A nude awakening

Scenes from last year’s World Naked Bike Ride in Nimbin.

Spencer Tunick got thousands of people naked in the name of art this week and Nimbin is trying to do the same in the name of renewable energy this weekend.

The second annual World Naked Bike Ride will take place in Nimbin this Saturday, March 6, with people baring flesh to bring attention to our dependency on oil and the fact we should all be riding bikes where possible.

“It’s basically an anti-oil dependency and consumerism ride… We should all be using bicycles for shorter journeys, reducing the amount of petroleum we’re using and making ourselves fitter in the process,” organiser Jacob Muller said. “The nudity is to show how vulnerable cyclists are on the road – Lycra isn’t going to protect you from an injury.

“I grew up riding in Sydney and it’s outright dangerous. 10 years ago I did a 6000km ride in Germany and Austria and they had a lot of respect for me as cyclist… cars were giving way to me, and the roads aren’t any bigger.”

So is it a case of the bigger the better (the ride that is)?

“God yes, we welcome everybody!” Jacob said. “There’s a fellow who works with me who’s a paraplegic and I’m going to pull him in a cart, and we’d love to see more differently abled people.

“The dress code is ‘As bare as you dare’, and body painting with slogans and/or designs is recommended, but not required.”

People interested in joining the World Naked Bike Ride should meet at Peace Park in Nimbin at 10.30am with participants then taken to a secret location for body painting. Jacob said the ride itself is only a few kilometres – a few breezy laps of the village.

For more information, phone Jacob on 6689 0408.