Skip to content or view screen version

Thousands strip off for London's Naked Bike Ride

mini mouse | 09.06.2007 18:19 | Climate Chaos | Free Spaces | London

In 2004 there were 58 riders, in 2005 a creditable 250 riders, rising to a massive 800 in 2006.

But in a scale that surprised even the organisers, more than five thousand people today took to London's streets to protest against oil dependency, celebrate body freedom and curb car culture.

Stopped in Picadilly, the ride stretches into the distance
Stopped in Picadilly, the ride stretches into the distance

A good deal of body art was involved
A good deal of body art was involved

A wide range of vehicles
A wide range of vehicles

Not the kind of sights they'd expected
Not the kind of sights they'd expected

But a bit of cheer for some...
But a bit of cheer for some...

.
.

The ride pours in to Covent Garden...
The ride pours in to Covent Garden...

...making her day, at least.
...making her day, at least.


Starting from Hyde Park, there was a slight deviation in route as precautions were taken to avoid a collision with an Orange march (featuring as scary a bunch of apparent loons and psychopaths as you'd ever not want to meet).

Halted half way down Piccadilly the scale of the ride became apparent, as it still tailed back well into Hyde Park (first picture).

Part of the fun took it straight through the heart of London's tourist hellhole, Covent Garden. But the roar of appreciation from the crowds made the cobbly streets more than tolerable.

Why so many? Well many of the riders had been to last month's Critical Mass, swollen to record numbers as a result of State attempts to control it and make it "illegal". Empowered, as many put it, the next stage was to get their clothes off and take it up a level.

"Roll on" as Rikki put in his report of that day "the next piece of repressive legislation".

mini mouse
- e-mail: mini_mouse@riseup.net

Comments

Hide 5 hidden comments or hide all comments

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

What is the point of that farce ?

09.06.2007 19:35

What is it ?

styx

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Alternative PR...

09.06.2007 20:41

It's the beginning of the publicity for the Camp for Climate Action.

Jubal Harshaw
mail e-mail: earthaidcampaign@yahoo.co.uk

BBC are claiming 700

09.06.2007 21:02

Ha ha ha ha ha...

Obviously they weren't there!

me

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Jubal Harshaw

09.06.2007 22:30

But that's no more than the current G8 agenda, init ?

styx

Source for 5000 figure?

10.06.2007 05:51

Five thousand? You sure?

A guy I know did a count as we left Grosvenor Square and he made it around 1000.

Where does this 5000 figure come from?

BC

Counted them all in... and counted them all out.

10.06.2007 09:05

If the top photo is the whole demo, than I reckon theres about 2000 . Great weather for it, I wonder how many new bikes were there , bought by the exhibitionist just for the event.
Manchesters took place the previous friday night, shame , Saturday would have produced a bigger turn out ( oooerrrr missus ). ( click on the web address above( or below) for the video )

Andy ( Manchester )
- Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEuDP7BOBUc

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Why are my post deleted ?

10.06.2007 10:00

Where is the freedom of expression on Indymedia ?

No right to give an opinion anymore ?

No right to debate issues anymore ?

styx

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

"Why have my comments been deleted"

10.06.2007 10:31

They haven't - they've been hidden because they breach the newswires editorial guidelines.

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/static/editorial.html

imcista

Not the whole demo...

11.06.2007 12:54

What you see there is just back to Hyde Park Corner.
There's quite a distance behind that into the park itself, but no angle that would really show you the front as well as the back.

mini mouse

Hide 5 hidden comments or hide all comments