Police in a New Jersey township are asking residents for help identifying a man who has reportedly been riding an electric bicycle without clothing on local trails for several years, as reported by The New York Post.
The Readington Township Police Department in Hunterdon County said officers have received sporadic reports about the same cyclist repeatedly using township trails while wearing what authorities described as considerably less safety equipment than recommended.
The unusual case took a new turn recently when police obtained a photograph of the man during another reported sighting.
‘Free spirit’ sought by police for allegedly riding in the buff on NJ nature trails
https://t.co/eIpllyUK56— Darius Radzius (@DariusRadzius) September 8, 2026
According to authorities, the cyclist was spotted again Friday, Sept. 4, while riding an electric bicycle.
This time, someone was able to capture an image, giving investigators something they had not previously had when responding to reports from residents.
The Readington Township Police Department subsequently shared a censored version of the photograph on social media and asked members of the public who recognize the rider to contact police.
“For everyone’s sake, certain portions of the image have been appropriately ‘secured,’” the department said in its Facebook post.
The photograph shows what appears to be an older man riding an electric bicycle along a trail while wearing a helmet and little else.
Police withheld portions of the image to avoid displaying inappropriate material while still allowing residents to potentially identify the individual.
The department described the cyclist as “free-spirited” while making clear that authorities are interested in learning his identity.
“And as a friendly reminder: helmets are strongly encouraged. Pants are even more strongly encouraged,” the department said.
Police are asking anyone who recognizes the man or has information that could help identify him to contact the Readington Township Police Department at 908-534-4031.
The reports apparently are not a one-time occurrence. Authorities said residents have been reporting sightings of the same cyclist for years, although officers only recently obtained photographic evidence.
The unusual police request quickly generated reactions online, with some residents saying they had previously encountered the cyclist themselves.
“Seen that guy a year ago pedaling around naked! No one believed me! Thank you for debunking the myth of this free-spirited individual,” one person wrote in response to the police department’s post.
Other social media users responded with jokes about the apparent commitment to bicycle safety while pointing out that the rider had at least remembered to wear a helmet.
The Readington Township Police Department has not publicly identified the cyclist, and authorities have not announced an arrest or criminal charge connected with the sightings.
The township’s police department serves Readington Township, which is located in Hunterdon County in western New Jersey. The department’s publicly listed phone number is 908-534-4031.
The department has previously addressed the use of township trails and other public property by motorized vehicles.
Township rules state that trails established for pedestrian, bicycle, or horseback traffic are not to be used for motorized vehicular travel.
In this case, however, authorities’ public request is focused on identifying the cyclist rather than announcing a specific violation or charge.
The latest sighting gives police a new avenue for identifying the man after years of reports from residents.
The department is relying on members of the community who may recognize the cyclist from the photograph or have information about his identity.
For now, the mystery cyclist remains unidentified, while Readington police continue asking residents to provide any information that could help investigators determine who he is.
The department’s advice to anyone taking a bicycle onto local trails is straightforward: bring the helmet—and, apparently, the pants too.
