Organizers of an upcoming nude bike ride in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are telling participants they must wear a mask in order to join, The Associated Press reported.
Riders in the annual Philly Naked Bike Ride on Aug. 28 will be required to wear a face mask in accordance with the city’s earlier COVID-19 policies, according to the AP.
Philadelphia lifted many of its COVID-19 restrictions due to rising rates of vaccinations and dropping infections. However, organizers have yet to review the new COVID-19 policies, so the Philly Naked Bike Ride organizers have decided “to stick with our initial mask guidance” for the time being, the AP reported.
The Philly Naked Bike Ride is a 10-mile ride along a course through the city. The route features prominent landmarks, such as Independence Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps where fictional boxer Rocky Balboa famously ran, according to the AP. (RELATED: Minnesota Police Use Drones To Catch Nudists On Beach)
The #PhillyNakedBikeRide just went around Rittenhouse Square. #pnbr #pnbr2017 #pnbr17 #whyilovephilly pic.twitter.com/HA9k4T6Ijp
— Jim MacMillan (@JimMacMillan) September 9, 2017
Every year, large groups of bike riders strip down and paint each other before embarking on the 10-mile ride that aims to promote body positivity, environmentalism and cyclist safety, the group’s website says.
OK with this promo, so clever Philly Naked Bike Ride happening this year 8/28/2021 https://t.co/aGjZGXD2Bz pic.twitter.com/7tmz747bRy
— PhillyChitChat (@HughE_Dillon) June 7, 2021
Last year, the Philly Naked Bike Ride was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision which organizers said was “the most responsible thing to do,” according to the AP.
New promotional material posted by the group for the upcoming race features a hermaphrodite teddy bear with vegetables forming its breasts and male genitalia wearing a mask. The group’s website also “highly recommend[s]” participants to wear a helmet, but does not seem to mandate it.
The Philly Naked Bike Ride organizers could decide to change their mask requirement. Wesley Noonan-Sessa, the ride’s lead organizer, said they’re monitoring what the city says in the next month, the AP reported.