Get ready for the 16th annual World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis this Saturday July 27th, where hundreds of cyclists are expected to take to the streets.
Since its debut in 2007, the World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis has brought together more than 2,000 cyclists in various gatherings over the years.
Cyclists will cover several miles in prominent areas of St. Louis. Participants are encouraged to go as “bare-as-you-dare,” with some choosing to ride without any clothing.
Meet at 4 p.m. at HandleBar, a bike-themed bar in The Grove neighborhood of St. Louis, before the 6 p.m. start of the ride, which is expected to finish around 8 p.m.
While organizers have yet to release a map of the route, the ride will begin on Manchester Avenue near HandleBar and pass through various St. Louis neighborhoods, streets, and sites in the following order….
- The Grove (neighborhood) -> Lafayette Square (neighborhood) -> Downtown St. Louis -> Soulard (neighborhood) -> Cherokee Street -> South Grand Boulevard – > Tower Grove Park -> The Grove.
The World Naked Bike Ride commenced as a protest against oil dependency in Canada in 2004, expanding to many U.S. cities and at least 20 countries since.
According to the FAQ section on the St. Louis event website, the World Naked Bike Ride is a protest allowing nudity, as long as participants refrain from illegal behavior while nude. Personal expression is encouraged, but due to legal limitations in St. Louis, full-frontal nudity involves personal risk.
Telnikova explains that the ride aims to promote positive body image, alternative transportation, and cyclists’ rights. “It’s all about coming together, having fun, and embracing your true self on a bicycle,” she adds.
Telnikova, organizer of the event for nearly a decade and owner of HandleBar near the starting point, gives credit to a group of Washington University students for introducing the concept to St. Louis in the mid-2000s.
While originally starting in the Southampton neighborhood, the route has evolved to circle around The Grove. In recent years, St. Louis has seen high participation rates comparable to Chicago and Portland.
The festivities now include a pre-ride costume contest and a big afterparty with live entertainment.
For more details about The World Naked Bike Ride and related events, click here.
