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.”