Mainstream television media coverage can be seen here:
video.nbc5.com/player/

On Saturday, June 9th at approximately 9pm, hundreds of nude bicyclists took the streets for a critical mass unlike any other. The Fourth Annual World Naked Bike Ride took Chicago by storm. Bare bodies were scrawled with political messages including "less gas, more ass". Many bikers passed out 20,000 fliers calling the ride an effort to raise awareness about the lack of protection bike riders have on city streets. But it seemed most riders took part simply to bare all and have a good time in a liberatory environment.

At around 10:30, with the atmosphere celebratory, a count of riders was taken and placed at 600-700 people. Some pedestrians and car drivers gawked, some cheered, some respectfully looked the other way. Police were supportive through most of the ride, blocking traffic and cheering on the bikers, never threatening anyone with arrest. The driver of one EMS vehicle, after being stopped by the ride, jumped out of his front seat and snapped pictures with his camera phone and proceeded to follow the ride for a short while, blocking side streets.

Three tense moments occurred. One was caused when a number of police officers ordered the ride to proceed after it had completely surrounded a small park, continuing to circle it for a number of minutes. The second was when two fire trucks showed up from different directions on the same narrow block that the ride was on. The fire trucks were able to reach their destination after riders moved to the side. Another tense moment occurred during the start of the ride when an angry driver plowed through the mass, hitting 5 riders before tearing through oncoming traffic in a hit and run situation. There were no injuries. If anyone has more information, photos, or video, about this driver, please post it on indymedia.

By 1:30 am, with the temperature dropping to 65°, numbers dwindled to a couple hundred. After riding over 22 miles, visiting many neighborhoods, NBC studios, and Oprah Winfrey's studio, many riders left for an afterparty. Organizers declared the World Naked Bike Ride had been a huge success. Although capitalism had not been destroyed, and car culture has continued to dominate city streets, many riders gained new self-confidence, effectively challenging mainstream ideas of beauty and public space.

See you in the streets.