bike/ped coordinator for Spokane on the way!

This past week, the city council voted to fund a bike/ped coordinator for the next few years. The position pays reasonably well, $30k according to some reports, but won't be a continuing position nor will it provide benefits, at least at this point. It's hoped that the position, and the person in the position, prove essential and it/they become a fully funded position within the city bureaucracy.

What this position does is make it so cycling interests can be more readily represented at various levels of city government. Most meetings among city staff are held during the 9-5, or 8-4 or whatever a working day might be and Bicycle Advisory Board members, having jobs and professional commitments they are expected fulfill in order to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, found it increasingly difficult to attend these meetings. The coordinator will work to keep cycling interests front and center during the day-to-day workings at city hall and should result in BAB members not having to scramble to get meetings covered so they can work more on bigger projects, such as the Bicycle Master Plan.

If you see the mayor or your council representative, be sure to thank them for supporting cycling in the city. The job description has yet to be defined, nor is there a hiring timetable as of yet.