Annual Naked Bike Ride kicks off

From Sky News:

Motorists are often accused of failing to notice cyclists - but dozens of riders stopped traffic when they took to their bikes in the buff.

The annual Naked Bike Ride is organised in cities around the world to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of cycling.

But it is also aimed at making people take notice of the riders, something they say does not always happen when they are commuting with their clothes on.

"We have had a lot of accidents this year. We put about five ghost bicycles in which represent the people who were killed in a traffic accident," said Ollin Tonatiuh, the organiser of the Mexico City event.

"We are asking people for drivers to respect the cyclists, that they respect the pedestrians so that there aren't as many accidents and that they see us as we really are, naked in front of traffic."

Naked bike riders also opened eyes in London and Edinburgh as well as Madrid and Zaragoza in Spain.

And while the event was aimed at putting a serious message across about both the benefits and dangers of cycling, some of those taking part just did it for the thrill of bike riding in the nude.

As he pedalled along in Mexico City, one cyclist said he was involved "to enjoy nature, the earth, the air, the sun and above all the naked body because it is a universal".