Last July, cyclists in Vancouver rode along the seawall in Stanley Park to protest the car culture and oil dependency. Last July, cyclists in Vancouver rode along the seawall in Stanley Park to protest the car culture and oil dependency. (CP PHOTO/Richard Lam)The Manitoba legislative grounds could be the site of a cheeky protest Friday afternoon — the World Naked Bike Ride.

The ride, which is taking place this year in some 70 cities worldwide, is branded as a way to "protest against car culture" and "demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on the road."

Local organizer Sierra Sawatzky sees the ride as a chance to protest society's dependence on the oil industry — but it could get more attention from onlookers and police.

Sawatzky said she was bitten by the activist bug while travelling across Canada with Katimavik, a national volunteer-service program for youth. She wanted to put her new leadership skills to work, she said.

"I knew I had to do something as soon as I got home or else I'd get bored," she told CBC News on Friday.

In looking for something to do, she looked up the World Naked Bike Ride on the internet and decided to organize a local ride.

"People need to know that they can't be trapped in this sort of a culture," Sawatzky said, "so I'm protesting oil dependency and celebrating the fact that I'm able to take myself where I want to go without that sort of industry."

Sawatzky doesn't believe her group will run into any legal issues.

Nudity and the law

According to the Criminal Code, anyone who is "nude in a public place" or "nude and exposed to public view while on private property, whether or not the property is his own," is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

A person is considered nude if they are "so clad as to offend against public decency or order."

"I checked out the legalities and as long as it's sort of a controlled event and we're all wearing at least one article of clothing, like shoes, it's still legal," she said.

"I'm really not concerned. I mean, what am I really doing that's wrong? It shouldn't be an issue."

A Winnipeg police spokesman said it is, in fact, illegal under the Criminal Code to be naked in public without a "lawful excuse."

However, Const. Pat Chabidon said police were unlikely to arrest anyone unless they received complaints, or if the unclad group caused a disturbance.

"Better find a place to bring your wallet or at least some identification, if the police do have to deal with you," he quipped.

Sawatzky said she initially figured only two people would show up at the event, scheduled to get underway at 5:30 CT.

But based on the e-mail responses she has received and from a posting on the social networking website Facebook, she now believes the number could be closer to 30 —depending on the weather.

Sawatzky has planned a circular, 23-kilometre route that begins and ends at the legislature.

The rush-hour jaunt includes several busy streets, including Broadway, Donald Street, Corydon Avenue, Academy Road, Kenaston Boulevard and Portage Avenue.