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World Naked Bike Ride returns to Madison despite controversy

Braden Ross 3 hrs ago

MADISON, Wis. -- More than 100 nude bikers took to the streets of downtown Madison Saturday morning for the annual World Naked Bike Ride.

"I think there's a sense of defiance, you know," said long-time participant Nicholas Wootten. "We wanted to really make a statement that we're back."

Last year, the ride was thrown into controversy after a 10-year-old girl participated nude. The Wisconsin State Legislature took up bills aimed at stopping the event, but after they died at the end of the last legislative session, the ride is back in full swing.

Dane County Supervisor Jeff Weigand was one of the first to raise concerns after the child participated last year. He says he believes the laws currently on the books should already prevent events like this.

"There has been enforcement of the state statutes in the past, however different leadership comes in and then they tell police departments not to take action," Weigand said. "As a father of five and a former Dane County foster parent, I can especially tell you that children should not be permitted to take part or witness this type of event. The innocence of children is special, and as adults, we need to protect that innocence. The participants are actually taking away my freedoms because I can't bring my kids downtown Madison anymore, and if I do, I have to be very, very careful."

The Dane County District Attorney and the Madison Police Department both declined to take action after the child took part saying the laws Weigand is referring to did not apply in this case.

"We're just trying to, you know, have a fun community event out here," said participant and bike commuter Mark Buchweitz. "Look at it in a positive light. Try to see the good in the thing instead of always looking for the negative."

There are many reasons why people choose to ride nude with hundreds of others. Some participate in protest of oil usage, others to promote body positivity. Buchweitz says part of it for him is about biker safety.

"It's to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on the road, kind of saying, 'Hey, what do we have to do to be seen? Get naked? Okay," Buchweitz said. "You might see, every once in a while, what they call ghost bikes, which are these white painted bikes. That's a spot where a cyclist has been killed on the roads, and there's far too many of those across our country."

Wootten is a self-proclaimed nudist and says he participates in the World Naked Bike Ride every year to normalize the human body.

"I believe, I think most of us do, that [the body] is something that should be tolerated and appreciated and enjoyed, and that everyone's body, no matter how old they are, or what color the skin is or, you know, whether it's fat, thin whatever, it's a beautiful thing to have out there," Wootten said. "One of the things that I love about the ride is seeing families out there with parents with their kids saying, 'Hey, look at the naked riders. Wave at the naked riders,' things like that. The ones that are doing that are sending their children very important message that this is not weird, this is not strange."

Biker Holly McEntee has been riding in the World Naked Bike Ride since 2016.

"I'm very surprised that I do this event, honestly," McEntee said. "But it puts everything in perspective, right? If you have ridden naked through the city, everything else is easy."

She says for her, it's about empowerment for herself and others.

"One of the reasons I started doing the ride is because I had a breast cancer diagnosis," she said. "I'm cancer free now, and that's great, but it really caused me to rethink my relationship with my body. I have thought a long time about the negative messaging that, especially women, get."

Ultimately, many of the riders say children participating isn't an issue for them.

"I did testify in front of the assembly committee last year against the bills," McEntee said. "The child participant was one of the happiest kids I've ever seen in my life. Every girl, especially, but all of us, all the little boys, too, should be comfortable, should be proud, happy, not embarrassed."