This weekend, the 2025 edition of the World Naked Bike Ride took place in Guadalajara, the largest international cycling event, held in more than 70 cities around the world.
The purpose of this ride is to protest against excessive car use, dependence on hydrocarbons, and demand respect for cyclists’ rights.
Why is the demonstration taking place naked?
Karla Méndez, organizer of the demonstration in Guadalajara, explained why the ride includes the naked bodies of the participants.
“The main reason we’re holding the ride is to make ourselves visible as cyclists, to ensure our rights are respected, and this is our way of making it visible so that people realize that we are all here, that there are so many of us here in Guadalajara, that we need an end to the road violence that occurs daily,” she explained.
The ride started from the Raúl Anguiano Art Museum (MURA) and traveled along main avenues such as Niños Héroes, Revolución, Javier Mina, Juárez, Vallarta, López Mateos, and Mariano Otero, among others.
Where did this type of protest originate?
The event, which began in 2004 in the Spanish city of Zaragoza and was later replicated in Canada, brought together cyclists covered in body paint, in their underwear, or completely naked, as a striking and symbolic way to raise awareness of their cause for the fifteenth consecutive year in Guadalajara.
Miguel, one of the participants, who has been part of the movement for 15 years, will retire after this edition, but is confident that the organization of the demonstration will be in good hands.
“There have been tears of impact from absences. There are people who are no longer with us. Here in Guadalajara, I wasn’t fortunate enough to see all the editions, but it’s been very moving because we’re already friends. People come and say hello, ‘What’s up next year?’ and we continue pedaling for the same cause. I’m retiring, but a whole, very good team remains. It’s been a very pleasant experience,” he said, moved.
This year, the messages also focused on the gender perspective, highlighting the harassment many female cyclists experience on the streets.
Source: milenio
