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THE YORKSHIRE RIDE PAGES - Report

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Photo report of ride.

Here's a few things people said about the ride -

WNBR YORK - Ebor eco-riders DID it nudely! Thanks

Thanks to Jesse for his detailed report below, especially since there wasso little time to write it between the York and London rides. Just got back myself from a tiring but very enjoyable weekend in London.

I would like to say a BIG THANK-YOU to everyone who came on the York Ride. It was great to see so many of you turn up for York's very own, first-ever World Naked Bide Ride. 62 is a very healthy number to build on for future rides.

I was pleased to see the variety of human-powered machines assembled including a trishaw, a unicycle, at least one recumbent, and trailers bikes with kiddies on. It was great to see that families felt that this was a safe, fun event that they could join in too.

Especial thanks must go to:

Keep rolling!

Tony
York WNBR

York (England) report on the 6pm ride on 9 June 2006.

Wow! York's first ride went really well! The evening was a balmy summer evening.

First of all, here's the setting... York is a medieval walled city with around 60,000 residents. It's compact and famous for two things - it's a premiere cycling city with lots and lots of cyclists, and it's also subject to huge huge floods. Fortunately, the cyclists and cycle routes keep growing in numbers. Unfortunately, the floods seem to have been at all-time records within the last decade. This has people talking a lot about the consequences of rising sea levels and climate change. I was an exchange student at the University of York in 93-94 and I absolutely loved it. Its a wonderful place to be with all it's medieval streets, friendly people, and thriving arts culture.

The York ride had 62 riders from all over York and Yorkshire. It even had me all the way from London. We met in the Memorial Gardens, and then moved over to a car park nearby where we could privately undress and get ourselves fully ready for the ride. Then we set off with our friendly police escorts in front and rear.

Cycle-mounted police were there for us 100%! They blocked the traffic to allow the ride to go ahead, and they didn't rush us or box us in. Most importantly, they allowed us to use the entire route, set the ride pace, and wear as little or much as we wished. They were really friendly and supportive. It was as if they'd been working with groups of naked people for years. They were clearly pleased at our pro-cycling stance as well.

The best thing about the ride was not the police but the riders. Every one I met was fantastic, really lovely people. Together we chatted and meandered along the medieval streets, riverside and busy streets. I was proud to be with such fine cyclists and remarkable individuals. It was a real pleasure to cycle among such great people!

The public received us mainly with smiles, cheers, enthusiasm, interest, and support. There were some who simply tried to pretend we weren't there or made their children look away, but even these people were polite and reasonably friendly. I didn't hear anyone say anything bad about the ride, and I heard lots of people say they really supported what we were doing and why we were riding.

We finished in the lovely Museum Gardens and the police wished us a good evening (there work complete). They didn't ask us to hurry up or get dressed. They simply wished us a good evening. The riders all gave them a heartfelt applause and three cheers as they left. If all police behaved this way, nobody would ever need to complain about police! Wonderful! Then food and drinks that had been donated were shared out, photos were taken, and Jesse announced that film director Johnny Zapatos had decided to donate proceeds from DVD sales at the previous evening's film premiere of World Naked Bike Ride to the York ride. There were other donations, and hopefully this means that ride coordinators will cover their expenses and maybe even have some money for next year's costs. People exchanged stories and gradually dressed and dispersed during the 40 minutes following the ride. I was totally thrilled at having taken part.

York will never be the same, and I will always remember the wonderful evening in June 2006 when I discovered what a cycle-friendly city York can be!

Two photos of the ride can be viewed at http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/yorkshire

Next year's ride is tenatively scheduled for Saturday the 9th of June.

Word has it that the Manchester ride went well (30+ riders started and more joined in, the police were great, and everyone had a fun time).

The Brighton and London rides will be quite extraordinary!

Oops, I forgot to mention that the York rider Jenny fielded many radio interviews during the final days before the ride! As a result of her interviews, and those of a handful of other riders, many people were looking forward to the ride, and at least one person came simply because they heard about it via the press.

Cheers,
Jesse - London ride collective
(& UK/London rides coordinator in 2005/6)

To buy a DVD of the York ride supporter Johnny Zapatos' film, visit http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/london/film