Baring all to bring attention to alternative travel

"As bare as you dare" is the theme Saturday in St. Louis for the city's first World Naked Bike Ride. The ride is an effort by some bicyclists to protest oil dependency and to show their support by "stripping" themselves of -- at least some of -- their clothes.

"By stripping off some layers, rejecting body shame and taking over streets with our bicycles, we are protesting a way of life we feel needs to be changed," said Stephanie Co, a co-coordinator of the ride.

Since the first naked ride in 2001 in Zaragoza, Spain, the ride has been held in the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, Canada and England, to name a few. Co said St. Louis' ride is the only one she knows of taking place Saturday, almost two months after the Northern Hemisphere ride that took place in early June.

Naked Bike Ride focuses more on the daily use of personal vehicles, not long trips that require the use of a car and oil. The ride in St. Louis is about showing people an alternative form of transportation within a city, she said.

"We're trying to conserve it in regular day life," Co said.

Co said the event is free and open to people of all ages. She said she's hoping for 50 to 100 people to attend the ride, which will begin at 9 p.m. at Tower Grove Park and end at Lafayette Square. Co said event organizers were thinking the weather would be better at night.

The 15-mile route should last about two hours.

For more information e-mail nakedbikestl@gmail.com or visit nakedbikestl.blogspot.com.