Bands hit the road with a new touring style

While the Minnesota-based Cloud Cult tours in a biodiesel van, today NPR’s Morning Edition reports the band Blind Pilot toured by bicycle. That’s right, they pedaled to their shows with instruments in tow for two “bike” tours. Now they’re reportedly using a van in good old-fashioned rocker style, but I have to wonder if we won’t see more wanderin’ minstrels going green due to the economy and a passion for environmental awareness.

I’m looking to News Cut folks to weigh in on this topic. Are these touring styles out of financial necessity or social pressure? Do bands get a nice – and possibly or probably incidental – public relations bump thanks to media attention?