By Michaela Gilmer

Mary Ferris Vertulfo is a freshman Honors student at the University of Oregon. This year was the first time she has attended the Bike Music Festival.

MG: When did you first hear of the Bike Music Festival?

MFV: I actually heard of it yesterday over dinner with some friends. I had plans to see a movie but after they told me, I directly rearranged my plans for it.

MG: Why are you participating in the event?

MFV: Well I had actually never heard of it before, I can’t believe it’s been going on for so long. Recently I have become really into biking and next year I am teaching a class on biking at the U of O so I am getting really excited about the whole bike community.

MG: What your involvement so far with the Outdoor Program?

MFV: I haven’t been involved with them but all of their events look really cool. I always want to participate in them but I haven’t found time. I think they have one of the best bike programs.

MG: What are you most looking forward to about the event tonight?

MFV: I think it’s really cool that the bike community is so large but it seems like people use their bikes just to get to and from class. So actually having a group of people form the U of O biking together sounds really fun.

MG: If any, what would you say is the greater message of the Bike Music Festival?

MFV: The environmental impact is ridiculous in terms of what we can do with just human power. It is really great. The whole idea of biking is that it is so good for you and the environment. If we can utilize that kind of energy is so many other ways, why shouldn’t we? We are using it to celebrate something like music and that’s pretty cool.