2022’s Best Cities for Naked Biking

Some cyclists love feeling the wind in their hair. Others like to feel it all over — so much so that a global movement has brought this special group of cyclists quite literally out of their shell.

In the U.S., the World Naked Bike Ride takes place between June and September. Butt (’scuse our pun), where can you let your hair down — along with other body parts — without running (or pedaling) afoul of the law?

LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities to find 2022’s Best Cities for Naked Biking. 

We first studied the regulatory landscape in each city to help naked bikers avoid legal (and other) bumps on the road. We then considered the local popularity of naked biking, the size and activeness of the cycling community, and, of course, the climate.

Check out the best cities for biking in the buff below, followed by some highlights and lowlights. (Please try not to stare.)

Contents

• City Rankings
• Highlights and Lowlights
• Surprising Findings
• Behind the Ranking
• Exposing the Truth About Bike Fatalities

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Overall Score	Naked Biking-Friendliness Rank	Popularity Rank	Safety Rank	Climate Rank
1	Chicago, IL	63.29	10	1	5	81
2	Portland, OR	59.61	12	3	3	42
3	Seattle, WA	58.21	8	6	8	46
4	Austin, TX	56.62	1	33	23	173
5	St. Louis, MO	56.22	2	11	63	126
6	Philadelphia, PA	55.96	3	18	11	112
7	San Francisco, CA	55.14	13	5	21	26
8	Madison, WI	55.13	4	21	7	142
9	Los Angeles, CA	54.68	14	4	58	1
10	Boston, MA	51.62	15	16	2	55
11	Milwaukee, WI	51.33	7	17	77	61
12	New York, NY	50.37	91	2	6	113
13	Houston, TX	49.08	6	36	54	183
14	Buffalo, NY	48.65	9	71	27	57
15	New Orleans, LA	45.94	5	32	187	185
16	Columbus, OH	45.20	11	72	51	130
17	Boise City, ID	44.99	24	19	25	41
18	Denver, CO	43.84	96	7	12	89
19	Minneapolis, MN	43.49	182	8	1	58
20	Washington, DC	42.51	174	12	14	109
21	Lincoln, NE	42.25	18	57	24	96
22	San Antonio, TX	40.40	44	30	28	176
22	Tulsa, OK	40.40	29	14	98	154
24	Eugene, OR	40.12	116	41	4	45
25	San Diego, CA	39.89	123	10	65	33
26	Albuquerque, NM	39.61	34	63	26	52
27	Pittsburgh, PA	39.44	68	24	47	118
28	Atlanta, GA	39.18	21	45	90	146
29	Rochester, NY	38.85	64	50	33	60
30	Dallas, TX	38.81	28	34	79	155
31	Omaha, NE	38.71	17	91	87	78
32	Amarillo, TX	38.30	43	46	49	95
33	Alexandria, VA	37.66	175	13	9	109
34	Salem, OR	37.63	33	108	46	44
35	Sacramento, CA	37.43	114	54	22	37
36	Fort Collins, CO	37.40	122	49	10	89
37	San Jose, CA	37.27	141	31	35	26
38	Springfield, MO	37.10	22	127	60	127
39	Pasadena, CA	36.98	126	20	68	2
40	Tempe, AZ	36.87	99	70	15	99
41	Miami, FL	36.63	87	25	48	182
42	Louisville, KY	36.48	31	77	74	119
43	Macon, GA	36.44	74	42	43	172
44	Honolulu, HI	36.21	35	93	86	39
45	El Paso, TX	36.17	54	60	92	86
46	Lexington, KY	35.98	30	187	40	98
47	Salt Lake City, UT	35.92	170	9	143	49
48	Anchorage, AK	35.85	37	128	13	199
