'It's just some naked people on bikes' - TheChronicleHerald.ca

At least they're wearing helmets.

That was an observation made by a female spectator Saturday as several mostly naked people biked up Agricola Street in Halifax for the fourth edition of the World Naked Bike Ride.

"It's for a great cause," cheered one naked and smiling young woman who identified herself as Vive Understory before heading for the body-painting ritual that was part of the warmup for the event.

The naked bike ride is intended to raise awareness about cycling as an environmentally friendly alternative to the automobile.

The nudity — and there was a lot of it — is supposed to help get the word out that cyclists are vulnerable, said organizer Tom MacDonald.

"The naked bike ride is all about advocating for more bikes and fewer cars on our streets," said a nude MacDonald prior to the start of the event.

"Anybody who does a lot of riding in Halifax also knows motorists here are not as familiar with bicycles as motorists in some larger cities. Riding in Halifax can be scary and a lot of people get hurt unnecessarily."

He said Halifax Regional Police monitor the event but have never stopped, ticketed or arrested any of the partially dressed participants.

A small crowd of people with their clothes on, many armed with cameras, lined a portion of Agricola Street as an advance crew of naked riders made a preliminary pass near the intersection with Charles Street.

They were joined minutes later by dozens of colourfully painted and mostly young nude riders, some wearing colourful wigs, scarves, riding helmets and little else. Few of the bicycles were equipped with storage bags so it was difficult to tell where the riders put their wallets and cellphones.

Some people observing from the sidelines said the sunny, warm weather might have contributed to the increased level of nudity and the greater number of participants compared to other years.

"What's the big deal," said one elderly woman to nobody in particular as the last of the bare-bottomed cyclists disappeared down Agricola Street.

"It's just some naked people on bikes."

Organizers said they expected 70 to 80 participants.

It was difficult to get an accurate count because some of the creative body art was distracting. However, it is safe to say that about 100 naked people riding bikes headed north on Agricola Street for the 90-minute ride that took in parts of the central business district, the waterfront, Spring Garden Road shopping district and Halifax Commons.

There was at least one naked guy on rollerblades, one on a skateboard and another in the back of a sports car.

The annual World Naked Bike Ride was also held across Canada and around the world.

( bpower@herald.ca)