Activists took to the streets on bikes
to protest local corporations.
(Photos: Hart Noecker)

"While often lauded as being a bastion of sustainability and forward thinking green politics, Portland houses some of the most ecologically destructive corporations on the planet."

— Hart Noecker, activist and author of Mismanaging Perception

That quote sums up the motivation behind a new series of group bike rides being organized by environmental activists who have been spurred into action by their opposition to the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
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The PDX Bike Swarm took their bike-inspired protest style to Portland gas stations this morning.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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Event flyer

The PDX Bike Swarm is alive and well. Since we last checked in with them, they've been holding regular meetings and have swarmed on a number of occasions.

On Wednesday, the bike swarm plans to take a major role in Occupy Portland's "F29" protests. Specifically, the swarm plans to use their bikes to "blockade" and swarm local gas stations. According to organizers, the goal is to, "bring awareness to the fact that BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell made over $73 Billion in 2010."

Here's more from the Swarm's Facebook page:

"Join PDX Bike Swarm for an unprecedented paradigm shift, a display of velocipede direct action techniques, and also a dash of preposterous tomfoolery as we spread a jovial message of a lifestyle free of the combustible engine."

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Detail from "Bike to Blockade" poster

The 'bike swarm' is at it again. Organizers behind the growing movement to use masses of people on bicycles to support the Occupy Portland protests, are planning several "feeder" rides that will end at an action to shut down the Port of Portland.
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