Philly Naked Bike Ride 2021: clothes off, masks on (PHOTOS)

Hundreds of naked — or partially clothed — people paraded through the streets of Philadelphia for the Philly Naked Bike Ride Saturday evening. But this year due to COVID-19, many people donned masks as they rode their bikes, skateboards, or rollerblades around the City of Brotherly Love.

With last year’s event canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, event organizers were ready to adapt to any potential hiccups in order to host the ride this year. When Philadelphia announced a new mask mandate in mid-August, they adjusted quickly to the news and announced that masks would be required for the safety of volunteers and participants.

“If you haven’t already heard... Philly is masking up, and so are we!” PNBR organizers posted on their Facebook page.

And as a precursor to those who would say, “But I’m vaccinated, I don’t need a mask,” organizers noted that they don’t have the resources to verify the vaccination status of hundreds, possibly more than a thousand, riders.

“We do this to lead fun #naked bike rides, not check medical cards,” the Facebook post continued. “The Street Team has been working hard for weeks to come up with a fun route; we’re visiting spots we haven’t seen in several years, we want this year to be success! #maskup.”

This year’s 12.3-mile route — organizers change it each year — began at Glendinning Rock Garden and took the participants past famous Philly landmarks such as the Art Museum, Rittenhouse Square, City Hall, Independence Mall and Chinatown, ending at Matthias Baldwin Park. The ride took a little more than two hours to complete.

This is a “bare as you dare” event — you do not have to be completely nude to participate. Masks aren’t the only safety suggestion; shoes are recommended as well. Many riders cover parts of their body with paint or stickers, or ride wearing underwear or bikinis.

Organizers said the purpose of the event is to promote body positivity and advocacy for cycling as major transport as well as safety concerns of bicyclists and pedestrians, while focusing on the world’s dependence on oil.

Similar rides have taken place across more than 70 cities in the U.S. and 20 countries, according to WorldNakedBikeRide.org.

For more photos of this year’s Philly Naked Bike Ride, click on the gallery below.

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Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Lori on Instagram at @photog_lori.