Naked Bike Ride

What you can expect from MPD

The 7th Annual World Naked Bike Ride will take place somewhere on the streets of Madison on Saturday, June 18th. 

Participants will be in various stages of (un)dress and will be riding bicycles, unicycles, and in-line skates.  Historically, the group does not announce their route until 24 hours prior to the ride, and then only to those who are a part of their group.

MPD is issuing this press release as those who are out in public shopping, strolling, and enjoying the weather have often called the Department upset over this event and concerned about children witnessing the activity.  The City has a public indecency ordinance, however, public nudity in and of itself is not a violation of that ordinance. Long story short, unless the behavior is the functional equivalent of “lewd and lascivious” behavior, the ordinance cannot be enforced as “disorderly conduct” for just being naked.  Thus, these incidents can only be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
 
Given there are no laws currently in place that prohibit this activity, MPD’s role will be to make the event safe for all participants and to allow them to exercise their First Amendment rights.  We encourage participants to obey all traffic laws pertaining to bicycles and to also respect the rights of non-participants.