London

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Home > List of rides > UK > London  •  Google this ride!

This page has information about the fourth year of London's participation in the World Naked Bike Ride. In 2004, there were 58 riders in Hyde Park, and in 2005 there were 250 riders in the central London streets. Last year an astonishing 800 riders shed clothes to protest against oil dependency. This June the ride will return to the streets of London allowing riders to see the many sights of this remarkable city from the comfort of their own bikes/skates.

These pages have further information for riders, photographers and the media.

To make sure you receive all the latest news about WNBR London, please sign up to our mailing list.

Next ride

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Date: Saturday 9 June 2007
Time: 3pm assembly (for 3.30pm departure)
Location: Meet at Hyde Park Corner, north of the statue of Achilles. Please assemble in the open meadow area bound by trees (north of the Achilles statue and beyond the horse riding trail). A map illustrating the start location can be found here. DO NOT RIDE YOUR BIKE ON THE GRASS OR PATHS AT THE ASSEMBLY AREA. Keep all paths clear.

BODY PAINTING 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). Don't turn up before 2.30pm or you will be sent away.

DECORATIONS AND LEAFLETS This year we are providing cloth flags again and these are on short 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 of these items (the London ride's total budget is £300 this year - sounds like a lot, but it's not). There will be leaflets available which explain the ride more clearly to passers by. These items can be collected from just behind the Achilles Statue.

FINISH The ride finishes at Wellington Arch (the traditional finish location). Unlike previous years, the start and finish locations are not identical. Length: Approximately 10km (6.2 miles)

Objectives and Demands

The World Naked Bike Ride collective in London has agreed a set of objectives and demands for this year's ride. Please indicate your support by signing up to support sustainable transport at http://www.pledgebank.com/WNBRLondon. The objectives and demands are:

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

If you don't find all the info you need below, please visit the UK FAQs page.

Route

The ride features approximately 10k (6 miles) of central London with mostly left turns and a mix of high traffic and low traffic riding. There are no major hills and a park start and finish. The route will start at Hyde Park Corner, then take in Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Embankment, Parliament/Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, Aquarium/London Eye, IMAX cinema roundabout, Waterloo Bridge, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Charing Cross Road, Centre Point/Tottenham Court Road Tube, Oxford Street, Oxford Circus, Selfridges, US Embassy, Park Lane, and finish at Hyde Park Corner or Wellington Arch. Please note that this year's meeting point will be within Hyde Park itself, just north of the statue of Achilles (London's oldest nude statue!). This is just across the road from last year's meeting point at Wellington Arch.

2007 London route

The 2007 route is almost entirely identical the 2005 and 2006 routes. You can find a really detailed official map of the 2007 route here (650kb). You can also find a nifty alternative map of the route here that includes an elevation profile! A text description of the route will also be added here in due course. 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. In both 2005 and 2006 the police indicated that they would not be arresting us or trying to prevent the protest ride, and have assured us of similar support this year. Visit our FAQ answer about what the Metropolitan police said in 2005. We will try to ensure that the 2007 ride is endorsed by the police, as all previous London rides have been.

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. Body Painting will happen under the trees just north of the Achilles statue. Don't turn up earlier than 2.30pm at the assembly area or you will be turned away.

Decorate Your Bike

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. Does that mean statistically we're predicting rain? RAIN IS NOT PREDICTED, BUT.. 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

As with the 2006 ride, the London Bicycle Touring Company has agreed to do a discounted bike rental of £10 for the afternoon of the ride. On the day of the ride, you can collect your bike at any time after 1pm and return at any time before 7pm. This year, delivery is not available, and bikes must be collected from the shop. Advanced booking is required to guarantee bike availability.

The shop can provide you with directions for a relatively traffic-free journey of 15 minutes to the ride assembly point (soon to be available here).

Although the shop normally closes at 6pm, they will allow us to return bikes until 7pm. This will allow you to finish the ride and spend some time catching up with old/new friends. The ride should be complete by 5.30, there will be plenty of time to return the bikes. The company can arrange hire of rickshaws and tandems for higher rates.

The easiest way to book is by phone - just say you We hope to put a link to a securely booking page for your WNBR bike rental through London Bicycle Touring Company.