49	Providence, RI	35.82	78	89	38	75
50	Charlotte, NC	35.77	76	58	57	120
51	Huntsville, AL	35.58	20	182	88	151
52	Las Vegas, NV	35.44	77	61	80	62
53	Phoenix, AZ	35.25	104	29	122	99
54	Olathe, KS	35.17	65	148	42	121
55	Syracuse, NY	35.02	70	82	72	107
56	Little Rock, AR	34.98	26	62	180	108
57	Arlington, VA	34.96	184	39	18	109
58	Des Moines, IA	34.90	38	163	70	85
59	Orlando, FL	34.74	69	88	31	198
60	Jersey City, NJ	34.73	121	92	16	115
61	Tucson, AZ	34.71	93	40	119	129
62	McAllen, TX	34.66	51	141	44	176
63	Oklahoma City, OK	34.65	41	56	159	139
64	Durham, NC	34.64	83	118	30	147
65	Wichita, KS	34.58	45	106	97	140
66	Birmingham, AL	34.52	16	117	186	167
67	Oakland, CA	34.51	144	47	81	26
68	Grand Rapids, MI	34.47	110	38	112	79
69	Laredo, TX	34.42	66	192	29	176
70	Lubbock, TX	34.36	42	130	110	97
71	Vancouver, WA	34.31	172	79	17	42
72	Colorado Springs, CO	34.27	117	23	153	74
73	Killeen, TX	34.26	49	180	45	173
74	Plano, TX	34.24	47	168	53	155
75	Overland Park, KS	34.23	57	155	69	121
76	Fremont, CA	34.17	159	69	38	26
77	Midland, TX	34.17	52	183	50	94
78	Sioux Falls, SD	34.05	36	100	113	141
79	Bridgeport, CT	33.99	80	161	55	77
80	Sunnyvale, CA	33.98	154	107	19	26
81	Raleigh, NC	33.95	72	68	123	147
82	Cleveland, OH	33.83	85	59	135	71
83	Kansas City, MO	33.82	25	125	169	121
84	Montgomery, AL	33.74	23	113	149	179
85	Cincinnati, OH	33.72	73	51	155	168
86	Mobile, AL	33.71	19	154	160	186
87	McKinney, TX	33.65	60	99	111	155
88	Fort Worth, TX	33.62	50	101	124	155
89	Arlington, TX	33.60	55	116	104	155
90	Pomona, CA	33.59	155	35	152	2
91	Brownsville, TX	33.58	67	124	76	169
92	Dayton, OH	33.56	75	112	117	69
93	Winston-Salem, NC	33.52	82	48	168	136
94	Mesquite, TX	33.46	62	142	75	155
95	Irving, TX	33.38	53	169	71	155
96	Frisco, TX	33.34	58	143	91	155
97	Kansas City, KS	33.32	40	81	178	121
98	Santa Rosa, CA	33.25	134	67	83	2
99	Long Beach, CA	33.18	133	52	134	25
100	Reno, NV	33.16	88	53	126	152
101	Irvine, CA	33.08	146	80	61	2
102	Paradise, NV	33.06	105	173	32	62
103	Baltimore, MD	32.85	113	66	66	128
104	Garland, TX	32.84	59	177	94	155
105	North Las Vegas, NV	32.84	101	184	34	62
106	Nashville, TN	32.71	183	15	131	143
107	Toledo, OH	32.66	90	171	56	76
108	Greensboro, NC	32.64	81	83	141	136
109	Bellevue, WA	32.62	192	26	85	46
110	Henderson, NV	32.60	95	147	59	62
111	Rockford, IL	32.46	92	149	64	88
112	Tampa, FL	32.33	120	55	52	194
113	Shreveport, LA	32.32	32	167	148	171
114	St. Paul, MN	32.31	198	73	20	58
115	Savannah, GA	32.27	56	95	154	180
116	Spokane, WA	32.18	169	111	41	40
117	Mesa, AZ	32.13	109	78	107	99
118	Orange, CA	32.02	118	129	67	2
119	Aurora, IL	32.00	103	96	102	81
120	Naperville, IL	31.99	98	170	62	81
121	Grand Prairie, TX	31.74	63	196	130	155
121	Fontana, CA	31.74	160	43	182	2
123	Indianapolis, IN	31.68	186	27	136	80
124	Corpus Christi, TX	31.67	48	193	142	170
125	Richmond, VA	31.65	139	37	162	131
126	Chandler, AZ	31.46	112	84	118	99
127	Scottsdale, AZ	31.46	97	122	116	99
