PRINCETON MODEL CONGRESS

Committee: (leave blank)

Principal Author: Aliza Aquino

Co-Author: Hunter Mahlberg

Bill No: (leave blank)

Political Party: Independent

Title of Bill: Creating more and safer bike lanes for cyclists
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PRINCETON MODEL CONGRESS
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Preamble: Whereas the board allows the increase of safer bike lanes for cyclists. California
is number six on the most cyclist deaths per capita.Over three years (2010-2012) cyclist
deaths caused by motor vehicles was 338. Deaths in the United States were raised by 16%
from 2010 to 2012. Cyclists die at double the rate of those who use vehicles. The mortality
rate has decreased by 41%, while one of the highest declines being for children. In 2014,
there was a total of 21,287 cyclist accidents. In order to prevent more cyclist deaths,
Vacaville needs to create more safe bike lanes.
SECTION 1: In order to keep the bike lanes cost-effective, minimal road work will be done
in order to create said bike lanes.
-SUBSECTION A: Bike lanes will be created by reducing the amount of
roads for cars and converting those roads into bike lanes. This reduces the amount of road
work done, therefore speeding up the process of road construction. Converting roads into
bike lanes will be easy since bike lanes are already part of the road shared by cars.
-SUBSECTION B: Roads with minimal or no motor vehicle traffic will be
created into safe bike lanes for cyclists.
SECTION 2: Creating safer bike lanes will improve health greatly.
-SUBSECTION A: By creating more safer bike lanes, cycling will be more
prominent and people will be encouraged to use the bicycle lanes provided. This will lower
the rates of obesity by encouraging a safe way of exercising.
-SUBSECTION B: With an increase of bike lanes, the use of cars will go
down. A study done in urban cities such as NYC, DC, SF, and others showed that when the
amount of bike paths and lanes are created, the use of cars goes down. The reduction of cars
will decrease the amount of harmful chemicals in the air produced by cars which will
improve the health of people and the planet.
SECTION 3: Bike lanes are not to be created in places that will pose any threat to cyclists
when cars are present.
-SUBSECTION A: Although there may be a worry that bike lanes will
increase the amount of traffic, the study listed above states that the use of cars will decrease,
therefore not causing traffic, however, safe bike lanes will not be created in areas with preexisting heavy traffic or where gridlock occurs such as highways/freeways.
SECTION : This bill shall go into effect 91 days after passage.