Naked Bike Ride to take place in York on June 12

THE fourth Naked Bike Ride through the streets of York will take place next week with the promise of a “carnival atmosphere”.

The city will join Brighton, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton in hosting one of the rides, where people are encouraged to turn up with their bike and little else.

The increasingly-popular annual event is, according to organisers, “a powerful symbol of cyclists’ vulnerability on the road as well as being a cheeky reminder that you don’t need a big carbon footprint to get around”.

Among the demands of the York eco-riders are an end to oil dependency, a ban on car advertising and the glamorisation of driving, and safer cycling for all, particularly on York’s narrow streets.

Hugh Dower, 57, has taken part in the three previous naked bike rides and will be hoping for warm weather when he sets off once again next Friday, wearing “nothing but his sandals”.

“This is to highlight the fact that cyclists are road users too, and we have a greater moral right to use the road than car users because they are causing all sorts of problems for the environment,” he said.

Looking forward to the ride, he said: “The reaction from people who see us is smiles and cheers. It’s a great feeling. Luckily, we have had the weather for it and hopefully that will be the case next week.”

The ride takes place at 6pm on Friday, June 12, departing from Museum Gardens at 6pm.

Those taking part will head from Museum Gardens to Bootham and on to Clifton Green before cycling along the River Ouse, back in to the city centre and on to the Millennium Cycle Bridge.

It will finish back at Museum Gardens.