but foremost, boundless sincere gratitude goes to mayor Richard M Daley and to the Chicago Police for their acceptance and facilitation of this ride. This and other massive local rides tangibly show Chicago's ongoing commitment to being a notably bike-friendly U.S. city.

2007

Chicago World Naked Bike Ride 2007 a Spectacular Success!!!

Official count: 600*

Saturday, June 9th 2007, ride check-in was at Union Park (about 100 N. Ashland) from 6pm, assembled and body painted at a secure location a mile away, and departed at 9pm. Ride passed published recommended viewing points at Belmont/Halsted and Belmont/Clark ("Boystown") around 11pm, and Rush/State ("Viagra Triangle") around 11:45pm. Also circled NBC tower, R&R McD, and ended at Oprah's studio after covering about 20 miles. Inline skater participation was WAY up with perhaps three dozen or more, as well as a few skateboarders. Runners/joggers were discouraged this year as a practicality based on experiences in prior years. Gender ratio seemed pretty close to even. Donations again almost exactly balanced expenses (Thanx everyone!), and we're getting many compliments especially on the level of organization.

Helped by excellent weather and great spirits almost everyone was as nearly naked as the law allows, with perhaps as much as 10% basically fully nude (not counting backpacks and such), some 5-10% in minimal shorts/t-shirts, and perhaps 1% (such as admin personnel) in full clothes. A considerable number travelled in from adjacent states to participate. A wildly joyful time was had by almost all, and mad props for courage go out to everyone. Generally, the feelings voiced by participants are that being in the ride is an almost inexpressibly wondrous experience.

MANY THANKS to the police, who were as tolerant and helpful as they could reasonably be, and protected our rear and flanks. Sincere apologies for the few times we annoyed them, mainly by being surprisingly huge.

Pre-ride publicity was our most massive ever, with event listings appearing in all major local print news and pertinent websites, a Yahoo group topping 700 (now over 800), some 5000 flyers distributed in advance to bike stores and similar, and the "Indecent Exposure to Cars" documentary played on local public access cable TV twice. Several post-ride reports appeared in print and on local TV news.

• Several press clippings have been posted here.
• ALSO Google Earth and printable versions of the route map.
  
• Photos and videos are still being assembled. Stay tuned.
  
• Anyone with additional press clippings or video captures from this or prior years please contact [email protected]

Major improvements this year included:

• Hotline phone number - Dedicated line created with detailed outgoing info message.
• Donated printing - Usually our highest expense. Contact me for a printer recommendation.
• Expanded publicity drive - Three times the flyers as last year.
• Published recommended viewing points and times - Eliminated masses of oglers from the starting point.
• Spectator information handouts - >20000 discussing the anti-oil message and why naked, with URLs.
• Tight control of media - Only specific designated known and proven photographers who also participated in the ride were allowed at the gathering. Others were limited to an outer area blanketed with anti-oilgarchy propaganda banners, or forwarded to the viewing points.
• Walkie talkies - Kept principals in constant contact, connecting the mass from head to toe (10mile type).

The few lessons we can apply next year are being discussed and amassed among the coordinators. Please send [email protected] any thoughts. Primary items so far are: 1. No more loops (sorry, we expected less car traffic and a smaller mass); 2. More volunteer staff needed (especially "security" to help with aggressive cars and drunken spectators); 3. More water carried and/or fountain stops.

MASSIVE THANX TO:

• Andrew and Susan (orange clad lilac haired skate footed hard hatted safety guy self and tall thin gothottie check-in grrl) for countless hours of coordinating.
• Steven (with Polar bear family) for route planning, leading, location, and more!
• Jerry and Nick (suits) for keeping us semi-legal.
• Howard for PR and for securing the rear and rescuing the injured.
• Other trailer and pedicab dudes for same as above.
• Also body painters D+D, Kristina, Melissa and Mairead; Documentarians Zack, Rob, Antoinette, Barbra, Baramesi; Facilitators Mr. Bike, Travis, and Dubi!
• Anyone else my flu addled brain has omitted, consider yourself included.

PLEASE all come again next year, and bring some friends!

Count method: 600 was mass size at likely maximum, +-20, as counted twice, by fives and tens, from stationary points at narrow passages, at about a mile then at two miles into ride, as mass passed from head to foot, averaging about five to seven abreast, about four solid blocks long. Multiple other opinions and videos generally confirm. Total participants is even higher as mass picked up dozens more along the way, especially ones who started at the half-way viewing point.

2006

Saturday 10 June: Check in at Wicker Park Fountain, 1455 N. Damen, 6pm gathering and body painting, 9pm departure. Chicago's 2006 ride was challenged by hostile authorities (well known in advance), and cold wet weather (came abruptly). Nonetheless, everything really was very successful. Heavy pre-event publicity, well handled check-in, good pre-party location and body painting preparedness, excellent route planning, (in)decent post-parties, and lots of volunteers, all pretty much perfect. Thanks to advanced discussion and compromise with police about avoiding certain spots, there were no arrests this year (despite lots of nudity!!!), and in fact we were escorted and assisted through most legs of the ride, which again covered several very high visibility tourism areas! This year was almost exactly 15 miles, intentionally down from the over 20 in 2005, and took just over about 2.5 hours.

Certainly had it not been for the weather (which forecast rain all day and night and temperature in the 40s, but which was actually clear and low 50s during ride hours), we probably would have had a much better turnout. Fortunately we did emphasize the WNBR position of rain or shine when asked in advance. Even so, real head count early in the ride (stationary counter as pack passed) was AT LEAST 250. And that excludes a renegade pack of some 50 which left early.

Skater turnout was much better than last year (I'm a skater) with at least a dozen.

Photography was mostly limited to participants, several of whom documented the ride well. Two even skated with the pack taking professional video. A few press did talk their way in to the body painting though.

As before, we used separate check-in (disclosed) and pre-party (secret) locations, as Chicago's ride gets SWAMPED by spectators. This year by 8:40pm-ish the check-in park had become complete PACKED with oglers, perhaps literally 1000+ who thought the event would be there. I credit our several promotional TV news appearances. So packed was the park, that it became futile to try to connect with and inform any few straggling bicyclists arriving late. Police at that scene were amused that the gawkers, not the riders, had become the problem. Procedural improvements for next year are planned. And finally, donations (mostly at pre-party door) almost exactly balanced expenses (just over $200) which were mostly for printing and body paints.

2005

Saturday 11 June: Wicker Park, 1666 N California. Well over 200 cyclists and a handful of bladers turned out. The great majority were nearly naked (thongs and body paint), and several dozen were nude. The route covered some 20 miles including prime areas such as Gold Coast, Rush Street, Michigan Avenue, and even Lake Shore Drive. A few of the fully nude men were arrested at a police ambush early on while passing through a conservative district, but afterwards the police were largely helpful. Applause by onlookers was thunderous, and camera phones countless. The event was generally reviewed as spectacular.

2004

Saturday 12 June: Buddy Gallery, 1542 N Milwaukee.

Links

• ChicagoNakedRide.org - Home Site

• WNBR Chicago Facebook Group

City Info

• ViaMichelin map of Chicago
• Wikipedia: Chicago
• Wikipedia: Illinois