Philly Naked Bike Ride Is Back for 2013

Thousands of cyclists will strip down for a ride through the city.

Photo by Alex Lowy for the Philly Naked Bike Ride

Mark your calendars, folks: The Naked Bike Ride is coming back to Philly on August 25th. For the uninitiated, it’s exactly as it sounds: a group of naked (or semi-naked) people taking to the city streets on two wheels. Their goal? “To promote fuel-conscious consumption, positive body image, and cycling advocacy,” according to the event’s website. But, of course, there’s also the shock-value factor.

The ride is a “bare as you dare” event, meaning you can get as nude (or not) as you want. Some people let it all (and I mean, aaaaaalllll) hang out, while others opt to go topless or use body paint for some camouflage. Although it’s probably not technically legal to ride through the streets in the buff, organizers say that “no legal incidents were reported at PNBR” in the last four years it’s been running. The 2012 ride fetched 2,600 riders, so maybe there’s safety in numbers?

The location and route map will be sent to participants who sign up for the email list 48 hours before the ride. Check out our writer’s account of the Philly Naked Bike Ride 2011 to read more about what it’s like.