Naked Bikers Protested Dependence on Fossil Fuels
Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
June 13, 2009
Report and Photography by P H Yang (http://phyang.org)

Click for more photos:

http://photo.phyang.org/wnbrsf09/

Over 100 local activists and environmentalists protested against our dependence on fossil fuels for the sixth year running Saturday afternoon by riding their bicycles in the buff.

Joining the World Naked Bike Ride movement in 70 cities and 20 countries, nudists and protesters gathered at Justin Herman Plaza at noon, stripped down, got body-painted and slapped on some sun-screen to get ready for the ride.

The bare riders pedaled up the Embarcadero passing the Ferry Building, through touristy Fisherman's Wharf, navigated the busy North Beach streets with police escort, came back down Market Street, the main throughfare of Downtown San Francisco, up to the edge of the Golden Gate Park and back.

The dress code is "bare as you dare" and the objectives of the ride is to protest "the excessive dependency of society to oil, demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists, and have a good time,” said the SF ride coordinator, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The protest ride attracted activists from far beyond the bay area. Some of the pale nude bodies came as far as the east coast including Steve from Nantucket, Massachusetts. Lisa and her two girlfriends from the United Kingdom were visiting and took this opportunity to show their “solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the Atlantic”. The gathering drew many curious bystanders, probably more owing to the nudity rather than the cause. Quite a few women participated in the three hour ride.

Complimentary body-painting were provided to participants by Ken and Bernice Franklin of FaceFX, armed with an arsenal of brushes, stencils and airbrushes. The nude bikers are very appreciative of their continuing support for the past five years.

With perfect sunny and warm weather, lots of exposure and lots of fun, the organizers described the event as "the best ride ever".