Two opposing protest groups had their attentions diverted by a smiling group of nude cyclists in a bizarrely Bristol moment this afternoon. The naked or half-dressed riders were taking part in the World Naked Bike Ride, which took them on a tour of the city as they rode to raise awareness of the dangers and vulnerability cyclists face.
They started off at 12.30pm today (Sunday, June 19) from the aptly-named meeting point of the Full Moon pub on Stokes Croft, riding along busy routes including Bond Street, Hotwell Road, along the harbourside and on the Bearpit. They stopped for naked dancing to drums at the Castle Park bandstand at one point before resuming their journey.
The naked bike rides have been happening since 2004, although there have not been any since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and they now take place in over 50 cities with thousands of people getting involved. Today's bike ride is also part of a campaign against oil dependency.
Read more: Trans rights activists stage counter-protest in Bristol
Their route took them past College Green at about 2.30pm, where protesters were gathered for entirely unrelated reasons. A group called Standing For Women had organised a demonstration in the city centre, which prompted calls of a counter-protest by trans rights activists who labelled the group's views "transphobic".
Both groups began to gather at midday and although their actions were peaceful, there was some rival chanting, booing and a police presence as they each tried to make their voices heard. Cue the cyclists, who unwittingly whizzed past and eased any tension.
Bristol Live reporter Tristan Cork said: "The naked people on bicycles just rode past in between the two demos and the entrance to the cathedral, smiling and waving at everyone who was cheering them." It happened while some of the Standing for Women protesters were giving speeches.
Some of the activists at College Green ran over and applauded and cheered as the bike ride passed, with people on both sides seen scrambling for their camera phones to document the moment - the cyclists to film the cheering protesters and the protesters to film the nude riders. One witness, Beverley, tweeted: "Comedy gold at the @StandingforXX rally as Bristol’s naked cyclists go by."
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