BHB/2/13
Sponsored by Matthew Dickens, Hutton Stringfellow, Ryan Harr of Brentwood Academy
This legislation was filed in the Transportation category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | Section 1: Definitions: Cyclist: Any individual operating a bicycle or similar human-powered vehicle |
| 2 | on public roads or designated cycling paths within the state of Tennessee. Bike Lane: A designated |
| 3 | lane on a roadway reserved for cyclists. Protected Bike Lane: A bike lane physically separated from |
| 4 | motor vehicle traffic by barriers such as bollards, curbs, or planters, providing increased safety for |
| 5 | cyclists. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Section 2: Expansion of Cycling Infrastructure: The Tennessee Department of Transportation |
| 8 | (TDOT) shall conduct assessments of existing cycling lanes across the state to identify areas in |
| 9 | need of improvement, expansion, and creation. TDOT shall prioritize the construction of new bike |
| 10 | lanes and the enhancement of existing ones in urban and suburban areas with high cycling and |
| 11 | motor traffic. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Section 3: Public Education and Outreach: TDOT, in collaboration with local governments and |
| 14 | community organizations, shall launch a statewide public education campaign to raise awareness |
| 15 | about the benefits of cycling infrastructure and safe cycling practices. Educational materials shall |
| 16 | be distributed to schools, community centers, and other public venues to promote bike lane usage |
| 17 | and encourage motorists to share the road responsibly with cyclists. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Section 4: Funding Allocation: A dedicated portion of the state budget shall be allocated to support |
| 20 | this bill's implementation, including funding for the construction, maintenance, and promotion of |
| 21 | cycling infrastructure. TDOT shall explore opportunities for securing additional funding through |
| 22 | federal grants, private partnerships, and other sources to supplement the state budget allocation |
| 23 | for cycling infrastructure projects. A 5-foot-long bike lane costs $5,231 per mile. The goal is 5,000 |
| 24 | miles. So, the target will be 500 miles per 6 months costing $2,615,000 per month. After all the |
| 25 | bike lanes are complete over the course of 5 years the total cost will be $26,155,000. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | Section 5: Implementation Timeline: TDOT shall develop a timeline for the implementation of the |
| 28 | provisions outlined in this bill, with a focus on expediting the construction of protected bike lanes |
| 29 | and other critical cycling infrastructure improvements. Progress updates on the implementation of |
| 30 | this bill shall be reported regularly to the public. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | Section 6: Severability: If any provision of this bill is found to be unconstitutional or |
| 33 | unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect. |
| 34 | |
| 35 | Section 7: Effective Date: This bill shall take effect 90 days upon passage into law. |
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