About 60 bicyclists bared nearly all to cycle around the western city of Cologne promoting safety on the streets. German laws restrained the Naked Bike Ride motto 'bare as you dare' to a degree of modesty.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
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Sixty bicyclists took part in the first "Naked Bike Ride" in Cologne on Friday. The event is part of a global series which started in Canada in 2003 to raise awareness of cycling as a healthy transport option.
In Cologne, the two-wheelers wanted to make a particular statement by wearing so little: "We want to point out that we bicyclists are the most vulnerable users of the road," said organizer Christian Stunz ahead of the ride.
The cyclists, whose ages ranged from 20 to 60, started their journey from the center of Cologne at the Rudolfplatz, and went over the Deutzer Bridge to the other side of the Rhine before passing by the Dom cathedral in the center of the city and pedaling on to their destination of the Heumarkt in the old town.
The Naked Bike Ride passed Cologne's landmark Dom cathedralImage: picture-alliance/J. Schwenkenbecher
Stunz also emphasized the lighter side of the event: "First and foremost it should, of course, be fun," he said. "But we also want to make a publicity drive for bikes." Wider bicycle lanes on roads and more attention to be given to bicyclists in traffic are two other campaign aims.
Under German law, totally nudity is not permitted in public (except in designated areas like beaches) and so the participants were unable to reveal all.
A global movement
Other Naked Bike Rides around the world, such as the one in Brighton on the southern English coast, were able to ride utterly unclothed as they promoted bicycling as a health, environmentally-friendly transport option.
Cities where cycling is a joy
This year's Tour de France kicks off in Copenhagen on July 1st. The Danish capital is famous for its fantastic cycling infrastructure. Here are a few more bike-friendly cities in Europe.
Image: CC/Negu
Copenhagen
Denmark's capital boasts a 350-kilometer (217-mile) cycle path network, traffic lights that prioritize cyclists, and footrests on the roadside when you have to wait for a green light. No wonder, then, that 63 percent of the population cycle to work. The word "copenhagenize" has already become established in English to describe making cities more bicycle-friendly.
Amsterdam in the Netherlands is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Europe. Cyclists in Amsterdam cover some 2 million kilometers (approx. 1.24 million miles) a day. The country is popular with cyclists because it's very flat. Utrecht, for example, is home to the largest bicycle parking garage with 33,000 parking spaces.
Image: picture-alliance/NurPhoto/N. Economou
Paris
In Paris, the city authorities have been systematically expanding the cycle network for years. On Sundays, entire streets are even closed to traffic. As a tourist, one can also easily mingle with the cyclists, as there are bicycle rental stations everywhere. This is also the case in Strasbourg. The two cities count as the most bicycle-friendly in France.
Image: picture-alliance/robertharding/S. Dee
Malmo
Malmo in Sweden has invested a lot of money in improving its bicycle infrastructure. There are almost 500 kilometers (311 miles) of cycle paths with (tire) pumping stations and right-of-way systems. Probably the most creative idea is a bicycle hotel with its own workshop, rental bikes — and bike parking directly in front of the rooms.
Image: Ohboy
Trondheim
Trondheim in Norway is a hilly city. The "Trampe", the world's first bicycle lift, provides a solution. The 130-meter-long (426 ft) lift takes up to 300 cyclists per hour up the mountain to the Kristiansten Fortress. A plate, on which you can stand with your right foot, is pulled along a rail. This plate then pushes the cyclist together with the bike up the hill.
Image: public domain
Münster
In Münster in Westphalia, there are more bicycles than residents. It is therefore not surprising that Münster is the city, after Leipzig, with the highest bicycle theft rate in Germany. But that doesn't stop people from riding their bikes — after all, Münster offers wide cycle paths, plenty of parking spaces and no hills.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Thissen
Barcelona
As early as 2002 you could ride a rental bike through Barcelona. 250 kilometers (98 miles) of cycle paths connect destinations in the Catalan capital. Zones limiting speeds to 30 kmph ensure more safety in city traffic. For tourists, the city offers various themed cycle paths through the city, to the beach or to the sights of architect Antoni Gaudi.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/G. Guarino
Basel
In Basel the land is flat and the distances short. The streets are particularly crowded during the slowUp. During this event, which takes place in summer in different cities in Switzerland, the organizers block off around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) in beautiful surroundings for cyclists and provide them with a wide range of activities along the route. What could be more fun?
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/M. Dr. Schulte-Kellinghaus
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The Naked Bike Ride in Mexico City last month drew attention to the high pollution levels in the traffic-choked city of 20 million people and 4 million cars.
First organized in 2003 by Conrad Schmidt in Canada, Naked Bike Rides have been held all over the work since to "deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world."
Under the motto "bare as you dare" the rides have been organized for fun and to capture the attention of pedestrians, motorists and the media while extolling the merits of the bicycle.
