Fighting climate change with nudism: What to know about the World Naked Bike Ride in Milwaukee

Wanna fight climate change this weekend? Bike naked. 

On Saturday, Milwaukeeans will witness the third annual World Naked Bike Ride. Here’s the naked truth: 

Why are people biking naked and what is the World Naked Bike Ride?

The first recorded naked bike ride was in 2001 in Zaragoza, Spain. Two years later, Conrad Schmidt conceived the World Naked Bike Ride to protest oil dependence and celebrate the human body. 

The popularity of the event rose quickly with 28 bike rides across the globe in 2004 and 74 in 2010. 

With an informal slogan of “less gas, more ass,” organizers hope that the shock factor of laying it all bare helps drive home the negative effects of climate change and fossil fuels. The event also demonstrates the importance of pedestrian visibility and the need for safe biking and pedestrian pathways in urban spaces. 

The event is intended to help people to shed their inhibitions and celebrate their bodies. Every inch. Participants do not have to be naked and only have to take off as much clothing as they’re comfortable with. 

While the event has layers, the people won’t. 

Where is the naked bike ride? 

Don’t want to be greeted by folks in their birthday suits on their route? 

Organizers traditionally keep this part of the event private until a few days before the race, but the route was uploaded to the event’s website today.

Bikers will start at Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall where they will be greeted by five bands, 20 vendors, food trucks and body painters. Riders will then head east on Burnham Street making their way onto Water and Brady streets, looping through Veterans Park before returning to the beer hall.

Thankfully, the race won’t bring a whole new meaning to the crack of dawn as it is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. 

How many people will participate in the naked ride? 

Since the inaugural ride in 2021, organizers estimate roughly 200 Milwaukeeans have risen to the occasion and and participated. Event organizer John Jankowski told the Journal Sentinel he hopes to break Madison’s record of 197 participants from last week’s revealing ride. 

According to Jankowski, people are coming in from Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

Portland has the largest bike race with an estimated 10,000 participants.

What if I don’t have a bike?

You don’t have to be a bare bicyclist! You can be a threadbare tandemer, an unclothed unicyclist, a stripped skateboarder or a revealed runner. 

Or, you can just rent a bike—just no cars. 

Is this free? How do I register? 

Yes, it’s free — liberating one may even say.    

While organizers understand it might be a little difficult to keep cash or card on your person during the event, they appreciate any donations. 

Is riding a bike naked legal? 

The ride is technically a first amendment protest, so it is legal as long as riders do not participate in any lewd or "untoward" behavior. According to Jankowski, police treat the bike ride as a protest so bikers are “on their own.” There will be a follow car with medical support if needed. 

Alcohol and inappropriate behavior are banned at the event so that everyone can feel comfortable while biking through Milwaukee with the wind at their backs.