The Solstice Cyclists (also known as The Painted Cyclists of the Solstice Parade , or The Painted Cyclists ) is an artistic, non-political, clothing-optional bike ride celebrating the spirit of the Summer Solstice, and which constitutes an unofficial start for the Summer Solstice Parade & Pageant, an event produced by the Fremont Arts Council in the Fremont district of Seattle.
The loosely organized event was originally started by streakers who crashed the parade, but has changed over the years, as participants decided to emphasize bodypainting and other forms of creative artistry done in the spirit of the host event. The group is now the largest and fastest growing ensemble associated with the parade. The parade, which is put on by the Fremont Arts Council, starts at noon on the third Saturday in June (which is the Saturday before or on the actual Solstice); the painted cyclists typically arrive at around 11:45 a.m. and ride for a little over an hour.
Art bikes are also common during the event, and many different types of human-powered cycles have also been used including BMX bikes, cycle rickshaws, unicycles, clown bicycles, tall bikes, lowrider bicycles, tandem bicycles and tricycles. People have come from all over the country to ride, and all over the world to see the ensemble. Full and partial (especially topfree) nudity is popular, but not mandatory, on all rides.
While the cyclists open the parade by tradition, they are not officially in the parade line-up (with the exception of 2003 when they had a float). Despite this apparent disconnect, there is a considerable amount of collaboration between many local arts groups. Parade participants who want to be bodypainted are often referred to pre-ride bodypainting parties, and some of the cyclists also work in the FAC's Solstice Parade Workshop on their art bikes or on other parade entries.
Participants are expected to abide by the FAC's Parade rules that state "any printed communications, written words, recognizable logos, signage, leaf-letting, or advertising in any form are prohibited on the parade route."
In recent years the event includes three major components: a pre-ride bodypainting party (disclosed only to participants and potential riders), an extended party ride (often indirect) through the city, and then the parade itself starting at noon. Cyclists wishing to get involved in the group who haven't heard about the bodypainting party often meet up at the beginning of the parade route.
Controversy
The year 2001 and subsequent years were controversial for the naked cyclists, including several references to cyclists as "parade crashers". In 2001, police and parade organizers posted signs noting the laws against indecent exposure to warn cyclists of possible prosecution. Organizers claimed that the cyclists were getting in the way of the event's true hallmark: artistic freedom. An editorial that same day ( May 17 , 2001) in The Seattle Times echoed this sentiment: "They have stolen the spotlight on a parade that is supposed to be about art, not about being unclothed. Some Fremonters appear to resent that and do not want the nudists doing this. However, many welcome the cyclists. Neither of them want the cyclists wrestled to the pavement by police, spoiling the atmosphere of their parade."
Sentiments like the above frustrated the cyclists, who were at that time getting bodypainted. They also did not like being labeled nudists, as most of them were not.
History and media coverage
1992
1992 was the first year cyclists are said to have appeared in the fourth annual Solstice Parade. Most likely these were streakers.
1993
In 1993 there were 7-10 people in the Solstice Parade cycling naked, maybe three of whom were bodypainted. Reference to the second year of naked cyclists: "It could only happen in Fremont, said one of the coordinators, Barbara Luecke. Only such a rich artistic community could shake off the staid reserve from nearby Ballard to let loose with such creative energy and fun. ... Buck-naked cyclists who streaked the parade for the second year may have crossed the boundary of good taste (would that be Leary Way Northwest?). But one, at least, was wearing a helmet (proof that people in Seattle can get wild, but not too wild)."
1995
Eight naked men were reported to have cycled through the parade in the fourth year of the naked cyclists: "All the nudes: Overheard at the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday was a woman spectator commenting: "Oh, no. Not eight naked men on bicycles. I hate naked men on bicycles." A separate article about a week before the parade made reference to previous years with naked cyclists.
1997
In the sixth year of the naked cyclists, one fast-moving cyclist was reported to have hit a child, resulting in the Fremont Arts Council asking police to be present in 1998.
"Per tradition, there also were naked bicycle riders. They zoomed by so quickly it was hard to tell, um, the type of bike they were riding. 'I wish they had sort of stopped and waved,' said Blue Hesik Lan."
1998
The seventh year of the naked cyclists at the solstice marked the year when one of the ride's major organizers became involved in the ride for the first time, and was the only one bodypainted in a group of about six people. Two 28-year old naked parade cyclists were arrested who, according to police, "cut into the marching order" of the parade ensembles. Four police were involved in the effort. The city declined to file charges because, according to the city's prosecuting office: "in order to prove indecent exposure, it's necessary to show the person's intent was to be obscene and cause alarm." Also of note is the sightings of nude cyclists in the Capitol Hill neighborhood this year.
"Crowds booed when last year's naked riders were arrested and handcuffed."
"Bicyclists riding au naturel is nothing new to the quirky parade, which is known for participants in outlandish and sometimes risque costumes. But police say yesterday's arrests were made primarily for safety: The nude bicyclists typically dash quickly in and out of the parade audience."
"So, why is the only focus on the nude bikers? They were only a part of the parade for a few minutes. I did not see them."
1999
In the eighth year, a second-time rider (mentioned above) hosted a bodypainting party at her Wallingford residence in response to the previous year's pseudo arrests (nothing illegal here!) and friction between the Fremont Arts Council and the City of Seattle. Twenty-odd friends gathered to get painted and ride together to the parade, including a woman who wore a 3-buttcheek bodysuit costume rather than paint. Members of the Fremont Arts Council launched a spoof of the naked bicyclists as well. Wearing flesh-colored body suits with exaggerated body parts sewn on, they cycled down the parade route while two bicyclists pretending to be police officers gave chase. When the truly naked cyclists showed up, they blended right in with their Fremont Arts Council bodysuit imposters.
"And, of course, there were the infamous and crowd-pleasing nude bikers, a regular attraction eagerly awaited by the parade watchers. ... 'This is not authorized by the organizers,' said Steve Lynch, one of the volunteers responsible for safety and order during the event. 'But it's just for fun, so no interventions.'"
"Here in the self-anointed center of the universe, where the Waiting for the Interurban sculptures wear more clothing than the nude cyclists who grace the annual Solstice Parade, high-tech is moving in."
"Meanwhile, Hadrann says the scent of rebellion is in the air in Fremont - or maybe it's just another rumor. 'Some people in the community are going to get nude if he (Sidran) starts arresting the cyclists,' he says. ... 'First, there was 50, now there's like 100 people. . . . Who knows what kind of chain reaction this is going to bring.'" This article also includes Seattle Police Department Lt. Mark Kuehn's suggestions for safety for nude cyclists such as: "Refrain from trying out saddles in the nude, for obvious sanitary reasons. Hadrann suggests shoppers take along a few pairs of Chinese disposable underwear (made of paper) for saddle-buying expeditions."
- "The council decided this week against posting 'no nudity' signs for the neighborhood's arts parade, where two men were arrested for naked bike riding last year. Police had asked that the signs be
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