Riders in a total of 200 cities took part in a Naked Bike ride for an annual event raising awareness for safer cycling on June 11. The cities include London, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Vienna, Sao Paolo, Vancouver, Toronto, Copenhagen, Paris, Thessaloniki, Tel Aviv and Tokyo.

The 18th World Naked Bike Ride has been going every year, except 2020, since 2004, and the event is a global protest in cities all around the world where bikers gather to protest the over usage of oil, urban pollution, cycle safety on roads, and encourage body freedom for everyone.

The campaign also protests to curb ‘car culture’, obtain better rights for cyclists and demonstrate their vulnerability on city streets.

However just the action of riding naked on a city street seems to seriously increase both vulnerability and discomfort.

Whether you want to let it all hang out or just want to ride in your bathing suit, the dress code is “As bare as you dare.”

Wearing body paint and running shoes – and little else – scores of activists bravely take to their saddles to take part the ride. Many covered their naked bodies in glitter, painted slogans and fancy dress for the annual event.

Last year, the World Naked Bike Ride in London had almost 1500 riders despite the Covid-19 risk reduction measures. In Mexico City, participants wore Day of the Dead masks for the celebrations.

In Toronto the ride was scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, following a route along several major streets in the downtown core, biking through the University of Toronto, Kensington Market, Yonge-Dundas Square, City Hall, and other landmarks.

The route ended at the Jack Layton Memorial Ferry Docks where riders could choose to take the ferry to Hanlan’s Point Beach, where clothing is optional.