128	Salinas, CA	31.37	168	160	37	26
129	Columbus, GA	31.36	79	140	140	166
130	Huntington Beach, CA	31.19	137	65	171	2
131	Denton, TX	31.16	39	165	145	155
132	Gilbert, AZ	31.15	115	105	100	99
133	Santa Ana, CA	31.00	165	98	125	2
134	Anaheim, CA	30.71	138	75	172	2
135	Escondido, CA	30.66	151	44	190	33
136	Yonkers, NY	30.65	94	159	132	115
137	Aurora, CO	30.61	124	104	99	89
138	Fort Lauderdale, FL	30.60	102	74	89	189
139	Garden Grove, CA	30.56	158	109	138	2
140	Detroit, MI	30.53	130	76	146	53
141	Joliet, IL	30.52	100	181	82	81
142	Torrance, CA	30.50	143	123	105	2
143	Pasadena, TX	30.31	61	186	36	183
144	Augusta, GA	30.30	71	151	157	187
145	Chattanooga, TN	30.21	171	28	177	153
146	Glendale, CA	30.15	161	114	147	2
147	Cary, NC	30.13	86	166	133	147
148	Baton Rouge, LA	30.12	27	132	191	188
149	Akron, OH	30.11	89	176	165	70
150	Elk Grove, CA	29.93	166	115	121	37
151	Fullerton, CA	29.80	149	86	164	2
152	Peoria, AZ	29.78	119	153	128	99
153	Jackson, MS	29.77	46	195	188	175
154	Chula Vista, CA	29.66	164	110	137	33
155	Riverside, CA	29.60	132	157	163	2
156	Fayetteville, NC	29.51	84	175	174	147
157	Fort Wayne, IN	29.47	189	90	73	51
158	Glendale, AZ	29.25	111	152	156	99
159	Hayward, CA	29.25	150	174	129	26
160	Worcester, MA	29.14	178	94	101	54
161	Fresno, CA	29.02	131	158	158	50
162	Newark, NJ	28.96	128	178	108	125
163	Knoxville, TN	28.84	162	87	151	114
164	Lancaster, CA	28.71	136	121	189	2
165	San Bernardino, CA	28.68	148	102	192	2
166	Spring Valley, NV	28.64	105	199	114	62
167	Oxnard, CA	28.45	163	162	176	2
168	Springfield, MA	28.42	179	134	96	55
169	Modesto, CA	28.41	142	120	166	72
170	Lakewood, CO	28.37	125	126	150	89
171	Ontario, CA	28.27	153	136	185	2
172	Tacoma, WA	28.15	173	150	109	46
173	Oceanside, CA	27.98	140	172	173	33
174	Virginia Beach, VA	27.94	187	103	103	132
175	Paterson, NJ	27.62	145	198	139	115
176	Thornton, CO	27.62	129	138	179	89
177	Corona, CA	27.50	127	179	195	2
178	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	27.47	152	137	196	2
179	Bakersfield, CA	27.27	135	139	184	87
180	Palmdale, CA	27.16	147	190	194	2
181	Hollywood, FL	27.13	177	22	197	189
182	Sunrise Manor, NV	27.06	105	199	175	62
183	Moreno Valley, CA	27.05	167	185	193	2
184	Memphis, TN	26.94	196	64	170	138
185	St. Petersburg, FL	26.88	188	85	115	194
186	Santa Clarita, CA	26.73	157	119	200	2
187	Port St. Lucie, FL	26.72	185	131	78	181
188	Norfolk, VA	26.66	180	164	93	132
189	Tallahassee, FL	26.64	176	135	95	197
190	Newport News, VA	26.33	190	97	144	132
191	Cape Coral, FL	25.29	191	189	84	200
192	Stockton, CA	25.08	156	188	198	72
193	Chesapeake, VA	24.80	195	144	161	132
194	Murfreesboro, TN	24.67	193	145	167	143
195	Enterprise, NV	24.63	105	194	199	62
196	Hialeah, FL	24.47	200	146	106	189
197	Pembroke Pines, FL	24.25	199	156	120	189
198	Jacksonville, FL	23.93	181	133	183	196
199	Miramar, FL	23.62	197	191	127	189
200	Clarksville, TN	23.10	194	197	181	143

