Chicago World Naked Bike Ride 2007 a Spectacular Success!!!

Official count: 600*

Saturday, June 9th 2007, ride check-in was at Union Park (about 100
N. Ashland) from 6pm, assembled and body painted at a secure location
a mile away, and departed at 9pm. Ride passed published recommended
viewing points at Belmont/Halsted and Belmont/Clark ("Boystown")
around 11pm, and Rush/State ("Viagra Triangle") around 11:45pm. Also
circled NBC tower, R&R McD, and ended at Oprah's studio after
covering about 20 miles. Inline skater participation was WAY up with
perhaps three dozen or more, as well as a few skateboarders.
Runners/joggers were discouraged this year as a practicality, based
on experiences in prior years. Donations again almost exactly
balanced expenses (Thanx everyone!), and we're getting many
compliments especially on the level of organization.

Helped by excellent weather and great spirits ALMOST EVERYONE was as
nearly naked as the law allows, with perhaps as much as 10% basically
fully nude (not counting backpacks and such), some 2-5% in minimal
shorts/t-shirts, and perhaps 1% (such as admin personnel) in full
clothes. A wildly joyful time was had by almost all, and mad props
for courage go out to everyone. Generally, the feelings voiced by
participants are that being in the ride is an almost inexpressibly
wondrous experience.

MANY THANKS to the police, who were as tolerant and helpful as they
could reasonably be, and protected our rear and flanks. Sincere
apologies for the few times we annoyed them, mainly by being
surprisingly huge.

Pre-ride publicity was our most massive ever, with event listings
appearing in all major local print news and pertinent websites, a
Yahoo group topping 700 (now over 800), some 5000 flyers distributed
in advance to bike stores and similar, and the "Indecent Exposure to
Cars" documentary played on local public access cable TV twice.
Several post-ride reports appeared in print and on local TV news.

Several press clippings have been posted at
http://worldnakedbikeride.org/chicago/photos.html
ALSO Google Earth and printable versions of the route map.
Photos and videos are still being assembled. Stay tuned.
Anyone with additional press clippings or video captures from this or
prior years please contact chicago@...

Major improvements this year included:
1. Hotline phone number - Dedicated line created with detailed
outgoing info message.
2. Donated printing - Usually our highest expense. Contact me for a
printer recommendation.
3. Expanded publicity drive - Three times the flyers as last year.
4. Published recommended viewing points and times - Eliminated masses
of oglers from the starting point.
5. Spectator information handouts - >20000 discussing the anti-oil
message and why naked, with URLs.
6. Tight control of media - Only specific designated known and proven
photographers who also participated in the ride were allowed at the
gathering. Others were limited to an outer area blanketed with anti-
oilgarchy propaganda banners, or forwarded to the viewing points.
7. Walkie talkies - Kept principals in constant contact, connecting
the mass from head to toe (10mile type).

The few lessons we can apply next year are being discussed and
amassed among the coordinators. Please send
chicago@... any thoughts. Primary items so far
are: 1. No more loops (sorry, we expected less car traffic and a
smaller mass); 2. More volunteer staff needed (especially "security"
to help with aggressive cars and drunken spectators); 3. More water
carried and/or fountain stops.

LOST and FOUND:
Lost: Cannon digital camera in a yellow pelican case.
Lost: Woman's underwear; men's shorts.
Found: Single sports glove.
Found: Bike computer.
Contact chicago@... if you found or lost any of
the above.

MASSIVE THANX TO
Andrew and Susan (orange clad lilac haired skate footed hard hatted
safety guy self and tall thin gothottie check-in grrl) for countless
hours of coordinating.
Steven (with Polar bear family) for route planning, leading,
location, and more!
Jerry and Nick (suits) for keeping us semi-legal.
Howard for PR and for securing the rear and rescuing the injured.
Other trailer and pedicab dudes for same as above.
Also body painters D+D, Kristina, Melissa and Mairead; Documentarians
Zack, Rob, Antoinette, Barbra, Baramesi; Facilitators Mr. Bike,
Travis, and Dubi!
Anyone else my virus addled brain has omitted, consider yourself
included.
PLEASE all come again next year, and bring some friends!

