A campaigner is calling for naked bike rides to be banned in the UK after a nude cyclist was assaulted by a vigilante during an event in Colchester, Essex. The victim was taking part in the World Naked Bike Ride on August 9 when Lee Turnage rode up on a motorbike and punched him, causing him to fall and sustain a leg injury that continues to cause pain.
Turnage was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Ipswich Crown Court earlier this month. His lawyer argued that he did not realise the cyclists were part of an organised event and assumed they were 'perverts'.
The World Naked Bike Ride, which sees an estimated 10,000 participants globally each year, is described by organisers as a protest against car culture, a call for safer cycling, and a way to highlight environmental concerns. They also promote body positivity. Organisers state the event does not breach the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as public nudity is not an offence unless done with intent to cause alarm, harassment, or distress.
However, campaigner Emma Jane Taylor has started a petition calling for the London Naked Bike Ride to be banned, citing concerns over child protection and the normalisation of public nudity. The petition has garnered 415 signatures. Reform MP Lee Anderson also criticised the events, urging police not to ignore what he called 'flashers on bikes'.
Supporters of the ride defended it on LBC radio, with one participant stating it feels natural and another emphasising it is a protest against dangerous driving. The victim said the assault has severely impacted his mobility and sleep, adding that nothing like this had happened in his numerous previous rides.