Highlights and Lowlights

Chicago Wins the Race

Hold on to your bells, handlebars, and everything in between — the Windy City is our inaugural Naked Biking Capital.

Chi Town not only finished first in the Popularity category, but it’s also one of a handful that hosts a (warning: NSFW) World Naked Bike Ride. It’s au(nly) naturel that locals can barely contain their excitement about the event: Chicagoans searched for “naked bike ride” more times in the past 12 months than Googlers in any of the other 199 cities.

Chicago’s quite safe for biking in your birthday suit, too (No. 5). Contrary to popular belief, Chicago isn’t as windy as its nickname suggests. The average wind speed here tops out at 10.3 mph. Strong breezes are a bigger danger in Boston, our No. 10 and the actual windiest city in America.

Keeping Austin Weird and Naked

Austin, which finished No. 4 overall, sped past the other 199 cities in our Naked-Biking Friendliness category, thanks to some of the most lax public nudity and bicycling laws in the U.S. It’s one of only four cities where total nudity won’t land you a ticket or jail time.

Austin’s No. 4 ranking makes sense, then, for a city with the 30th highest nudist population, who frequent the naturist haven Hippie Hollow Park.

The city even had its own local near-naked biking fixture, Leslie Cochran, years before there was ever a Naked Bike Ride. He’s gone now, but there’s a plaque in his memory on 6th Street.

Sore (Saddle) Losers

Better hide the family jewels before heading out for a ride in the South, which dominated the rear end of our ranking. Our not-so-bare bottom 10 includes cities like Clarksville, Tennessee (No. 1 worst), Jacksonville, Florida (No. 3), and Chesapeake, Virginia (No. 8).

What do they have in common? These are the cities where residents would clutch their pearls at the thought of biking — with only their pearls. In other words, they’re Conservative with a capital C. Objectively speaking, they simply performed poorly in just about every category.

Ironically, though, some of these cities have a liberal streak. For example, Jacksonville ranks third worst overall but is home to an above-average nudist population — in size, that is. Clarksville also has many nudist residents despite finishing last. Clearly, there are plenty of closet nudists in these conservative cities.

Surprising Findings

Florida Leads — in Bike Fatalities

Naked biking might mean “clothing-optional,” but it’s always smart to wear a helmet, especially in the Sunshine State. Here’s why: Five Florida cities — Hollywood, Tampa, and St. Petersburg among them — make up half of our top 10 cities with the most biking-related deaths per 100,000 residents.

That’s a bit of a head-scratcher, considering most of these cities boast high Bike Scores and many roads in great shape. In fact, Jacksonville has the lowest share of bad roads among all 200 cities. Fort Lauderdale and Tampa have programs curbing traffic deaths and injuries.

This city-level trend tracks with national stats. Of the 846 total U.S. bike deaths in 2019, nearly a fifth occurred in Florida. Failure to yield the right of way and collisions with light trucks were mostly to blame. So, when turning (or turning heads) on your bike in Florida, watch out for light trucks.

Begging to Bike in Their Birthday Suits

Some of the cities that Googled “naked bike ride” the most times over the past 12 months either aren’t participating in the global event this year or have never hosted one.

Cities like New York (No. 12), San Diego (No. 25), and Atlanta (No. 28) held naked bike rides pre-pandemic but haven’t committed to doing so in 2022, likely for the same reason.

On the other hand (or in this case the other cheek), Nashville, Tennessee, has never hosted a naked bike ride but ranked No. 8 in total Google searches yet 106th overall. Clearly, the people of Nashville — and previous host cities — need an outlet for their bare-biking dreams.

Behind the Ranking

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we first gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below.

We then grouped those factors into four categories: Naked Biking-Friendliness, Popularity, Safety, and Climate.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category.

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories. The city that earned the highest average score is considered “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest is “Worst” (No. 200).

Sources: Bike Index, City-Data.com, CriminalDefenseLawyer, FindLaw, The Frisky, Google Ads, The League of American Bicyclists, Meetup, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Refinery29, TRIP, True Nudists, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA Cycling, Vision Zero Network, Walk Score, World Naked Bike Ride, World Population Review, and Yelp

Disclaimer: This report is intended to provide entertainment value only. It should not be relied upon as a source of legal information. Our research on public nudity and toplessness laws is limited to aggregated data from several sources listed above, which may be updated without our knowledge. It is each reader’s responsibility to verify the most current rules in their city and/or state.

Exposing the Truth About Bike Fatalities

World Naked Bike Ride is in full swing until September, and cities across the U.S. are gearing up for their own.

The global movement, with “bare as you dare” as its motto, started in 2003 to protest the world’s oil dependency. Since then, the cause has aimed to expose the vulnerability of cyclists in a car-centric society and promote body positivity.

In the U.S., preventable bike deaths have risen 44% over the past decade, and they tend to peak in August.

Why is LawnStarter ranking cities on naked biking? Our Best Cities for Naked Gardening study is a favorite from year to year, so why not rank the Best Cities for Naked Biking? 

Whatever you might do naked in your garden or on a bicycle is your business, but don’t ever mow your lawn naked. Wielding any kind of lawn care equipment in the buff is far more dangerous than a road rash from falling off your bike in the buff.

Main Photo Credit: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr