Chicago World Naked Bike Ride 2007 a Spectacular Success!!!

Official count: 600*

Saturday, June 9th 2007, ride check-in was at Union Park (about 100 N. Ashland) from 6pm, assembled and body painted at a secure location a mile away, and departed at 9pm. Ride passed published recommended viewing points at Belmont/Halsted and Belmont/Clark ("Boystown") around 11pm, and Rush/State ("Viagra Triangle") around 11:45pm. Also circled NBC tower, R&R McD, and ended at Oprah's studio after covering about 20 miles. Inline skater participation was way up with perhaps three dozen or more, as well as a few skateboarders. Runners/joggers were discouraged this year as a practicality based on experiences in prior years. Gender ratio seemed pretty close to even. Donations again almost exactly balanced expenses (Thanx everyone!), and we're getting many compliments especially on the level of organization.

Helped by excellent weather and great spirits almost everyone was as nearly naked as the law allows, with perhaps as much as 10% basically fully nude (not counting packs), some 5-10% in minimal shorts/t-shirts, and perhaps 1% (such as admin personnel) in full clothes. A considerable number travelled in from adjacent states to participate. A wildly joyful time was had by almost all, and mad props for courage go out to everyone. Generally, the feelings voiced by participants are that being in the ride is an almost inexpressibly wondrous experience.

MANY THANKS to the police, who were as tolerant and helpful as they could reasonably be, and protected our rear and flanks. Sincere apologies for the few times we annoyed them, mainly by being surprisingly huge.

Pre-ride publicity was our most massive ever, with event listings appearing in all major local print news and pertinent websites, a large Yahoo group, some 5000 flyers distributed in advance to bike stores and similar, and the "Indecent Exposure to Cars" documentary played on local public access cable TV twice. Several post-ride reports appeared in print and on local TV news.

Several press clippings have been posted here.
ALSO Google Earth and printable versions of the route map. Photos and videos are still being assembled. Stay tuned. Anyone with additional press clippings or video captures from this or prior years please contact us.

Major improvements this year included:
1. Hotline phone number - Dedicated line created with detailed outgoing info message.
2. Donated printing - Usually our highest expense. Contact me for a printer recommendation.
3. Expanded publicity drive - Three times the flyers as last year.
4. Published recommended viewing points and times - Eliminated masses of oglers from the starting point.
5. Spectator information handouts - 20000+ discussing the anti-oil message and why naked, with URLs.
6. Tight control of media - Only specific designated known and proven photographers who also participated in the ride were allowed at the gathering. Others were limited to an outer area blanketed with anti-oilgarchy propaganda banners, or forwarded to the viewing points.
7. Walkie talkies - Kept principals in constant contact, connecting the mass from head to toe (10mile type).

The few lessons we can apply next year are being discussed and amassed among the coordinators. Please send us any thoughts. Primary items so far are: 1. No more loops (sorry, we expected less car traffic and a smaller mass); 2. More volunteer staff needed (especially "security" to help with aggressive cars and drunken spectators); 3. More water carried and/or fountain stops.

MASSIVE THANX TO
Andrew and Susan (orange clad lilac haired skate footed hard hatted safety guy self and tall thin gothottie check-in grrl) for countless hours of coordinating.
Steven (with Polar bear family) for route planning, leading, location, and more!
Jerry and Nick (suits) for keeping us semi-legal.
Howard for PR and for securing the rear and rescuing the injured.
Other trailer and pedicab dudes for same as above.
Also body painters D+D, Kristina, Melissa and Mairead; Documentarians Zack, Rob, Antoinette, Barbra, Baramesi; Facilitators Mr. Bike, Travis, and Dubi!
Anyone else my flu addled brain has omitted, consider yourself included.
PLEASE all come again next year, and bring some friends!

* Count method: 600 was mass size at likely maximum, +-20, as counted twice, by fives and tens, from stationary points at narrow passages, at about a mile then at two miles into ride, as mass passed from head to foot, averaging about five to seven abreast, about four solid blocks long. Multiple other opinions and videos generally confirm. Total participants is even higher as mass picked up dozens more along the way, especially ones who started at the half-way viewing point.

World Naked Bike Ride - Chicago
Protesting Oil Dependency and Promoting Positive Body Image
http://worldnakedbikeride.org/chicago