MADISON, Wis. -- More than 100 nude bikers took to the streets of downtown Madison Saturday morning for the annual World Naked Bike Ride.

cross-posted from: https://real.lemmy.fan/post/4305310

MADISON, Wis. – More than 100 nude bikers took to the streets of downtown Madison Saturday morning for the annual World Naked Bike Ride.

“I think there’s a sense of defiance, you know,” said long-time participant Nicholas Wootten. “We wanted to really make a statement that we’re back.”

Last year, the ride was thrown into controversy after a 10-year-old girl participated nude. The Wisconsin State Legislature took up bills aimed at stopping the event, but after they died at the end of the last legislative session, the ride is back in full swing.

Dane County Supervisor Jeff Weigand was one of the first to raise concerns after the child participated last year. He says he believes the laws currently on the books should already prevent events like this.

“There has been enforcement of the state statutes in the past, however different leadership comes in and then they tell police departments not to take action,” Weigand said. “As a father of five and a former Dane County foster parent, I can especially tell you that children should not be permitted to take part or witness this type of event. The innocence of children is special, and as adults, we need to protect that innocence. The participants are actually taking away my freedoms because I can’t bring my kids downtown Madison anymore, and if I do, I have to be very, very careful.”

The Dane County District Attorney and the Madison Police Department both declined to take action after the child took part saying the laws Weigand is referring to did not apply in this case.

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There are many reasons why people choose to ride nude with hundreds of others. Some participate in protest of oil usage, others to promote body positivity. Buchweitz says part of it for him is about biker safety.

  • @HappycamperNZ
    11•5 months ago

    Its consenting adults, let them do their thing.

    after a 10 year old girl participated

    Well, now it is controversial. Are we “teach not to stare” or positivity gone to far? Don’t blame the victim, but don’t jump in the bear cage either.

    • @[email protected]English
      12•5 months ago

      Is it that controversial? Kids run around naked all the time. The idea of this bike ride is that people can be naked just for the hell of it, without being sexually objectified. Banning kids from it would fly in the face of that.

      When that 10-year-old grows up I imagine they’ll be quite proud that they made a bunch of stuffy town councillors bust a blood vessel just by riding a bike around naked.

    • @[email protected]
      9•5 months ago

      Families go to nude beaches and resorts, and it’s not a big deal. If it’s your first time going to a nude beach or something, it can be nerve-wracking for the first 15 minutes. For most people there, it’s a Tuesday, and they are busy reading a book or doing the crossword.

      People just blend into the background like any other beach!

    • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPMEnglish
      6•5 months ago

      It’s an interesting one - I arrive at a news story like this ready to make saddle bag and bicycle seat jokes and am left contemplating Original Sin.

      Kids get naked and run round on the beach and elsewhere - should we make them feel shame for it? My cousin’s grandson gets naked at the drop of a hat, which is a bit of a surprise the first few times but, after that, you just roll with it. Now if my cousin started doing that, then we might worry about her.

  • @[email protected]
    7•5 months ago

    Nudity isn’t inherently sexual. The idea that children should never see non-sexual nudity is… Well, it’s a great way to instill a lot of body shame in kids (and later adults). So I guess if that’s your game…?

    • @[email protected]
      2•5 months ago

      I agree with this. You may not want to see other people naked but it’s not necessarily gross or sexual in any way. Hell anybody with kids knows that up until a certain age they’re bound to see you naked you just can’t help it not if you want to keep your kid alive

  • @[email protected]English
    3•5 months ago

    When I click on the link I get this

    "451: Unavailable due to legal reasons

    We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time. For any issues, contact [email protected] or call 608-271-4321."

    Does that mean they don’t give the opt-out cookie usage prompt and therefore sticking tracking cookies on users PC?

    • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPMEnglish
      2•5 months ago

      Weird - it didn’t do that to me earlier. I used to run across quite a few like that because they didn’t want to abide by EU laws, but it hasn’t been so bad recently.