Police shut down naked bike ride on Capitol Hill

Several naked bicyclists were stopped by police and told to cover up Friday night on Capitol Hill during a World Naked Bike Ride event.

Officers told the cyclists they were in violation of indecent exposure laws. The riders were ordered to get dressed or risk prosecution, according to bike ride organizers.

But the bicyclists themselves say they were merely exercising their First Amendment rights and were carrying out Seattle's longstanding naked cycling tradition.

Seattle is one of about 80 cities that joined in this year's World Naked Bike Ride, which is meant to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on the road, as well as celebrate cycling and the human body, organizers say.

The riders, which included both men and women, started at Denny Park on Friday, then rode through Belltown, downtown Seattle, Pioneer Square and the Westlake area before heading to the Capitol Hill Block Party.

Officers did not interfere with the naked cyclists until they reached Capitol Hill.

The riders were told later that there was no record of any citizen complaint leading to the police action and was most likely the result of an officer who was at Dick's Restaurant on Broadway observing the cyclists, said Daniel Johnson, one of the ride organizers.

"This is the first time I'm aware of where SPD has stopped naked cyclists in Seattle without evidence of even one citizen complaint", Johnson said.

He said officers told female bicyclists it is illegal to expose their nipples in public unless they are beastfeeding.

The bicyclists met later with Seattle Police Sgt. Jay Shin, who explained that all naked cycling events are illegal, and that riders are taking a gamble about getting arrested, Johnson said.

seattlepi.com

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