If Jack Tell were mayor, Lawrence residents might have to deal with a lot of construction and noise for a little while — but the payoff would be improved bike infrastructure citywide.
The Billy Mills Middle School seventh-grader recently finished as a regional winner in the annual Kansas League of Municipalities “If I Were Mayor” memo contest.
Jack’s plan to make Lawrence more bike-friendly would include “adding bike paths, bike lanes, bike racks, a bike park” and more, he wrote in his memo.
His entry mentioned the health benefits of biking — “It helps your cardiovascular fitness, makes you stronger, decreases stress” and much more, he wrote — plus it’s cheaper than driving, and fewer cars would mean less wear and tear on the roads.
The city might have to raise taxes a bit to pay for the expensive project, he wrote, but it could also seek grants to help cover costs.
Read more: LJWorld.com.