World Naked Bike Ride - Chicago

Special note to WNBR-C6 security and route volunteers. The following defines roles, expectations, precautions, and other useful info to people volunteering for security or route functions in the World Naked Bike Ride Chicago. Related key pre-ride staff roles are also included.

1. Recommended safety vest. Under $10 (formerly?) at Target in camping or automotive. "Safe-T+" Safety Vest. Either green or orange is fine. Green is a WNBR-C theme color, but orange seems more conventionally visible. They're adequate quality, very shiny, back same as front. 2. A number of these are already in ride equipment inventory, but security and route volunteers consider owning your own. Online sources for similar: AlertShirt and SafetyLine and Amazon. 3. Alternately, orange and green UV body paints may be available on site for limited use painting safety markings onto yourself.

CHECK-IN:

Mr. Bike and misc support volunteers staff the screening point, address to be widely announced.
Candidates must show person-powered wheels; send others to recommended viewing point(s) and time(s) (TBA). This "person-powered wheels" requirement is widely published, no exceptions. Limiting overcrowding is paramount.
Exact directions from check-in to gathering spot TBD. Must be clear and exact, but the adventure is part of the fun.
Check-in volunteers read the ride guidelines handout thoroughly for reference.
BE VERY CAUTIOUS about stray copies of map or directions at check-in.
Mass typically passes check-in upon departure, check-in staff and stragglers can merge in then.

Would-be participants MUST SHOW person powered vehicle. Details available on website.
Bikes, skates, skateboards, pedicabs, other people powered wheels: YES
Jog, Segway, other: NO.
Also challenge candidates who are fully dressed, discuss the ride's meaning and their options.
Dismiss disputes quickly: "Please visit the recommended viewing point (TBA) or website. Thanx for your interest, have a flyer, NEXT!"
Many fully clothed obvious non-cyclists will arrive on foot and bluff hard. But anyone not aware of the policy either didn't read anything, is stupid, or is lying.

From About: "Location is not disclosed to limit crowding of the creepy variety. If you plan to come just to look and hope to bluff your way in, make other plans. If you show up there without bike/skates, or with a camera, and say you didn't know or that someone said you could or feign language trouble, you will be laughed off premises."

GREETERS:

Several close insiders typically staff a main gate table at pre-gathering area. These people hand out maps, advise participants to read the guidelines, and direct non-participants away.
Greeters may also accept donations and give ride gifts (whistles, stickers, bubbles, etc) and answer basic questions.
Non-participants that slip by or are flagged by greeters should be addressed by security.

SECURITY:

A few dozen alert, sober, strong riders visibly watching our perimeter make this ride possible. Report to team leaders for detailed instructions.

0. Familiarize yourself with the official ride guidelines.
1. Arrive early. And save the heavy drinking for after.
2. Manage incoming at gathering site.
3. Keep space clear at gathering site.
4. Direct bike parking gathering site.
5. Keep the peace at gathering site.
6. Manage spectators en-route.
7. Direct crowd upon return.
8. Keep it cool, prevent escalation, be friendly but firm.
Dismiss disputes quickly: "Please visit the recommended viewing point (TBA) or website. Thanx for your interest, have a flyer, move along."
Procedures: Alerts, use whistles. Creeps, gently block. Disputes, call in a ride coordinator or person with more years experience if handy, photograph and record info and move on. Ragers, drunks and loonies stabilize, deter, do not touch, remain as needed. Drugs and extreme dunks, police can take over. Police: Call legal team contact(s) (#s TBA) or tell someone else; do not escalate, obey commands, volunteer no info. Emergencies (attack by spectator, serious accident) call the police or tell someone to, get info and vid, await help. Medical: Basic first aid supplies may be available; Volunteers with medical skills please make yourself known. Mechanical Failures, contact other security, remain as needed (possibly permanently).

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

New stricter PHOTO policies: There are only a handful (Ronald H, Rich M, Barb-n-Baramesi, Zack S, GlitterGuts, Michael A, others bearing ID lanyard) authorized to photograph inside pre-gathering and afterparty (if any). This has been a major contributor to our large turn-out, as opposed to other big cities where it is a top problem. ANYONE UNKNOWN with camera at pre or post events should be told to put it away immediately. Expect several with major equipment who will bluff hard. But anyone not aware of the policy didn't read anything, is stupid, or is lying. Worst case, tell them to go shoot outside the fence.
Suggested reproach: "Don't be a creep. Do everyone a favor and put away the camera. Just enjoy the ride, and go see the official photo albums later."
From About: Can I come take pictures? NO. Event photography/videography is already well handled and no new applications are considered. As stated in ride guidelines: NO photographs allowed before ride in mass preparation area except by identified authorized personnel, and no photos whatsoever at private after events if any. This policy is security and mass enforced and subject to ejection. Furthermore photography by participants during the ride is strongly discouraged due to traffic safety issues and for the personal comfort of other riders. However, participants must assume by participating that they may be photographed by spectators.

PAINTING STOPS BEFORE SUNSET:

To limit our total time at gathering spot, and to address problem last year where body painting still had a long line at departure time (which then caused departure to be delayed) it is planned to begin closing painting a half hour before departure. That gives the painters a little time to get ready to go, and some time to shutdown that station.
AIRHORN cues may be used at intervals over the course of the evening to mark the passing of time. Multiple blasts will signal imminent departure.
2011 plans new earlier departure, so SUNSET (8:27pm) means we're LATE to departure. Plan to rally and start circling in due time to ACTUALLY DEPART as sun sets.
Departure time matters for WNBR-C, because we announce viewing point times.
Volunteers not present and ready at that time (with few exceptions) may be left behind.

DRINKING:

Visible open alcohol is THE SINGLE MOST COMMON bike bust. And drunk naked cyclist is a worst possible combo.
Advise anyone seen with booze to make it DISAPPEAR immediately.
Tell all we can drink to our hearts' content AFTER THE RIDE. That goes DOUBLE for volunteers!!! There'll be rivers of beer and whiskey after for insiders, but not before or during please.
See this important CAPS bulletin about ordinances.

EXCHANGE NUMBERS

Exchange phone numbers with others on your team. Also, a quick reference of critical phone numbers will be distributed to insiders.

ROUTE:

ALL CAPABLE please take a map, and responsibly perform corking and guidance. In London they call this roll "Ride Chaperone".
DO JOIN the TEXT MESSAGING GROUP or bookmark MassUp.Us on SmartPhones. SMS chat is the primary mass communications channel, as we are too big now for radios.

See the the Chicago Critical Mass "How To Cork" handout. Andrew recommends: In case of car traffic control trouble VISIBLY to the driver take a flash photo of license, or video of problem drivers as soon as possible. This makes drivers suddenly aware they may be held responsible for their actions, and worst case makes that possible. Tell them to be cool, that it'll be gone in under ten minutes, and how lucky they are huh?!?