Naked cyclists protest for bike-friendly streets

LIMA (AFP) -- Dozens of naked and half-naked cyclists rolled through Lima Saturday to press for more bike-friendly streets.

A few of the protesters stripped down completely for the 10-kilometer ride through Peru‘s capital.

The more modest peddlers wore underwear, while some wore masks of cartoon characters like Batman. Some riders also brought along a breed of hairless Peruvian dog.

The protesters were demanding bike lanes and better traffic lighting.

They said they also were trying to raise awareness of cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Nilton Lopez, head of a cycling group called Cicloaxion, said the idea behind their nakedness was to show that the human body is fragile compared to the chassis of a car.

“We are using nudity as a way to show that we are vulnerable,” Lopez said.