#Naked #bike rides and #Santa #Fe: complete coverage

Oh Nuttiness, Thy Name Is #Santa #Fe

Indecent Exposure & Undecent Excuses:

Apres the Santa Fe Naked Bike Ride:

Curious about More than Who Washes the Seats

   The first hint that indecency was going to become an entertaining political event in Santa Fe was the appearance of an “Our View” editorial on Sept. 29, 2010.  The op-ed page piece was a brilliant effort at having it all ways: Deploring the alleged naked bike ride, which arrived in Santa Fe in June, 2010, encouraging the appearances of lots of partially clad people at an upcoming City Council meeting (making sure that the elected officials will stay away throughout the proceedings), publicizing the positions of those who wanted to make the local obscenity laws a lot tougher while describing those who were defending the sacred First Amendment in a way that makes themsound intelligent.  And having a lot of fun.

       Actually, the City Council’s attempt to solemnly consider a tougher anti-nudity ordinance stemmed from an earlier event, the World Naked Bike Ride, which boasts a “bare as you dare” dress code.  The actual almost-nude bike event in took place in the City Different in June because Albuquerque, “The Duke City,” didn’t want it.  By the way, Duke City is not far from Gallup “the drunk driving capital of America” and Roswell, “Aliens aren’t the only reason to visit.”

  The result, on that most exciting day, actual nearly naked bike riders circled the beloved city plaza, which hadn’t seen anything as exciting as the moment when a native American actually sold a turquoise necklace to a tourist from Newark, named Mucky Mookie, but then almost everyone from New Jersey is named either Mucky or Mookie or both.

       Alas, the nearly naked bike ride was a huge yawn for most natives and visitors to Santa Fe.  The coverage was indeed subdued. 

       KSFR-FM, the local public radio station, led off a newscast with the naked bike ride, informing listeners that there were “nearly two dozen riders,” avoided any description of their non-apparel, noting that the riders were careful to avoid violating local indecency laws.  The radio anchorman added that the Mayor was going to attempt to change those laws to make sure they covered a lot more than they had, which might not be easy to do if the naked riders carefully avoided breaking the law.  I am presuming that calling something a “Naked Bike Ride” is legal.  Santa Fe is far better served as host to a Naked Bike Ride as opposed to, say, a “Poopy Bike Ride.”

     Then quickly, very, very quickly, the KSFR newscaster turned to the sexier topic of energy efficient washing machines.  He announced that, because of lack of funds, a program to encourage homeowners to buy energy efficient washing machines is going to be shut down.  He seemed much more comfortable talking that. 

               The Santa Fe New Mexican covered the story by revealing that it was a good day for parade watchers, going back and forth from the World Naked Bike Ride to the parade to kick off this week’s rodeo.   I suppose, since they were both parades in Santa Fe on the same day, there was some connection, but it is vague.

               I could extend some parallels: One had cute girls in sexy clothes (rodeo).  The other had nearly naked women who should have been wearing clothes (bike ride).   One included events in which participants could be gored (rodeo).  The other featured spectators who could be bored (bike ride).

     The third paragraph revealed that the World Naked Bike Ride circled the plaza and then stopped at the state Capital to “protest dependency on oil.”  That seemed like a bit of a reach for relevance.
               The World Naked Bike Ride wants to “STOP EXPOSURE TO VEHICLE EMISSIONS.”  But that seems to me to be a slogan pasted on so a few people with much less than perfect bodies could pedal around wearing fewer clothes than they should and get more attention than they deserve.