A naked cyclist stops to talk to police officers before taking part in a protest in Vancouver on Saturday. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press) Hundreds of cyclists wearing nothing but sunblock stopped traffic in the west end of Vancouver Saturday as they protested the car culture.
Jessica Mason-Paull, organizer of the World Naked Bike Ride in Vancouver, said the event aims to bring attention to oil dependency.
The riders cycled along busy Robson Street, lined with high-end stores and packed with shoppers, then headed down to scenic English Bay.
"We usually go up Robson Street because that is the consumer capital of the city. Everybody is buying clothes there so we like to ride naked and then we usually end up at the beach because we get kind of sweaty," Mason-Paull said.
Traffic slowed to a crawl as the naked cyclists wove through the city's streets, garnering many dropped jaws and even a few whistles.
A handful of police officers were on hand to ensure the ride went smoothly.
"You've got people here with no protective clothing and no helmets so of course we are concerned about their safety," said Vancouver police Sgt. Brian Green.
Cyclists stripped down for similar rides in Montreal and Toronto, as well more than a dozen countries across the globe.
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