City Supe Says Nudity Yes, Booze No at Bay to Breakers

San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who represents the Hayes Valley neighborhood which witnesses most of the drunken antics at the annual Bay to Breakers race, wants to keep the freak flags flying, if not flying high.

"Nudity and floats are part of the overall eccentric nature of the race and what makes it so great," Mirkarimi told the San Francisco Chronicle. Though he won't take issue with the ban on alcohol.

However, it could be a moot point. A spokesperson for the event organizers noted that "There has always been a ban on nudity - it has never been enforced and it won't likely be enforced this year, either."

In other words, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.

Thousands meander across San Francisco in, and out, of costume across San Francisco each year, with thousands more voyeurs looking on. The actual footrace is usually a side note.

Neighborhood complaints about drunkenness and public urination has led organizers to institute a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to booze as well as "wheeled vehicles."

Floats, shopping carts and other trolleys are often used to ferry kegs and wet bars along the length of the course, sometimes stopping to refill at pre-arranged relay stations.

But it's that spirit of inventiveness that may end up keeping those squeaking about the changes lubricated. After all, the ban on wheeled vehicles wouldn't apply to a remote-controlled blimp armed with Jager bombs.

Photo by Flickr user Josh Steinitz.

Jackson West suggests you free spirits pack a merkin just in case.