Sooner in Tampa
6/12/2006, 06:10 AM
Stillwater, OK (Reuters) - Hundreds of nude cyclists pedaled around the city of Stillwater on Saturday to protest against car-clogged streets and demand greater respect for pollution-free transport.
With slogans like "one car less" and "bio methanol" painted on their backs, the naked cyclists staged Stillwater's third annual Ciclonudista or "Nudecycle" in Madrid, Barcelona and Oklahoma.
The protest was part of world-wide naked bike riding events on Saturday across Europe, North America and South America.
"We feel naked when up against traffic because people don't see the bicycle as just another means of transport," said Tulsa cyclist Bikerfox, wearing only a cycle helmet and shoes. :(
Towing cardboard cars with gaping jaws, protesters said the rapid rise of automobile ownership in Stillwater was turning city streets into ever more hostile and dangerous cycling territory.
Organizers said the bicycle was a healthy and efficient form of urban transport that is largely ignored by Stillwater drivers and city planners.
Central Oklahoma has few bike paths and cyclists are a rarity on its streets. Norman has the most bike paths of any Oklahoma city, according to cycling activists.
Per capita car ownership has rocketed in Stillwater after a decade of strong agricultural growth.
The REAL story (http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-06-10T184014Z_01_L1075648_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPAIN-PROTEST-NUDE.xml&src=rss). :)
With slogans like "one car less" and "bio methanol" painted on their backs, the naked cyclists staged Stillwater's third annual Ciclonudista or "Nudecycle" in Madrid, Barcelona and Oklahoma.
The protest was part of world-wide naked bike riding events on Saturday across Europe, North America and South America.
"We feel naked when up against traffic because people don't see the bicycle as just another means of transport," said Tulsa cyclist Bikerfox, wearing only a cycle helmet and shoes. :(
Towing cardboard cars with gaping jaws, protesters said the rapid rise of automobile ownership in Stillwater was turning city streets into ever more hostile and dangerous cycling territory.
Organizers said the bicycle was a healthy and efficient form of urban transport that is largely ignored by Stillwater drivers and city planners.
Central Oklahoma has few bike paths and cyclists are a rarity on its streets. Norman has the most bike paths of any Oklahoma city, according to cycling activists.
Per capita car ownership has rocketed in Stillwater after a decade of strong agricultural growth.
The REAL story (http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-06-10T184014Z_01_L1075648_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPAIN-PROTEST-NUDE.xml&src=rss). :)