Brazil: cyclists demonstrate in their underwear to raise awareness about traffic accidents
During the afternoon of last Saturday, about thirty cyclists went out to demonstrate to raise awareness among motorists about their vulnerability in traffic accidents in São Paulo.
However, how they did it was unusual: most were naked, while some preferred to go out in their underwear.
One even went with his body completely painted blue and a shapka on his head, alluding to a worm.
This bike ride, called “Pedalada Pelada”, is the Brazilian version of the worldwide World Naked Bike movement.
“Drivers disrespect us when they honk at us and seem to be telling us: ‘go ahead, or I’ll run you over,” denounced the artist, Andresa Aguida, who painted the message “sustainable pedaling” on her stomach before going out topless.
“We are naked on one of the largest avenues in Latin America; we show that we are vulnerable to force, to the violence of cars,” detailed Allis Bezerra, a 41-year-old photographer.
“This movement serves to show society how important we are. By using the bicycle as a means of transportation, we are removing from city traffic a car that pollutes the environment,” added the portrait photographer.
According to a recent study by the Brazilian Association of Road Traffic Medicine (Abramet), in 2021, there were more than 16,000 accidents with hospitalization of cyclists in serious condition in Brazil, an average of 44 per day.
With information from Radio Agricultura
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