Once again, Steve Crow's Boobs on Bikes makes its way along Queen street, Auckland

Thousands of people lined central Auckland's Queen St to catch a glimpse of topless women during the Boobs on Bikes parade.

Aucklanders and a lot of tourists took the stunning day as an opportunity to support the almost annual display that promotes pornographer Steve Crow's Erotica Expo.

However, police were less amused and have issued two tickets to the exhibitionists for not wearing seat belts.

1 of 6 LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Thousands turned out in Auckland to see topless women and a few men in the almost annual Boobs on Bikes parade. 2 of 6 LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Thousands turned out in Auckland to see topless women and a few men in the almost annual Boobs on Bikes parade. 3 of 6 LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Thousands turned out in Auckland to see topless women and a few men in the almost annual Boobs on Bikes parade. 4 of 6 LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Thousands turned out in Auckland to see topless women and a few men in the almost annual Boobs on Bikes parade. 5 of 6 LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Thousands turned out in Auckland to see topless women and a few men in the almost annual Boobs on Bikes parade. 6 of 6 LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Thousands turned out in Auckland to see topless women and a few men in the almost annual Boobs on Bikes parade.

The topless women, and some men, rode on motorbikes and in cars the length of Queen St on Wednesday.

The event began in 2003 and has run most years in New Zealand's biggest cities since then.

Bystander Fi Perez said she did not know why people were opposed to the parade.

NZPA/Wayne Drought Boobs on Bikes took off down Auckland's Queen St to promote the Erotica Expo.

"Seriously, there's more boobs on the news. I don't know what the big deal is."

Perez said she thought it was "tasteful".

"Some lovely bikes and there was actually some pretty good looking boobs as well."

LAURA WALTERS/FAIRFAX NZ The protesters were not specifically targetting Boobs on Bikes but said it was a good opportunity to talk about the harms of porn.

It was empowering for women to be able to show their bodies, she said.

One bystander, who asked not to be named, said she thought it was disappointing the event was held during school holidays while young children were nearby.

However, boobs were not offensive, she said.

LAURA WALTERS/FAIRFAX NZ A group protesting pornography gathered about a dozen people prio to the Boobs on Bikes parade in Auckland.

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A group of about a dozen protesters took the opportunity to stage a demonstration against porn.

Advocacy group Stop Demand Foundation marched before Boobs on Bikes to protest sexual violence and the harms of pornography, though they said they were not targeting Crow's event specifically.

Protest organiser Denise Ritchie said it was a good opportunity to pause and think about the impacts of pornography.

Pornography was becoming more aggressive and impacting people at a younger age, Ritchie said.

"There's no question that pornography is becoming increasingly cruel and degrading for women."

The group said pornography was part of a sex offender's diet and increased their level of arousal, their harm to others and to themselves.

Conservative lobby group Family First said it wrote a letter of formal complaint to the Auckland Police Area Commander and the Minister of Police asking them to stop Boobs on Bikes ahead of Wednesday's parade.

Family First said it was "an offensive parade promoting the pornography industry".

However, the thousands who lined the streets to see the topless women, including international porn stars, whizz by on Harley Davidsons seemed to see the event as a novelty and a bit of fun, rather than harmful.

It was four years since Crow last staged the event in Auckland and the lack of a permit for this year's parade meant the bikes had to drive alongside other traffic, forcing them to move faster than previous years.