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Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride attracts thousands of participants each year.

Credit: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland.org

Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride

Portlanders bare their love (and bodies) for bicycling at this annual bike ride.

Editor's Pick

2 min read

John Patrick Pullen

Editor's Pick

This is a recurring event and we’re showing the details from its most recent past occurrence. We’ll update this page with future event info as soon as we get it. Please check back!

When

Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023

Free

Where

TBD

Know Before You Go

There will be no World Naked Bike Ride in 2024. Ride organizers plan to take a one-year hiatus to work on the behind-the-scenes planning to bring it back improved in 2025. For more information, see the Bike Portland website.

Wearing a helmet is a great way to stay safe while bicycling — no one would argue with that. But what about the rest of a rider’s attire? For the undressed masses who streak through Portland each summer during the World Naked Bike Ride, accouterments are largely unnecessary. And besides, it’s much more fun to bike buck naked.

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History of Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride

As a part of a worldwide protest against society’s dependency on oil, this annual volunteer-run event has seen Portlanders pedaling au naturel every summer since 2004. (Fun fact: Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride is among the world’s largest, drawing 10,000 people in 2019.) The route is a secret; ride organizers reveal only the starting point in advance of the ride.

At the gathering point where the ride begins, the clothes come off and the body paint goes on. Then when the sun sets, thousands of naked bike riders hit the roads, cruising commando through streets closed off to cars by (fully clothed) Portland police officers. Not-nude medical personnel and bike mechanics are also on hand in case of emergencies.

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Questions About Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride

Why nudity?

According to the organizers of the World Naked Bike Ride, riders go bare to “celebrate cycling and the human body. The ride demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and is a protest against oil dependency.”

Can I participate without a bike?

Anything non-motorized and human-powered is acceptable and welcome. Joggers, Rollerbladers and people on scooters and skateboards are often seen joining in the protest.

Can I rent a bike to ride in the protest?

Portland has many options for visitors to join in the World Naked Bike Ride. There are plenty of bike rental shops, including Cycle Portland Bike Tours, Cyclepath PDX and Everybody’s Bike Rentals & Tours. Or take advantage of Portland’s Biketown bike-share system and protest in style. Keep in mind, however, that thousands of people participate in the ride, many of whom may also want to rent a bicycle. It is recommended to find a rental well before the event.

How do I bike to and from the event safely?

Check out this resource of bicycle maps and where to ride for a guide to the city’s cycle paths. Be sure to wear a helmet and make sure your bike has working front and back lights.

Isn’t it illegal to be naked?

Public nudity, in the form of protest, is protected by Oregon’s constitution. However, lewd behavior is not. Please don’t be lewd, obscene or engage in any sexual activity — that is an arrestable offense.

Won’t I get cold?

It is recommended to wear shoes and helmets, which can help keep the chill at bay. Many riders start with more coverings and remove layers as they warm up from riding. The average temperature of the evening around the event is 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) with a slight wind, so dress (or undress, as the case may be) accordingly.

Over the years, the ride has turned into a festive tradition, with after-parties giving bare bikers places to see and be seen.

Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride Today

Over the years, the ride has become a festive tradition, with after-parties giving bare bikers places to see and be seen. But don’t expect to find a scene full of looky-loos. Sure, there are threadbare tandems, unclad unicyclists and even recumbent bikers in the buff — but the event also has a no-nonsense approach and forbids alcohol use and inappropriate behavior, so everyone can feel safe and comfortable streaking through Portland with the wind at their, um, backs.

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And with the unofficial motto of “as bare as you dare,” all manner of clothing and costume is allowed, with riders donning underwear, swimsuits and more — or less. Frankly, socks and shoes are smart, helmets and pads never hurt anyone, masks are popular for shy riders, and fanny packs aren’t all that embarrassing (for once). Just don’t roll in with your bike attached to a car — cycle to the park or load your wheels onto a city bus — because burning fossil fuel en route to this event would be positively indecent.

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