University students and bicycles go hand-in-hand, much like peanut butter and jelly. Bikes offer busy students cheap transportation, good exercise and “wind in your face” afternoons. But what happens when world-conscience students use their trusty metallic steeds to make a statement?
Bikes not Bombs, organized by Students for Peace and the Responsible Consumer Network, held its first community bike ride in protest of irresponsible and detrimental petroleum consumption Thursday afternoon. About 35 students and community members attended the event ready to ride in the rain and show their support for alternative transportation.
“My goal is for people to look at us, all muddy and smiling, and start thinking about their own modes of transportation,” said Miranda Vorres, a University sophomore and participant in the ride.
Vorres lives in Springfield and rides her bike an hour to school every day.
Nathaniel N-T, one of the student organizers of the event, said the purpose of Bikes not Bombs is to raise awareness about U.S. oil consumption and the effects of large-scale natural resource use on foreign policy. He said the event is not an excuse to go out and cause problems with traffic or with the police.

“This is not Critical Mass,” he said. “Our purpose is not to block traffic. This is an attempt to make a statement about alternative transportation and the need for renewable resources.”
The United States consumes about 20 million barrels of oil a day, according to a 2001 report by the U.S Office of Transportation Technologies. That’s 840 million gallons daily, half of which comes from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Another quarter comes from the Persian Gulf region, according to the World Resources Institute.
Organizers of Bikes not Bombs said they believe this extreme dependence on oil and other petroleum products “has led to countless environmental, economic and political problems in the U.S. and abroad.”
However, riders were not formally protesting a possible war in Iraq.
“The ride is about oil and oil consumption; it is not necessarily about the war,” Melissa Arndt, a junior psychology major said. “Oil consumption is a problem whether we’re in a war or not.”
The ride began at the EMU Amphitheater, traveled down East 13th Avenue to Agate Street, headed for the river bike paths, then circled around to the federal building where riders stopped to make some noise and let their presence be known, and finally returned to campus.
“It was great,” said Lucius Wheeler, a sophomore in anthropology. “Traffic was kind to us, and we gained some people along the way.”
Bikes not Bombs will be holding community rides on the first Thursday of every month. It encourages everyone who cares about people, the environment and animals to come out and join in the event.