PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (30 May 2006)

HUNDREDS OF CYCLISTS AND SKATERS TO JOIN 'WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE' DAY IN LONDON, BRIGHTON, MANCHESTER AND YORK

On Saturday 10 June 2006, hundreds of people in cities around the world will be riding bikes and skating naked to celebrate sustainable transport and the human body.

This year, four British cities take part in the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR),  as part of a growing international movement of annual protests against oil dependency. This is the third year that London will be staging the event, with Brighton, Manchester and York joining for the first time.

The ride protests against car culture, demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road, and is a celebration of the power and individuality of the human body. London's 2005 ride was a runaway success, with 250 riders riding through the city's busiest streets for an hour and a half. The thousands of Londoners and tourists who witnessed the ride were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, supportive and entertained. The ride was the largest naked protest in British history.

The ride is a body-positive event where nudity is optional, and riders are encouraged to go "as bare as you dare!"

The 2005 ride in London was filmed by High Altitude Films. On Thursday 8 June, just days before the ride, director Johnny Zapatos' film, 'World Naked Bike Ride' will debut at the Barbican Centre in London. It is narrated by Channel 4 newsreader and committed cyclist, Jon Snow. The film crew captured the experience first-hand by embedding themselves in the ride. They filmed from cameras mounted on bikes and rickshaw bike taxis, capturing a unique perspective on the event. This is the first time footage from within the protest will be shown publicly.

Separate Manchester and York rides start on Friday night and culminate with the Brighton and London rides on Saturday.

At 6pm on Friday 9 June, riders will assemble for rides in Manchester and York. The Manchester ride meets at The Basement (a social centre at 24 Lever Street, M1 1DW) and the York ride meets at Memorial Gardens (off Leeman Rd, YO26 4ZZ).

The following day, on Saturday 10 June, the Brighton & Hove ride will start at 10am from The Level (a park south of Union Road, BN2 3FX).

At 3pm, the London ride will assemble near Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. Police have been remarkably supportive of the protest ride. In London, fifteen cycle-mounted police will escort the ride and control traffic at junctions.  The Metropolitan Police do not object to nudity during the event, explaining that within England, "nudity in itself is not an offence".  No arrests have ever taken place at the UK World Naked Bike Rides, and none are anticipated this year.
 
London rider Melissa Evans, 33, said: "The ride is fun, but has a serious side as well.  By going naked, we show our vulnerability as cyclists in the traffic. I'd like to see London become a city for cyclists and not cars. Most of my friends would love to ride bikes here in London, but they're afraid of the motor traffic. Ban cars within the M25, and most Londoners would choose to get around by bikes because they're the safest, fastest, healthiest form of transport."

Those wishing to participate can find out more details at:

http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

* Graham Lee (WNBR UK Press Officer)
  Mobile: 07956 261902 / Email: glee194584@aol.com

  Martin Ireland (WNBR London Press Officer)
  Mobile: 07946 354852 / Email: martinireland65@yahoo.co.uk

  Nick Sayers (WNBR Brighton & Hove coordinator)
  Mobile: 07812 036415 / Email: brighton@worldnakedbikeride.org

  Jesse Schust (WNBR York press contact)
  Mobile: 07814 587361 / Email: thedishbench@yahoo.com

  Meg (WNBR Manchester coordinator)
  Mobile: 07896 347196 / Email: manchester@worldnakedbikeride.org

* Professional photos of the 2005 London ride are available from acclaimed sports photographer Mike King (Tel 020 8299 0484 / Mobile 07973 303707)

http://www.mikekingphoto.com/

* Stock photography of the London 2005 and 2004 rides is available at the following sites (search for "london naked bike ride"):

 - Rex Features http://www.rexfeatures.com/ (Photographer: Paul Brown)
 - Getty Images http://editorial.gettyimages.com/
 - Corbis http://pro.corbis.com/
 - Alamy http://www.alamy.com/

* Further images are available for use by sympathetic publications, non-profit organisations and charities. Details on request (discretionary).

* High-quality digital footage available from within the 2005 London ride.

* Interviewees available on request.

* All UK rides are part of Bike Week 2006. The London ride is part of Green Transport Week and London Sustainability Week.

* Most northern hemisphere rides will be happening on 10 June 2006.  Southern hemisphere rides have already taken place on 12 March. Next year's UK rides are expected to take place on Saturday 9 June 2007, with southern hemisphere rides on Saturday 10 March 2007.