Melbourne is set to host its 20th annual World Naked Bike Ride, a unique event where hundreds of cyclists are expected to participate in a nude protest. This striking display is not just about shedding clothes; it’s a powerful statement advocating for cyclist safety and visibility on roads, celebrating diverse body images, and promoting eco-friendly transportation.
Dearne Weaver, a 61-year-old community worker from Canberra, recounts her initial experience at Melbourne’s World Naked Bike Ride in 2019. She admitted to concerns about potential male dominance, common in nudist and cycling circles. However, her experience was overwhelmingly positive. “I found it a very welcoming, very appropriate and very supportive experience,” Weaver stated. “I had an absolutely great time – I don’t think you could have wiped that smile off my face if you’d tried.” Enthusiastically, Weaver is returning to Melbourne this weekend for the ride’s 20th anniversary, marking its evolution from a small local gathering to the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Weaver highlights the exhilarating reactions from onlookers as a key aspect of the 10km nude bike ride through Melbourne’s CBD and inner suburbs. “I mean there are always going to be a few horrified glances and curses, but the vast majority of people love it and cheer us on especially when they realise we are chanting about rider visibility and safety and the environmental benefits of cycling,” she explained. She even recalls instances of spontaneous participants joining in, shedding their clothes to ride alongside.
Pablo Teleg, a 30-year-old building designer who relocated from the Philippines to Melbourne in 2022, participated in the nude bike ride for the first time last year and found it liberating. He described the unexpected sequence of events that led to his participation: “A Filipino student had given away his bicycle that same morning and a few minutes later I was getting my body painted and then riding nude in the crowded city with people honking and cheering.”
Teleg, who identifies as gay and comes from a conservative background, found the experience unprecedented. He drew a comparison to the University of the Philippines Oblation Run, a male-only nudist protest within a fraternity. “I had no idea about [the naked bike ride’s] essence aside from being a fringe thing until I saw messages about body positivity, gender equality, climate policies and cyclists visibility in the streets painted on people’s bodies,” Teleg added, emphasizing the ride’s deeper significance beyond mere nudity. “The participants had this friendly and joyful energy and it was nice and sunny. The suddenness and novelty of the experience just felt like a pleasant dream to me.”
The World Naked Bike Ride movement originated in the early 2000s in Spain and Canada, gaining momentum to become the official World Naked Bike Ride after Vancouver-based activist Conrad Schmidt’s efforts in 2004. Initially intended as a clothing-optional event, it aimed to promote body positivity, reduce dependence on oil, and advocate for safer, more bike-friendly urban environments. Since its inception, the nude bike ride has expanded to over 70 cities and towns globally, with 2024 events including Byron Bay, London, and Portland, Oregon.
Michael James, a 63-year-old retiree and a key organizer in Melbourne, has participated in over 50 nude bike rides worldwide. He notes the Melbourne event’s consistent growth in popularity since its humble beginnings. This year’s ride will commence at Lincoln Square in Carlton at noon on Sunday, with the route kept secret until the event day to manage spectator crowds and minimize traffic disruptions, particularly at major intersections. James anticipates a vibrant spectacle filled with body paint, joyful shouts, bicycle bells, and the unique chance to experience Melbourne’s streets on two wheels, au naturel.
For Weaver, the nude bike ride serves as a platform to champion cyclist visibility and to desexualize the human body. She addresses the ongoing hostility cyclists face from some road users, emphasizing, “There’s still a lot of road users that remain hostile or downright aggressive to sharing the road with cyclists. But on top of this, I see this as a reminder that being naked is not any kind of implied consent – it is just a human body. It’s not just body positivity, but just body acceptance.”
In a world marked by global anxieties, Weaver believes events like the nude bike ride provide a vital opportunity for collective joy and empowerment. “At the end of the day, anything that brings people joy is vital right now, anything that distracts you from all that darkness and negativity. This brings me a lot of joy. When you’re out there, naked, smiling and laughing and riding through the city, it feels outside of the box. It just feels awesome – honestly.”
