Hundreds of cyclists took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday for the annual World Naked Bike Ride, a global event that uses nudity and art to protest car culture and advocate for cycling.
The event, staged out of a parking area in Little Tokyo, saw participants embrace the "bare as you dare" ethos, with many opting for body paint as their sole attire. While some riders wore minimal clothing, others fully disrobed.
Participants were instructed not to disrobe until reaching the staging area. Police escorts directed traffic as the cyclists moved through the city, passing landmarks and drawing the attention of onlookers.
The ride featured two separate routes: a morning ride covering approximately 9 miles and an afternoon ride of about 7 miles with a more challenging, hill-heavy course. Both routes traversed downtown Los Angeles landmarks.
While participation was free, donations were encouraged to cover operational costs, including traffic control, portable restrooms, and equipment rentals. The event operates within a legal gray area regarding public nudity, with guidelines prohibiting lewd or sexually explicit exposure. Organizers frame the ride as a form of public expression and a protest against reliance on automobiles.