PICTURES: Worthing's first naked bike ride is '˜overwhelming success'

The ride took place on Saturday, with more than 50 riders in various states of undress cycling along the seafront and through Worthing’s town centre.

It was organised to protest against a lack of safety measures for cyclists using Worthing’s roads, and to highlight the accident hotspots.

Business owner Adam Seaman co-organised the ride. He said: “I’m pleased to say it was an overwhelming success. There was great support for it from the public – a brief look on our Facebook page shows there was a positive response.

“Where there’s been anything relating to concerns of children seeing naked flesh, it has come from the adults – children haven’t been imprinted with shame for their bodies.”

He added that about 70 per cent of riders were naked, and that the ‘as bare as you dare’ ethic reflected the vulnerability of cyclists on the road.

“This was about celebrating bodies, not a sexual display; the two are separate things.”

According to Adam, the route of the ride had been published months in advance so that those who didn’t agree with it could avoid the riders.

He also praised Worthing’s police force for their support during the ride and for their advice in the planning stages of the event.

In the coming months the organisers of the bike ride will put together a petition to West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council to improve cycle routes in the town.

Plans are also underway for a similar ride next year.

Adam said: “This wasn’t a splash in the ocean; this is something we want to grow.

“The organisers want to thank everyone who has helped and all the brilliant souls who turned up for the ride. We look forward to getting their feedback and feedback from members of the public to make next year’s ride even bigger and better.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.worthingherald.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Worthing.news

3) Follow us on Twitter @Worthing_Herald

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Worthing Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.