* Count method: 600 was mass size at likely maximum, +-20, as counted
twice, by fives and tens, from stationary points at narrow passages,
at about a mile then at two miles into ride, as mass passed from head
to foot, averaging about five to seven abreast, about four solid
blocks long. Multiple other opinions and videos generally confirm.
Total participants is even higher as mass picked up dozens more along
the way, especially ones who started at the half-way viewing point.


World Naked Bike Ride - Chicago
Protesting Oil Dependency and Promoting Positive Body Image
http://worldnakedbikeride.org/chicago
Andrew Bedno - WNBR Chicago coordinator
andrew@...
chicago@...
Ride hotline: 312-480-0475


TESTIMONIALS:
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From: J.F.
Subject: WNBR Lost Camera
Andrew,
This is a shot in the dark, but I lost my camera- Cannon digital in a
yellow pelican case. If you hear anything please let me know.
Also- good ride. Well planned and administrated. No arrests to my
knowledge.
Do you know what happened with the pedestrian with the broken nose on
LaSalle and North?
Good job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editors note:
The injured spectator report is under review. Anyone with further
info please send to chicago@...
===========================================================
From: V.H.
Subject: Re: World Naked Bike Ride: I did go
I was there also and had a great time. I would do this again next
year. I was VERY self-conscious about showing my body
(insecurities?), but seeing how absolutely comfortable everyone was,
I felt better about myself. I'll drop to my skivies (misspelled?) on
the drop of a dime. Here are some photos I took.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vh3710/album?.dir=/6ae5re2&.src=ph
Three photos stick out for me
1 - the panda bear girl - greatest mask ever, not so much the photo
as it was the mask
2 - Travis in his semi circle bike thing stalled as people bike
around him
3 - The last photo of the Peter Pan crew. Check out Peter's snarl
4 - The second smurf pic
Enjoy
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From: M.G.
You might recall I wrote an e-mail to the list last week, expressing
concern about having photos of me naked posted to the Web, exposing
my online d*** to the world.
It turns out I did ride pretty much naked, wearing nothing but shoes,
socks, helmet, gloves, backpack and a big smile.
I was not arrested by the cops, nor fined, thankfully.
I think I even saw the woman from work who has a crush on me along
the parade route in Wrigleyville. I think she saw me, but,
thankfully, she did not think to look up and see my face.
I can now relate to all of those women who wear T-shirts with arrows
pointing up towards their faces over the words "I'm up here."
I was probably photographed about 150 times or more along the route.
That number is completely made up, I made no attempt to count the
shots.
Is it just me, or did it seem like there were more women along the
route taking photos, while the men just stared blankly with their
jaws dropped, thinking "thank you, God!"
Special thanks to the three drunk girls along Rush Street: as I
passed them and extended my hand to slap them "five," they ignored my
hand and slapped and beat my ass mercilessly for all of about a
second or two, giggling the entire time. They were cute.
Thanks to everyone who made this happen. I had a fun time. Looking
forward to next year.
PS I was just kidding about my friend from work. I didn't see her at
all last night.
===========================================================
From: A.F.
Subject: Re: World Naked Bike Ride: I did go
Ah, nakedness. And yet still, a few folks were not sufficiently
amused by the parade of skin passing them by. In case anyone needs
them I took down the plates of two such lame individuals:
1) IL - 624 6003
light blue (2-door?) compact car.
beginning of the ride around the side of Union Park
Male, dark brown hair, glasses, 40s
2) IL - 789 0704
black suv
Lincoln / Fullerton
knocked someone over, hit and run
That's all the info I have, managed to remember to copy it onto paper
from the sharpie on my leg. Other than those I didn't hear about or
see much by way of idiocy during the ride. Perhaps all CMs should be
nude, thus preventing road rage?
And please please, tell where the pics are being posted. Somehow I
couldn't find anywhere to stash my own camera, so am relying on the
documentation of others . . .
===========================================================
From: R.C.
Subject: Re: World Naked Bike Ride: I did go
i agree the WNBR (world naked Bike Ride) was amazing. the large
number a of bodacious, naked women .....and men in the ride seemed to
mollify the anger of stuck drivers. Most just sat back and watched
the show peddle past. i think the CCM need more nudity...it works.
i had a great time and the large crowds on Wells and Belmont seemed
to be having a great time too. as we came past the bars would empty
