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On September 5th the city of Philadelphia hosted the annual Philly Naked Bike Ride. Pictures of this event can be viewed on the website of photographer Anthony Skorochod. Be warned, though, buttercup. When they say "naked" they mean naked, not like when I say "in the buff" and mean fully clothed, or possibly in my jammies.
Not everyone dons his/her birthday suit. Some folks keep their britches on, wear bathing suits, or glam up with body paint. The purpose of riding el buffo is to promote bicycling and its contribution to cleaner air and to bring attention to the vulnerability of bicyclists in traffic. I'd say seeing a fully naked man on a bicycle would bring my attention to something, but it wouldn't be his Schwinn, if ya know what I mean.
As it turns out, this naked bike riding thing is not limited to Philadelphia. Since 2004, 70 cities worldwide have hosted similar events. Of course, perspective is everything. For instance, the folks on the French Riviera wouldn't think twice about seeing naked bicyclists. "Henri, mon ami. Look! To the left of the topless sunbathers, on the street across from the Nude Beach Cafe, there are hundreds of bicyclists, dans la nudité! Mon dieu! They are blocking my view of the pigeons!"
I don't know if Atlanta has a Naked Bike Ride day, but this blog is as publicly in the buff as I'm prepared to get. If I do change my mind and decide to participate in such a thing I'd have to be incognito, wearing a funny hat and big mustache. And possibly a raincoat, just for chuckles. Oh, wait. That sounds like Halloween. And now you know what I'm going dressed as. Drat.
Does your city host a Naked Bike Ride? Would you ever suit up in your altogether to bring attention to a worthy cause? What are the greatest lengths to which you are willing to go to highlight an issue about which you are passionate?
Til next time -
Lisa
