Portland, Oregon, a city renowned for its vibrant cycling culture and advocacy, will experience a noticeable absence this year: the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR). Organizers have announced a one-year hiatus for the Portland Naked Bike Ride in 2024, signaling a period of reflection and restructuring for an event that has become synonymous with the city’s unique spirit. This break is intended to allow the all-volunteer team to reinforce the ride’s foundations, ensuring its continued success and impact in the years to come.
First launched in 2004, the Portland iteration of the global World Naked Bike Ride quickly escalated to become a landmark event, celebrated for its bold statement against oil dependency and its body-positive message. It prominently placed Portland on the global map as a hub for naked cycling advocacy and joyful protest. By 2013, the event had reached an estimated 8,000 participants, a testament to its growing appeal and cultural significance. The ride peaked the following year with approximately 10,000 cyclists taking to the streets, demonstrating the event’s powerful draw and community engagement. Ironically, its immense popularity led to a point where, in 2022, organizers openly expressed hope for a smaller turnout, highlighting the logistical challenges of managing such a large-scale event.
Pre-ride gathering for the Portland Naked Bike Ride at Peninsula Park in 2022, highlighting the community aspect of the event. The 2024 ride is on hiatus to strengthen its foundation.
Behind the scenes, the Portland World Naked Bike Ride (PDXWNBR), a non-profit organization, operates entirely on volunteer power. Organizing an event of this magnitude – envision thousands of cyclists, many infrequent riders, navigating city streets, often without formal traffic control, all guided by volunteers – demands considerable effort. This includes ensuring a safe and enjoyable pre-ride gathering and after-party, making it a complex undertaking for a grassroots organization lacking paid staff and relying on new leadership each year.
According to a recent statement from the organizers, the decision to take a hiatus stems from a recognition of current limitations in leadership and volunteer capacity. The planning phase for the 2024 ride did not commence as scheduled in September, and by spring, it became apparent that volunteer recruitment goals were falling short. The statement further elaborated:
“Making the protest safe and accessible is a huge undertaking, months in the making. For many Portlanders, the PDXWNBR may be their only ride of the year, so we hold the event to a high standard, with comprehensive volunteer organization, neighborhood outreach, and coordination with agencies like TriMet and Portland Parks & Recreation. Our history has also shown us how a little more planning can make the protest even more welcoming, with local artists, musicians, medics, bike mechanics, and other community partners all on hand…
Portland deserves the World Naked Bike Ride to be done right, so we are retrenching and focusing on growing our diverse, all-volunteer team this year.”
Meghan Sinnott, a former lead organizer with over a decade of dedication to the ride, emphasized the necessity of this year off. Speaking about the decision, Sinnott conveyed that while disappointing, a pause is crucial for the long-term health of the event. “As this ride continues to grow in popularity, there are persistent struggles that are real,” she explained, suggesting that proceeding without adequate support would be a disservice to the event’s legacy and its participants.
Sinnott articulated a deep emotional connection to the Portland Naked Bike Ride, recognizing its significance beyond just a cycling event. “There’s such a deep, deep reverence and love and joy around this event,” she noted. “This ride is bigger than Bike Summer. It’s bigger than Portland bike culture. It’s iconic. There’s a lot of emotional investment in this.” This sentiment underscores the importance of ensuring the ride’s sustainability and its continued positive impact on the community.
Looking ahead, the organizers are focusing their energy on volunteer recruitment, actively seeking individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join the leadership committee for the 2025 Portland Naked Bike Ride. They have extended an invitation for those interested in shaping the future of this iconic event to apply for the Leadership Committee by September 6th.
For those in Portland eager to engage in naked cycling this summer despite the WNBR hiatus, alternative opportunities exist within the city’s vibrant cycling scene. The official Bike Summer Pedalpalooza calendar, accessible through the Shift website, lists various cycling events, some of which may align with the spirit of the naked bike ride.
While the absence of the Portland Naked Bike Ride in 2024 will be felt, this year off represents a strategic pause to strengthen the event’s foundation. It’s an investment in the future, aimed at ensuring that when the ride returns, it will continue to embody the spirit of protest, body positivity, and community that has made it a beloved Portland tradition. The focus now shifts to community involvement and volunteerism to revitalize and prepare for a triumphant return of the Portland Naked Bike Ride in 2025.
