Student group offers incentives for alternative transportation

On Wednesday students proved there are more benefits to biking than just being able to get parking close to campus. As part of Indiana Public Interest Research Group's Campus Climate Challenge, the student environmental activist group gave out free bagels and snacks to those using alternative forms of transportation. \nVolunteers like senior Scott Chilcote fought the rain and stood outside the bike racks by the Herman B Wells Library, Ballantine Hall and the Fine Arts building. Chilcote said the group hoped to raise awareness about energy conservation and push for a more sustainable environment for IU. Because of the weather, Chilcote ended up offering anyone walking past the library a morning snack. \n"Originally it was just bikers, but walking (is) just as important," he said. "We're just not going to give one to someone who pulls up in a Hummer." \nSenior Gretchen Fasnacht volunteered outside of Ballantine on Wednesday morning and reserved the bagels strictly for bikers and skateboarders en route to class. She said she didn't mind the weather, as long as people were aware of the current environmental situation. \n"Somebody has to do the dirty work," she said. \nSenior Joanna Lekkas, an INPIRG media relations intern, said she is sure the campaign's bagel incentive program will have a positive impact on bikers and will get students thinking about productive solutions to the climate problem. \nVolunteers will be outside the same locations handing out breakfast to cyclists today. The Campus Climate Challenge is a joint student campaign of more than 30 organizations, including IU's INPIRG, whose goal is to stop global warming.\n"I think our campaign is really important and is something that is relevant to our generation," Lekkas said. "It is our problem, and it needs to be taken care of"