Philadelphia hosting nude bike ride

Organizers of Philadelphia’s first naked bike ride say the event is intended to draw attention to fuel dependency, cyclists’ rights and human beauty.

Clifford Greer, 30, lead organizer of the Philly Naked Bike Ride, patterned on naked rides that have taken place in more than 70 cities since 2004, said he hopes Sunday’s ride will help motorists and government officials be more aware of bicycles on the city’s streets, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Friday.

The community seems to have bestowed use of the roads to drivers, Greer said. We would like to occupy space in the minds of drivers and the government as well, and a bunch of nude people on bikes is kind of an impossible thing to miss.

He said the event is also aimed at drawing attention to fuel dependency and encouraging people to be comfortable with their bodies.

I think a lot of people have fear that they have a non-traditional nude appearance, he said. If we’re able to see that we’re not the only unconventionally beautiful people, then maybe we’ll begin to feel that conventional beauty is not so important to us.

Greer said the meeting place for riders will be sent to the more than 875 people who have registered on his Web site Friday or Saturday and the route will not be revealed until the cyclists arrive.