Some folks in a huff over bikers in the buff

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The Fremont Solstice Parade is a celebration of human art and creativity. Its 50,000 spectators and participants swell the streets with their wild costumes, elaborate floats and giant puppets every June. The parade, along with the larger Fremont Fair, brings in $4.5 million in business, and its organizers hold it up as an example of community involvement, social activism and personal expression.

Talk about it Should the organizers of the Fremont Solstice Parade discourage nudity during the celebration? Talk about it with other readers on the NWsource message boards.

Oh, yeah - and sometimes a few people without any clothes on come to the Solstice Parade and ride around on bikes.

It is this detail that concerns police and city officials, who say they receive many complaints every year from paradegoers offended by the nudity.

"They promote it as a family event," said Virginia Swanson, the city's special-events coordinator.

"You've got to figure out a way to warn people. We're putting the responsibility on the promoters to warn people that parental guidance is advised. They seem to be having a difficult time figuring out how they will do that."

To some members of the Fremont Arts Council, which produces the Solstice Parade, the nude bicyclists - not sanctioned by or even registered for the parade - are eclipsing the importance of the event, which is supposed to be about artistic freedom.

The council operates by consensus and doesn't want the city to put it in the position of dictating the culture or atmosphere of the parade.

Police are asking that parade organizers post signs along the route that note the laws against indecent exposure and warn of possible prosecution. The Seattle Police Department has said they will work with the parade's organizers to ensure it remains, "family-friendly."

"There are a number of ideas on the table, and we're cooperating to find the best solution," said Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

The arts council met last night to decide its official stance. The city's special-events committee has not issued the parade permit yet but has sent the matter to a subcommittee for further discussion. Swanson didn't say the city would deny the permit if the arts council refused to comply with the city's requests but said the city would probably "go back into discussions with them."

In 1999, the arts council decided against posting the signs.

Arts-council President Laura Baumwall says she understands the police and the city are in a tough position, trying to enforce the law and keep things safe for everyone. But as far as she knows, there has been no real criminal fallout from the Solstice Parade.

"Some people are puritanical, and they want to complain," she said. "They don't get much sympathy from me. I have a 2-year-old, and I don't think there's anything more wholesome than the human body."

Baumwall said the council did not want to venture into the territory of defining what is obscene.

However, she said, some "advice" was given in a recent mailing to arts council members:

"The nekkid bicyclist issue: If you are thinking about streaking the parade this year, please consider coming down to the workshops (which take place in the weeks leading up to the parade) and exposing your creative side instead."

Caitlin Cleary can be reached at 206-464-8214 or ccleary@seattletimes.com.