out to view the parade as we screamed 'park your car and join us next
year'.
i saw and heard the friend of a guy who had way too much to drink
saying "dude, wake up. you are going to be angry in the morning when
i tell you that you missed these beautiful naked broads" he was
right. i've got a couple of movie clips i will check today for a
count. i estimate 600 or so people at the peak.
it was great fun.
===========================================================
From: K.S.
Subject: Re: World Naked Bike Ride: I did go
I picked up a piece of woman's underwear while on the ride. If you
can describe it accurately, including size, color, designer name and
decoration, it is yours.
===========================================================
From: G.D.
Subject: Re: World Naked Bike Ride: I did go
I'm guessing anyone who dropped underwear on this particular ride, is
someone who's not terribly concerned with wearing underwear in the
first place.
Just a guess.
PS. Putting some drawers on for the first time after the ride was
really really nice.
===========================================================
From: S.D.
Subject: Union Park: WNBR Collides with Cycle Courier's Birthday Party
Apologies if this is a duplicate from the Global WNBR Group.
As much as I wanted to, I didn't ride on Saturday -- my bike was
stolen a week ago at University of Illinois, Urbana. But, I was up in
Chicago anyway on Saturday for the Tribune Book Fair, so I stopped by
Union Park. I didn't notice the guy with pink hair standing by the
statue, but couldn't miss the huge crowd of people under the trees
with a barbecue and bicycles everywhere. So, I went over and joined
them -- even pitched in for beer. I wasn't the only one over there
looking for the WNBR. But, it eventually came out that this wasn't
the WNBR check-in at all, it was a group of Chicago bicycle couriers
celebrating the birthday of one of their members.
You should definitely hook up with these folks. Not only do they
depend on their bicycles for their livelihood -- indeed they succeed
because bicycles are more efficient for rapid transportation in an
urban environment -- but they have a blast!
They are truly nice people -- salt of the earth. None of them were
aware of the WNBR.
Cheers,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editors note:
Every fifteen minutes or so someone went over from check-in point to
that group and wandered through calling out for World Naked Bike Ride
participants who may have gotten diverted to that crowd, and
encouraging those un-aware and potentially interested to join us.
Most were aggressively rebuffed. I personally tried several times
and got literally scalded with vitriol like "f*** off a** packer,
this is a private event, we don't want no f***ing queers here" and
similar. I'll dismiss this as not representative of all of them,
testosterone based and alcohol fueled, however it was from multiple
members of both genders with no objections voiced. Furthermore,
their choice of location is suspicious, and the fact that they
attracted multiple police visits was a hazzard. So... whatever.
===========================================================
From: A.Z.
Subject: Where are the photos?
Why no article in any newspaper? Finally newspapers can publish
decent nudity and they don't? Why? Are they against us? Shouldn't the
media be supportive of positive civil movements like ours?
Any way, all those professional photographers that where all around
us, taking pictures of my bare everything, where are they now?
The event was great, where's the momentum?
===========================================================
From: A.P.
Subject: Bike ride congratulations!!!
I just wanted to thank you for doing such an absolutely wonderful job
with the ride this year!!!
Last year the oglers and all the strange non-participants taking
photos made me feel very uncomfortable. This year everybody felt like
a participant and the vibe was celebratory and all-encompassing and
full of love. So thank you for creating the accepting environment
that made it all possible. You are all amazing!!!
peaceLove,
===========================================================
From: M.C.
Hallo ---
I'm sure you're getting a ton of these sorts of emails right now, but
I wanted to say thanks for being so kind, and having me help. I've
done the Seattle ride several times, but this was bigger and brighter
in at least six ways -- and the two of you are rad for planning it so
smoothly.
Also I've been waiting for, o, at least a year to hear someone who
wasn't me play a Le Tigre song, in Chicago, and now it's happened and
that was super-excellent.
I'm sure we'll bump into each other again soon, but for now: thanks,
and I hope to God you can both catch up on some sleep now!
yrs -- M.
===========================================================
From: D.
Subject: Hey WNBR
Thanks for everything!! I had a fantastic time. And...well...I might
just have to ride my bike naked all the time now.
G
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