Last June, I happened to be walking across Vancouver’s Granville Island, when a parade passed by — a whooping, shrieking, cheering procession of bicyclists, all in various states of undress.

Some were sporting bras and panties, others were topless, and many were wearing only riotously colorful body paint. One rider was nude except for a pair of elbow-length gloves, and many cyclists were simply…naked.

I had unwittingly crossed paths with the World Naked Bike Ride.

If you’re in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Victoria, or Halifax on June 13, you, too, may cross paths with these naked cyclists. This year’s naked cycle takes place on June 13 in scores of cities across the Northern Hemisphere

What’s the purpose of riding naked? The World Naked Bike Ride organizers say it’s to “stop indecent exposure to vehicle emissions” and to “to celebrate cycling and the human body. The ride demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and is a protest against oil dependency.”

Whether or not you support the objectives of the naked cyclists, or whether you’d consider taking part yourself, one question you may ask is: Is it legal to ride a bike naked in Canada?

According to the Federation of Canadian Naturists, Canadian women — and men — are allowed to be topless in public places. And the Toronto Naked Bike Ride folks say, “The Crown has acknowledged that participating in an orderly event naked is not illegal, so long as you are wearing something, such as shoes.”

Shoes?

Anyway, if you prefer to be naked on the sand than in the saddle, two of Canada’s best-known nude beaches are Wreck Beach in Vancouver and Hanlan’s Point Beach in Toronto. Just don’t forget the sunblock.

Photo by One-Fat-Man (flickr)