More than 300 students gathered Saturday on West Mill Street for the 16th Tour de Carbondale, where people purchased wristbands to participate in the ongoing marathon of drinking at five locations throughout Carbondale.

Five types of alcohol were served, one at each station. Students traveled by bicycling, longboarding, skateboarding and rollerblading.

Ally Pauli, a senior from Dunlap studying nursing, said the SIU cycling team started the event in 2008. Pauli, who has participated in the tour six times, said hosts of the event do not condone underage drinking.

“Neither I or any of the hosts are responsible for anyone,” said Pauli, an organizer of the tour. “Each one is responsible for his or her own actions. After all it is about the individual.”

When partiers finished the Monster Energy and vodka mixed drinks on West Mill Street, they traveled toward the football practice field, where the men’s rugby team was playing a game.

Jake Bernicky, a junior from Homer Glen studying civil engineering, said it took 15 minutes to reach the second stop.

“We dominated the streets,” Bernicky said. “There were a lot of people but it was spread out. Cars had to stop and wait as we passed by so it was safe.”

Carbondale Police Department officers closed intersections so students could pass by.

Once the second stop ran out of wine, students moved to Aspen Court Apartments.

Laura Ericksen, an exploratory freshman from a Chicago suburb, said the event was awesome.

“[It was] definitely better than unofficial because we are all at one place,” Ericksen said.

Chris Gill, a senior studying mechanical engineering, said the purpose of the tour is to have a good time while being safe. Gill, who hosted the third stop for his fourth time, said his is the only stop on the west side of town.

On the way to South University Avenue, where the fourth stop was held, a woman fell off her bicycle and was injured. Two police officers and paramedics responded to the incident.

The fourth stop served up a mixture of gin and juice. It was about 3:15 p.m. when people started heading to the fifth and final stop on West Elm Street, where drinks were served in a canoe.

Jake Thacker, a senior from Chenoa studying aviation technology and resident of the fifth stop, said 750 beers were in the canoe and five minutes after everyone arrived, all the beer was gone.

Thacker said he was willing to put in the effort and initial funds to try to keep this tradition alive.

In regards to safety precautions, Thacker said a group can be the safest option.

“We have this group mentality, if someone falls off his bicycle, immediately people hop off their bicycles and help him up,” he said. “It is a great group of people.”

Thacker said the tour is a great way to meet new people and interact with other students.

“I have seen nothing but smiles all around,” he said. “Nothing but a good time without violence is what this town needs.”