The World Naked Bike Ride will celebrate its 20th-anniversary ride this Saturday in downtown Toronto. Event organizers are expecting rentals from Bike Share Toronto to be used this year, so it’s highly likely that a bunch of naked rear ends will come in contact with publicly shared cycle seats (and just the thought of it is grossing some cyclists out).
Gawd, how did we, as a society, get here 🤦🏻♀️.
— LizaD (@LizadeeS) June 6, 2024
Some are wondering if going commando on a publicly rented bike seat is allowed, and as it turns out, it is.
According to City News, Bike Share Toronto Director Justin Hanna confirmed that Bike Share is a publicly available system that is open to all riders—clothed or otherwise.
“Though we don’t encourage it, we understand that some riders will use the system in this manner on June 8,” Hanna wrote, adding that—out of common courtesy and hygiene—these riders are strongly encouraged to “wipe down the seats and handlebars after their ride so that they are sanitized for the next rider.”
Organizers for the World Naked Bike Ride are also encouraging those who rent a bicycle to cover their seats. Of course, riding clothed is an option as well—but clothed cyclists are asked to be “courteous” and ride at the end.
“Please get dressed after the ride. We don’t want issues with the police,” the organizers state on their website.
For those who are wondering if it’s uncomfortable to ride naked, organizers have stated that, surprisingly, for all genders, riding naked isn’t especially less comfortable than riding clothed.
“When riding with clothes on you’re often rubbing against the seams, so in some ways naked riding is comfier! Ride routes will often be chosen with less experienced cyclists in mind, so will avoid hills and be more leisurely in pace, increasing comfort,” the organizers state.
The Naked Bike Ride originated in Vancouver and now occurs in over 80 cities worldwide. It is a global protest against the overuse of oil and urban pollution and is meant to promote greater cycling safety on our roads, as well as encourage body freedom.
“There is no cost, no registration, no cost to the taxpayer, [and] no corporate sponsors,” the website states.
The ride will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Sat. June 8, starting at Coronation Park, 711 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
This year, Sugar Beach will be a hydration stop, and Trinity Bellwoods Park will have a washroom and hydration stop. Riders will pass through Kensington Market, Yorkville, Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square), and the CN Tower.