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Buff Bikers Hit Burlington

Burlington, Vermont - June 10, 2006

They expected 100 participants, but the organizers of a naked bike ride Saturday in Burlington say the weather meant only about 40 showed up.

The demonstration was aimed at encouraging people to curb their cars.

It was Goosebumps galore as 40 naked bicyclists braved rain and temperatures hovering around fifty degrees. World Naked Bike Ride Day is an international event. From Australia to England to Brazil, and several cities in the U.S. This is the second year Burlington bikers have taken part.

"It's all about getting people to reduce their dependency on oil and use their bicycles and bodies more," said Michael Nedell, a local organizer.

The riders took off at five o'clock.  A few spectators gathered, not to strip down, but just to check out the sights.

"The main organizers said that the best way to get attention is to light yourself on fire, or go naked, and no one wanted to light themselves on fire," said Nedell.

This type of protest may be strange, but it's totally legal. Police and Vermont's Attorney General say there are no laws on the books that prevent nude rallies.

Jack Thurston - Channel 3 News