Naked Bike Ride, London 2008

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Naked Bike Ride, London 2008

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Naked Bike Ride, London 2008

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Saturday 14th June saw the London leg of the Naked Bike Ride 2008.

The naked bike ride is a worldwide event a very peaceful protest against oil dependency and an expression of body freedom, the event happens in 70 cities covering 20 countries, I was a spectator of the London ride, which took place on Saturday 14th June 2008.

Figures for the participants of this years ride have been estimated at around 2,000 that is up from last years estimated figure of 1,200. Some of the riders wear fancy dress costumes and others are fully naked, having been painted from head to toe by a  body painting Artist.

The weather held up , it was a lovely warm day and all the riders seemed to be having a whale of a time.

The gathering starts in Hyde Park London, this is where the body painter gets to work in an enclosed area away from photographers and voyeurs, many of which can be seen scattered around the 6 mile course.

The ride is escorted by the police on cycles, I believe the heavy police presence is more as a protection for the cyclists, than in a crowd control capacity. In the last two events that I have witnessed the Police have seemed to have a very low presence, they are seen but not heard, I think that is an ideal strategy for an event such as this.

The course covers most of the famous landmarks that London has to offer, starting from Hyde park, as they peddle down piccadilly towards Eros then banging a right down the Haymarket and onto Trafalgar Square, from the square the cyclists enter Whitehall, the heart of the British political establishment, the journey down whithall passes the MOD (ministry of defence), they also pass 10 Downing street and the treasury as they head towards parliament square.

The 2,000 contingency then pass the houses of parliament and big ben as they cross the river Thames over westminister bridge. The ride then proceeds along the other side of the river passing the London eye as they head towards Waterloo bridge which they cross as they head back into the heart of the London première shopping  area, Oxford Street passing the Aldwych and Covent garden on the way.

The ride detours from Oxford street and heads towards the American embassy in Grosvenor square  as they head back towards the finish line travelling past Mayfair along Park Lane and into Wellington arch the finish line, this is where the official photographs and interviews with the press are undertaken.

A very peaceful protest with full nudity allows the message the get out and the photographs taken by the general public such as myself allow the message to stay in circulation for the whole year up until next years naked bike ride 2009, see you there.

Oil Dependency and body freedom two very important issues addressed, undressed, congratulations to all participants.

The video shows A young Man and Lady who were given a warning by a policeman to get off and stay off the war memorial at Wellington arch