Why Don't We Do It in the Road?

I'm not sure how I missed this earlier, but tomorrow -- the official start of Bike to Work Week at the official end of a calendar week -- Chicago will kick off the week-long festivities with the World Naked Bike Ride (and skate!).


As the Chicago Reader points out, the ride is NOT sponsored by the city, and will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. at an undisclosed location. But if you're looking for the starting line, I'd advise you to take off your clothes, get on your bike and pick a direction. Some thoughtful Chicago resident will assuredly point you in the right direction. But please, be kind to your bike and put a towel on the saddle.

The event's official Web site is quick to point out that riders will be "celebrating freedom from oil and the beauty of people."I have seen some of these people (typically on non-bike related "amateur" Web sites) and I would debate the point that they are free from oil. And if I'm interpreting the slogan correctly, riders will also celebrate their freedom from "the beauty of people." This, on the other hand, I can readily confirm (based on the aforementioned Internet locales). While still on the topic, since "skating" is mentioned in the name of the event, I got to wondering if skateboarding is one of those things that "doesn't go with naked." But I digress...

Vote with Your Feet on Thursday ran a piece that also ran in Time Out Chicago on the topic of "Chicago's recent bike parking challenges." Just to clarify, this is an article about the difficulties of finding bike parking in Chicago, NOT an article about Chicago's "bike parking challenged," which is an entirely separate problem.


I was relieved that "locking your bike while naked" was not on the list. Nevertheless, this is yet another thing that "doesn't go with naked."

But what secretes patriotism and freedom more than riding your bike through the city unclothed? Well, now ytou can "ride in the footsteps of Chicago's favorite son, Barack Obama, and learn about the 44th American President's amazing journey to the White House." While conveniently ignoring the fact that our president is not a native Chicagoan and that several other places such as Hawaii, Kansas and Kenya already claim him as their favorite son, Bike and Roll Chicago is offering the Presidential Bike Tour & Trolley Pass. Included with your booking fee will be a bike, helmet, tour, museum ticket, and full-day trolley pass with the Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Company -- because nothing says "bike tour" like a full-day trolley pass. However, the helmet will come in handy, as I've seen many of those trolleys driving around our city.

Speaking of helmets, Chicago's "Helmet Lady," Kathy Schubert of Lincoln Park is back at it! Schubert, who has made it her personal mission to preach the practice of bicyclists wearing a helmet, is also quite an artist. Art? Absolutely. Plagiarism? You be the judge.


The bad news for Saturday is that accuweatherbugchannel.com says it's going to be a beautiful day with nary a cloud in the sky. The good new is that if you want to feel athletic without actually exerting yourself, you can drive on over to watch the Sherman Park Criterium, hosted by XXX Racing-AthletiCo.

And if you're planning to bike-bus-bike, it's critical that you first watch this instructional video, courtesy of the Transit Authority of River City (Louisville, Ky.). Use a bike rack, Kid.

Why can't Chicago get true star power like this behind PSA campaigns?

-TGOTB