Another point in Portland's favor:

[urbpan]

A judge has cleared a naked bicyclist of criminal charges because "naked cycling" in Portland is an "established tradition."  That helps me answer the question of what to wear while bicycling in all that rain...

As a semi-serious aside, Bobby Hammond was about the least coherent advocate for his cause that I could imagine, at least in his NPR interview.  Come on kid, you've had time to think about this!  Put together a lucid answer or two!

Comments

[candent.livejournal.com]

Good job to the camerawoman: she was clear about her intentions and held the police accountable for their actions.

I know that the OR constitution says that it's legal to be naked in public, as long as there's no sexual intention. I've also heard that there's a PDX ordinance (as the officer said) that prohibits people from exposing their genitalia, although upholding this ordinance would necessitate a re-examination of the OR constitution. Of course, I could be totally wrong, though.

[bellelvsbeast.livejournal.com]

Oh man I have seen many a naked biker when I lived in Oregon...;)

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

i live in portland, and i was a little embarrassed by the kid's incoherent interview on NPR. i was also astonished that the kid WON the case, especially if asked to speak on his own behalf. "what were you protesting?" "uh, um, well, i don't know? right? more like what we pro-are, you know, right?" i would have thought opposing counsel would have honed in on his obvious lack of "making a statement." he sounded like a kid intent on doing what he wanted to do, not out protesting cars. but honestly, the whole thing was just silly. the ordinance is ridiculous in the first place.

the big naked bike ride really is something to see. i thought the whole thing about the kid being arrested for riding in a portland neighborhood at night naked was dumb, especially in light of the big ride every year.

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

And a little bit of Portland math:

Q: Hipster A is bicycling down NE Alberta in a clown suit while balancing a five-gallon jug of organic vinegar at a speed of 15 miles per hour. Hipster B is bicycling down Alberta buck naked while balancing a five-gallon jug of spring water at 17 miles per hour. When they run into each other because each thought the other should move out of his way because he’s way more important, what sound will the colliding jugs make?

A: "DOUCHE!"