Saturday 10th March will see cyclists in Cape Town cycling as bare as they dare at the World Naked Bike Ride, for the second time in the city.
The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is a global event that takes place in more than 50 cities around the world.
Since 2004, cities across the world have experienced the joy of the world´s largest naked event that seeks to create environmental awareness through clean initiative such as cycling. 2011 was the first successful Naked Bike Ride to take place in Cape Town, and was the first of its kind in the whole of Africa! The powers that be ingeniously set the Naked Bike Ride date to be the day before the Argus Cycle Tour, when the world and their aunties are in Cape Town filled with the love of the bicycle and fired up to pump pedals. Last year about 200 cyclists pitched up for the first successful Naked Bike Ride to take place in Cape Town. Riders ranged from being completely naked, to semi-clad to fully clothed; regardless of their state of undress people brought enthusiasm and cheer, making the ride a resounding success.
This year the organisers want to make it even bigger and better…
The event is a peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture. It is a celebration of the bicycle and also a celebration of the power and individuality of the human body. Furthermore, it is symbolic of the vulnerability of cyclists in traffic and the Naked Bike Ride Team wish to create awareness of this fact. This naked cycle underpins massive global issues relating to the environment, global warming ad carbon emissions to name a few.
“We also have more local concerns: Cape Town’s roads are not cycle friendly, we want drivers to recognise and respect cyclists. Cape Town suffers from an embarrassingly high per capita carbon footprint. Demands we are making include more non-motorised transport awareness campaigns, more bicycle lanes in Cape Town, more bicycle racks, and Metrorail making it easier for people to take bikes on trains,” say the organisers.
What to wear? Do not fear! The World Naked Bike Ride dress code is “As Bare As You Dare“… So it’s up to you to decide what you are comfortable with. No one is excluded or discriminated against based on levels of clothing, body paint, or anything else for that matter!
The event is open to all Capetonians, young and old, fit and not so fit; the idea is to engage the public and make a statement. Paint your bodies and decorate your bikes with messages of protest or beautiful designs to complement our varied forms and diversity.
For more information lo onto http://www.wnbr.co.za/
Event details:
Meeting Point: Prestwich Memorial, Cape Town
Saturday 10th March 2012 at 9:30am
