Environmentalists stage 'naked' bike ride protest » Environment » 24dash.com

A group of brave environmentalists staged a "naked" bike ride through a busy city centre today.

Bemused shoppers - many wrapped in coats and scarves - watched on as the group of around thirty men and women cycled through the streets of Bristol handing out leaflets on climate change.

But they were unable to carry out their cheeky protest fully nude - after police insisted they wore something to cover their modesty.

They reluctantly donned thongs, elasticated socks, shorts and bikini tops, to avoid outraging any locals or risk distracting drivers along the route.

The stunt followed the screening of a new film Naked World Bike Day, a 30-minute documentary exploring the world's dependency on oil.

Johnny Burke, who directed and produced the film, was one of the plucky few taking part in today's ride.

"The reaction was 98% positive. People were jaw droppingly surprised and receptive to the idea of cycle culture over driving culture," he said.

"The police turned up unexpectedly before the ride and told us they would arrest us if we went completely naked so I had to use an elasticated sock, which kept falling off.

"The only complaints we had were that we didn't have our kits off.

"The naked bike rides are a way of making protests less negative and more of a celebration.

"It also shows the vulnerability of the cyclist in traffic. There's a sense of the surreal and absurd and its about making people smile.

"It was a bit cold today, but I suppose we have to suffer for our beliefs."

The first Naked World Bike Ride was held in 2004 in London's Hyde Park, and has now become a global phenomenon, with thousands taking part in the novel protests globally each year.

Copyright Press Association 2006.