The (London) Naked Bike Ride doesn’t feel safe, and nor does keeping silent about it. For lots of reasons - including the grey area of “exposure” law and child protection I believe it should be banned as a public event. In the meantime, and at the very least, there should be significant and improved safeguarding. 

The Government should be united on this action for the future safeguarding of children. We need the Government to sensibly act on safeguarding children - and by that, I mean by not allowing a public event where people expose themselves. I do not just mean those cycling the route, I mean those who look like they should be 'taking part' but who are simply standing around. There is no marshalling on every stretch. I have seen videos and photos, enough for me to want to set up a campaign against it. 

Once a year we let adults roam naked around our streets for a bike ride that is campaigning against car culture - or something like that - no-one seems to know! The police cheer them on. Some male participants have been seen to be aroused. There are no specifics or demographics to who gets naked, anyone can join, and they do - and in fact this event is not just in the UK, it is everywhere around the world! I can't get my head around it - where do the naked participants grab their coffee, water, toilet break, snack - where is the risk assessment for this public activity, with the focus on childrens safeguarding? 

Be certain the naked bike riders will be coming to your town next - and they have a green card to do so. How does that make you feel?

Children need us to do better in the 21st Century - and they need us to help them understand what is acceptable and what isn't, and when it comes to safeguarding they need to be educated on what will help them manage potential situations that could leave them wide open to being groomed and abused. Desensitising children with nakedness once or twice a year around towns and cities isn't it, FACT. The more society allow this activity, the more it becomes normal - and it really isn't.

I am happy to be called a prude/ Karen/ Whitehouse or snowflake if that helps you, but I sleep better knowing I have shared my thoughts on this event, and should anything sinister happen - because (trust me) there will be more sinister happenings sadly, I will know I have tried.

Did you know that in the UK indecent exposure is only illegal if the person exposing 'meant' to cause offence. Even worse is that tick box is answered by the offender, not victim. What about those offended by public nudity? Does their opinion not count? Where is their tick box on this conversation? 

The Met Police help to organise the Naked Bike Ride event in London. Make what you want of this. 

Many families contacted me after the last event with their concerns, with one family saying they had come face to face with an aroused bike rider - stood with his bike at the side of the road. They weren't sure whether this was even a participant of the event, making me query the event and its future in public spaces. As the event grows it could or will lead to further difficulties around child protection & safeguarding. Why take that risk where children are concerned? 

Normalising naked public events simply desensitises developing children to exposure and risks; confusing them when it comes to understanding what is right / acceptable / who to trust. Children's brains aren't developed until late teens, early 20's (some professionals say even early 30's).

Protecting children in a world where predators exist, by focusing on children's future welfare is of great importance to the world. These events add no value to that conversation and the hidden in plain sight message.

As a campaigner against child abuse, I have devoted my spare time to a cause that is close to my heart; safeguarding young people. I know what being a vulnerable child looks like in situations where adults inflict their dark side. For this reason, I know that not everything is as innocent as it seems, and therefore challenge conversations across the world to make people wake-up and think differently about events such as these - the Naked Bike Ride. 

Children need us to do better; this event is not it. 

In my opinion, there is no room for organised public exposure events on any day of the year. As an adult I don't want to see it either. I will listen to constructive comments on this subject, and very happy to debate with proper voices wanting to be civil in that respect - but I doubt you will change my mind.

This event has creeped easily and slowly into society without anyone really knowing about it, but it now needs to creep out quickly.

I did not start the campaign because I am opposed to nudity, far from it - I understand the importance of body empowerment, but there are places for nudity and it is not on the streets or through children's play parks. 

I started this petition because I’ve seen the pictures, the videos, the conversations - all leading to serious safeguarding risks for children.

For those of you thinking this event is a bit of fun -> please note our idea of fun differs greatly, and because of this I suspect our views on safeguarding children does also!

Thank you to all the naturists coming forward. It’s been really empowering to hear your views on body freedom and empowerment, and to learn that the Naked Bike Ride event doesn’t appeal to you either - because of the safeguarding risks I’ve raised. 

I have also spoken to many cyclists, none have told me they would do this event - or that they support it. Like me they feel there are better ways to raise awareness. 

*If you have morals around safeguarding children, please sign the link in thread and share with your friends, thank you.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON CAMPAIGNER, EMMA JANE TAYLOR

• Emma Jane is the Author of Don't Hold Back, published in 2018.
• She is the creator of the #NotMyShame campaign & Founder of Project 90-10 Charity, an educational programme designed for safeguarding leads, with the focus of protecting children. 
• In 2025 she was recognised in Parliament for the campaigning and work she has be doing around the hidden in plain sight message aka the 90-10 stat. To give context to this statistic. It is widely known and reported that a staggering 90% of children being abused, are being abused by people they know. Stranger danger - whilst still important - attributes to 10% of CSA cases.

The Naked Bike Ride by Emma Jane Taylor

#stopthenakedbikeridefrombeinginpublicspaces