Boston's 8th Annual World Naked Bike Ride 2017 To Start In JP

JAMAICA PLAIN, MA — Each year for the past seven years a group of naked people, or mostly naked people, hop gently on their bikes and ride through the city. Last year, more than 200 jolly mostly naked people took to their bikes complete with police escort.

"I think after 7 years the city has finally come around to the ride," wrote the organizers on Facebook announcing the 2017 ride which is slated to begin in JP on July 22.

The organizers say the ride, though supported by the area nudist community (apparently there's a Boston nudist community) is not about promoting nudity so much as it is about promoting bike safety.

"The goal of this ride is to focus on bike awareness. Our nudity will demonstrate our vulnerability out on the city streets and the freedom that riding a bike can give you," said organizers.

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Although this is only Boston's eighth year participating, World Naked Bike Ride began a little more than a dozen years ago as a protest against car culture, dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and as a way to highlight cyclists’ rights and challenges.

The 2017 ride will be on Saturday July 22, meeting and starting in JP, organizers request that participants come clothed and leave clothed but the actual ride, which is slated to cover Boston to Somerville and Cambridge is a free for all event. The rest of the details, ahem, have yet to be laid bare.

"Body paint, glitter, pasties, tighty whities, and full nudity welcome," reads the invite.

Clothing is optional, nudity is not required. Organizers say riders will be obeying all traffic laws while having fun and "feeling free."

WANT to know WHEN to meet? It's July 22, at 6 p.m. Here's the rest of the story:

Image above via screen shot of the world Naked Bike Ride website and the Boston Facebook Page.