JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Beth Deel rides through downtown during the "Not-So-Naked Bike Ride." Deel organized the event to encourage the use of alternative transportation in the city.

Boxers, briefs, panties, bras and wigs were the few clothing items the Roanoke arts community wore to pedal through downtown Roanoke Saturday to embrace bike culture.

Partially naked, about 30 art enthusiasts and cultural leaders rode their bicycles at noon from The Water Heater to the Roanoke City Market area to encourage alternative transportation in the city.

"Bike culture in Roanoke is growing," said Beth Deel, the organizer of the "Not-So-Naked Bike Ride."

"I think more people are getting comfortable riding their bikes," Deel said.

Deel met with City Manager Darlene Burcham, police Chief Joe Gaskins and other city officials after what happened in her latest performance art project, "Must See TV."

One participant, Katherine Gwaltney, was arrested and charged with impeding traffic and obstruction of justice for staring at a blank television on a sidewalk outside the city market. For the project, about 60 people were directed to do the same for five minutes on May 14. Gwaltney is expected to appear in court in July.

"We all understood that what happened that day was circumstantial miscommunication," Deel said. "We agreed that we want a vibrant, creative, more connected community."

Deel said she and the city officials agreed the artists do not need a permit for these events, but they need to notify Roanoke City Police Department.

"We were in discussion with them about providing officers just to enhance safety and security at their event," said Aisha Johnson, a police spokeswoman. Johnson did not comment on whether the "Must See TV" event needed a permit.

Two bike officers escorted the group of cyclists while other police units patrolled the route controlling major intersections along the way.

Deel said people on the streets looked at them strangely.

"Most people were laughing," she said. "We are using humor in order to convey a message."

The idea of the "Not-So-Naked Bike Ride" is not so new. The "World Naked Bike Ride" is an international event performed in 23 countries and more than 30 cities in the United States to protest oil dependency.

Moona Cancino came up with the idea to do a seminaked bike ride in Roanoke after watching the popular event in Portland, Ore.

According to Virginia laws, people who knowingly exposes private parts of their bodies in any public space are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

In Portland, a man arrested for cycling naked was cleared in November after a judge ruled the established tradition was understood as a form of symbolic protest.

Cancino said there are a lot of gray areas in interpreting such laws. "It's best not to cross the line ... to not offend anybody."

Deel said the bike ride in Roanoke sustained the idea of perceiving art as public awareness.

"There's nothing really political about it," she said. "Our hope is to create a state for people to express themselves freely."

She said the spirit of the event was benevolent because it acknowledged the efforts the city has taken to promote bicycle riding. Deel said some of the things needed to promote alternative transportation are more bike lanes and places to lock up bikes.

Ralph Eaton participated wearing his briefs, a bra and wigs placed all over his body.

"It disrupts the ordinary routine and recontextualizes the city as a place to play," he said.

Sarah Burch wore a cupcake bra, heart-shaped stockings and a ruffle thong. She wanted a cupcake theme because she bakes veggie cupcakes at Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op.

"I always like to try new things. Roanoke needs new things," she said.