The World Naked Bike Ride is set to streak through New Orleans on June 10

Expect a cross between the Tour de France and a Trixie Minx show. The World Naked Bike Ride 2023 is scheduled to roll at 5 p.m. on June 10 through the Bywater, Marigny and French Quarter, according to a post on the event’s Facebook page.

Look for the route at the bottom of this post.

Forget revealing Spandex riding suits. The hundreds of cyclists in the annual WNBR pedal their Schwinns in the public streets while clad in strategically slung Speedos, body paint and  purple Crown Royal bags. Many peel all the way down to the piercings. No lie.

Needless to say, the convoy of streaking cyclists draws a curbside crowd of onlookers and amateur videographers, who are alternately appreciative and aghast.

The World Naked Bike Ride is the most audacious outdoor event of the year, bar none.

But there’s a serious side to all the immodest jiggling and jostling. The risque ride, which is in its 15th year, is designed to draw attention to bicycle safety. As anyone who rides a bike in New Orleans traffic can tell you, some drivers see cyclists as a nuisance, and some don't see them at all. Unless, maybe, they happen to be unclothed.

The slogan of the WNBR is: “Can you see me now?”

New Orleans, which is known for its collective lack of inhibition, seems like the ideal incubator for a clothing-optional bike ride to have hatched.

But according to online sources, the first Naked Bike Ride took place as a political protest in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2003 or 2004. In no time, scores of similar rides sprung up in cities around the globe. The Crescent City included.

The ride begins in Mickey Markey Park, at the corner of Royal and Piety streets. Though the official route has not yet been announced, the ride customarily travels upriver to the heart of the French Quarter, then circles back to its starting point.

Onlookers are encouraged not to crowd the riders, which could cause accidents. As an organizer requested last year: “Cheer, wave, but stand back and let us through.”

A ride proponent has posted a GoFundMe campaign to cover the cost of the necessary police escort and other costs. So far the public has contributed $635 toward the goal of $3,000.

The Naked Bike Ride 2023 Route

The ride begins at 5 p.m. at Mickey Markey Park at the corner of Royal and Piety Streets in the Bywater.

It follows Royal Street toward the French Quarter, turns left on Franklin Street, and right on Decatur Street.

The ride continues on Decatur Street into the French Quarter, turns right on St. Louis Street, right on Burgundy Street, right on St. Ann Street and left on Chartres Street.

The ride follows Chartres back toward the Bywater, turns left on Desire, and left on Royal, returning to Mickey Markey Park.