Cellist Ben Sollee

Ditching the Van

After successfully touring by bike from his hometown in Kentucky to the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee in 2009, Ben Sollee was inspired to launch the Ditch the Van Tour in 2010. He and his band mates have embarked on a transcontinental tour, opting to use bicycles and an occasional train instead of automobiles.

Cello, Xtracycle = Ready to roll

Enjoying the Slow Pace

Aside from the obvious environmental tilt to this divergence from the status quo, Sollee points out that the limitation of their means of transport allow a different perspective on the towns and communities they encounter along their route.

Getting the Communities Involved

Inviting local art and music organizations, as well as bicycle communities, to be participants in his shows creates a richer experience for his fans and adds a twist of activism to what is normally just a performance.

Share on Facebook

Like this story? Share it with your friends! It might just:

• Inspire them to ride their bike more – if a band can tour on bike, why not run your errands that way?
• Help them create a music or art event in your community
• Spread the Biking Revolution, while hardly requiring that you lift a finger

Look for the Facebook icon at the bottom of this page to share this story.

Get Notified of More Cool Bike Stories

Would you like to hear about more bike activism like this? Get more Biking Revolution News.

Ready to start biking? Check out our current listings of road bikes from brands like Fuji, Corsa, and Schwinn.

Top Photo Credit: Ben Sollee press