DOZENS of cyclists are expected to bare all for a bike ride around York this weekend.

The 2018 York World Naked Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, June 23, leaving Millennium Bridge at 4.30pm, and will cover an 8.4-mile route around the city, including the city centre, in about two hours.

John Cossham is one of the organisers, and said it was important for the public to realise the reasons behind the clothing-optional ride.

He said: “It’s not an event, it’s a protest.

“Our message is to draw attention to the fact we’re very vulnerable. We don’t wear leathers and crash helmets on the bike and when we collide with a 2.5 tonne truck, we’re coming off worse. Some of us wear a helmet on our heads and that may protect against low-speed collisions or just falling off, but it won’t protect you against high-speed collisions.”

Mr Cossham said the protest was aimed at raising awareness of the vulnerability of cyclists on the UK’s roads, but also to promote sustainable, green travel, and encouraged anyone interested in taking part to get involved.

He said: “If anyone can’t come on the ride or is a bit afraid of it, you can come clothed; it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing.

“It’s a slow ride and we will have stewards who know the route. North Yorkshire Police, as they always have done, will help us get through certain junctions or roundabouts.”

Mr Cossham said he expected up to 100 cyclists to take part in the ride, which will also include a body-painting station ahead of the start, and said the reaction from most people in the city was usually quite positive.

He said: “The vast majority of people in York cheer, clap and laugh. They think it’s great. A lot of them don’t understand the serious issues behind it, think it’s for charity, a bet or a dare, but actually it’s a deadly serious issue we’re raising awareness of.

“The human body isn’t offensive, we’re not doing anything immoral, sexual or illegal, we’re just making a point and we do it for two hours once a year. This isn’t something to get up in arms about. We should be protesting when a cyclist gets knocked off their bike, injured or killed.”

For more information go to facebook.com/groups/york.wnbr/about/