A very quick and easy train trip through to Manchester Oxford Road, and I wasn't *quite* the first there, and helped put up the cordon and signage, helping the organisers. I gave out loads of flyers for the York ride, and collected a few donations to help pay for the flyers. I talked to lots of people about the reasons we were doing the ride... to highlight cyclist vulnerability, the way the roads are dominated by car drivers who actually just own a car, NOT the road, and to celebrate how brilliant bikes and their riders are.
The park filled up, various people I know by name and more I just know
as 'fellow riders'. Then someone came up to me whom I haven't seen since
she was 12, Ruth,
when I was entertaining at the York Rally and she was an accomplished
unicyclist. It took me a moment to remember... but so glad to see her,
her first WNBR at 17 years old.
I got a slogan painted onto my back "It's Oil Over". Then I got naked.
And then the Ninth Manchester World Naked Bike Ride started, about 300 riders, a noisy colourful carnival: "a joyous occasion transmitting a deadly serious message" (to quote Emma James).
It was certainly joyous... the people of Manchester seem to love us and cheer and whistle. I saw no evidence whatsoever that anyone was unhappy to see us, or angry, no-one turning their backs on us (I've seen this just once in Manchester), and the motor vehicle drivers all took the protest in their stride, no aggression at all.
I got the 9.07 train back and had some good conversations.
I got a slogan painted onto my back "It's Oil Over". Then I got naked.
And then the Ninth Manchester World Naked Bike Ride started, about 300 riders, a noisy colourful carnival: "a joyous occasion transmitting a deadly serious message" (to quote Emma James).
It was certainly joyous... the people of Manchester seem to love us and cheer and whistle. I saw no evidence whatsoever that anyone was unhappy to see us, or angry, no-one turning their backs on us (I've seen this just once in Manchester), and the motor vehicle drivers all took the protest in their stride, no aggression at all.
I got the 9.07 train back and had some good conversations.
