Des Moines' city manager says he intends to find room for a new bike
coordinator position in his budget recommendation next year, but there's no
guarantee it will survive the budget process.
The local bicycling community has pushed the city to create a full-time
post to coordinate bicycle and pedestrian efforts. Des Moines has about 1,560
full-time positions, but no one dedicated to bicycling concerns.
“The city needs an advocate for bike and pedestrian issues," said
Scott Bents, board director for the Des Moines Bicycle Collective. "It
seems like the default for road and city design is for motor vehicle
transportation.”
Dozens of cyclists sporting green bicycle pins attended a city budget
hearing Tuesday night at the Des Moines Art Center. The hearing was part of the
city's #SpeakUpDSM series, designed to get feedback on spending priorities
headed into 2018 budget planning.
The Des Moines Bicycle Collective made a push to bring out cycling
advocates. It handed out the pins as a show of support for two-wheeled
transportation.
"First and foremost, what we're hearing ... is a desire by citizens for the city to
invest more in bicycling," City Manager Scott Sanders said. "The
question for the city manager is: How do we best implement that, given all of
our other needs?"
Residents asked the city to establish a bicycle advisory board to
provide city leaders with guidance on cycling issues. West Des Moines created a
bicycle advisory commission in 2011 that advises the city on bicycle plans,
programs and policies.
Cycling advocates say Des Moines should have created an advisory board
after adopting its Complete Streets plan in 2008, which says the city will
design streets to accommodate all modes of travel, and again in 2011, when it
created a bicycle and trail master plan.
"I ask for your patience," Sanders said. "The bike
pedestrian coordinator position is a good place to start. Deciding ... how do
we shift resources to more pedestrian and bicycles, is going to take some
time."
Sanders said an advisory board could be easy to assemble, but the city
would need to figure out its role among other city committees that touch on
things such as bicycle infrastructure.
"You don't want committees stepping on each other's toes," he
said.
That's why a coordinator position might be worth the funding, Sanders
said. That person could clarify the responsibilities of different departments
and boards when it comes to bicycle- and pedestrian-related issues.
"Today, so many different departments touch on elements of
bicycling and pedestrian safety and walkability elements," Sanders said.
"It's now worthy, in my mind, to advance it as a centralized
function."
Iowa City hired a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator a decade ago. That
position has helped lead successful campaigns for bike lanes and pedestrian
safety measures.
Bents said the Bicycle Collective will encourage its members to contact
city officials and urge them to support the bicycling coordinator position.
“We’re trying to capitalize on the enthusiasm from the meeting last
night,” Bents said. “That’s the only way it’s going to happen.”