MAPLE RIDGE, B.C. (CP) - A woman's bare-chested bike ride along this Fraser Valley community's main thoroughfare Wednesday morning brought four cars to a crashing halt.

Linda Meyer created a domino effect as four rubberneckers plowed into one another - causing about $3,500 damage - as she rode along the Lougheed Highway.

Police had already stopped Meyer after receiving complaints about her state of undress.

``The officer heard a loud crash while he was dealing with the topless woman,'' said RCMP Sgt. Paul Darbyshire.

``It was not my fault - I was minding my own business,'' said Meyer, 36, who has made a name for herself and with police by swimming topless at the Maple Ridge indoor pool.

``Ontario women go topless, and so do Canadian men, and so can I.''

RCMP have other ideas. They've asked the Crown to approve charges of causing a disturbance and nudity.

Darbyshire said Meyer was asked to put on her shirt.

``She complied and went on her way.''

Last December, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned an indecency conviction against a woman who walked topless on a hot day in July 1991. That opened the door to bare breasts in Ontario.

Meyer was given a ticket by the RCMP when she went topless in the Maple Ridge pool's hot tub July 1.

She faces a fine under a new municipal bylaw but unlike last Canada Day, when Meyer did the same thing, she didn't have to go to jail.

The 36-year old student spent a total of about 15 minutes sitting topless in the hot tub before police persuaded her to climb out and be charged.

Meyer, who hopes to go to law school, is representing herself in a suit she has filed against the RCMP and the city of Maple Ridge.