Opening times 10am-6pm (but open till 7pm on the day of the ride).

Contact:
London Bicycle Touring Company
1a Gabriels Wharf
56 Upper Ground
LONDON SE1 9PP

020 7928 6838

mail [at] londonbicycle [dot] com

You can find a map to their shop in Gabriel's Wharf here.

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 2007 ride even more successful than 2006. There are lots of ideas for promoting the ride at the UK Promote page.

Planning meetings

The London ride intends to organise in an autonomous, decentralised, and self-organising manner. Anyone who is prepared to contribute to planning in this way is welcome to attend the meetings. 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 wish to plan rides in their area. If any non-London riders attend, their rides can be discussed. Press are not welcome to the planning meeting.

The final WNBR London 2007 meeting will take place at 6:30pm on the evening of WEDNESDAY 30 May 2007. IMPORTANT NOTE: This meeting will not be at the British Museum, where meetings usually take place. Instead it will be held in the upstairs room at The Plough, a lovely pub located at the intersection of Russell Street and Museum Street (here's a map). This location is conveniently just one block south from the usual meeting location - the British Museum.

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'll have WNBR things out, so it will be easy to spot the meeting.

Get in touch if you want to join in the planning for the next ride. uk [at] worldnakedride.org

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.

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.

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.

As a steward you will be required to:

  • be a confident and proficient cyclist;
  • be reasonable, responsible and approachable;
  • arrive at the ride start point at 1.30pm for a ‘stewards briefing’;
  • bring a small rucksack in which to put: 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 (RRP £2.50);
  • a sign identifying you as a WNBR steward;
  • support, assistance and guidance from the Stewards Co-ordinator;
  • a warm glow knowing that you’ve helped to make the London WNBR 2007 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 are interested in volunteering as a London WNBR Ride Steward, please contact Paul at [email protected]

History

World Naked Bike Rides have taken place in London since 2004.

  • In 2006, over 700 people rode through London on one of the hottest days of the year
  • In 2005, approximately 250 people rode for 1.5 hours on the busiest streets of London
  • In 2004, approximately 60 riders rode in Hyde Park

Media coverage

2006 coverage

2005 coverage

2004 coverage

Photos

2006 photos

2005 photos

2004 photos

Videos

2006 videos

2005 videos

Photography and filming policy

The London Ride has had a following photography/filming policy since 2005.

Policy

We welcome photography during the ride, but there are some restrictions.

  • No photos are permitted BEFORE or AFTER the street ride EXCEPT with by explicit prior arrangement with the subject.
  • During the street ride, no closeup photos of people are allowed without the person's consent.
  • During the street ride, no photos of participants when they aren't riding/skating (except with the person's consent).
  • Riders and supporters are actively encouraged to enforce these policies. Thank you!

[NOTE: The first line in this list had been "EXCEPT in a designated photo area (where consenting riders can go to be photographed)" but we aren't setting up a designated photo area this year 2007, so the policy is being ammended].

This policy is intended to curtail any inconsiderate photography which might otherwise take place. We wish to create a safe and supportive environment for all riders.

All photographers present at the ride must abide by this policy. Those who do not will be asked to leave. This includes any riders or press who take photos.

To ensure that this policy is clear to all present, it may appear on signs at the ride assembly area or on leaflets distributed at the event. We will also be creating a downloadable kit for constructing a "Photo Policy Enforcement Board". This A4 board has the photo policy info on one side and in large letters it says "Please stop taking this photo. Your behaviour makes the person you are photographing uncomfortable. You are disrupting our event, and we ask you to leave now." If plenty of riders and stewards have these available, then they can put the board between an inconsiderate photographer and the unwilling subject. We'll see if this works. To make it happen, you'll need to download, and print the signs (and affix them onto two sides of an A4 sized bit of card). Check here shortly for the downloadable sign. Be sure to have somewhere to store the card when you aren't using it during the ride (somewhere where the message won't be broadcast).

If you are attending the ride as a photographer, we would like to remind you that the there are various points along the route which feature particularly striking backgrounds for photos of the ride (eg- Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Street, US Embassy).

There has been some debate about the restrictiveness of this policy, to see this visit the following link [3]

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

Cycling
Local campaigns
Body Freedom
Naked Protest

Location information

Categories

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