Day 175 of #LiveWell2017

Today in Portland, no less than five naked bike rides are scheduled, including the World Naked Bike Ride that rolls at 9:00 PM tonight. These organized bike rides are symbols of the ultimate freedom we have in this country – to be able to express our ourselves freely and openly in public.

The World Naked Bike Ride is a protest ride. A ride promoting cycling and celebrating the power and individuality of the human body , but also protesting dependence on fossil fuels and bringing to light the vulnerability of cyclists and pedestrians who share the streets with automobile traffic and are exposed to danger and pollution.

Just this week, a 26-year old business woman was struck by a hit-and-run driver as she walked across a street in the Montavilla neighborhood in Portland. She is fighting for her life, and there is no one to charge for her injuries, because they fled the scene by car. Too often, bicyclists In the current political climate, where those in power seem hell-bent on revitalizing the fossil fuel industry to the detriment of our climate, our health, and our economy, today’s naked bike rides seem particularly appropriate and necessary to draw attention to both the vulnerability and power of bicycling.

Today, I am grateful that we still have the freedom to express ourselves in so many creative ways in this country. It is a freedom worth fighting for and one we should each use every day to make the world a safer, healthier, more sustainable place for all. Of course, you don’t have to ride your bike naked to express yourself, but wouldn’t you love to try it just once?

Happy biking.

Here’s to freedom of expression!