By Bradley Bleck
Cover photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck
When it comes to bicycling safety in Spokane, the often negative perception is far from the reality. That negative perception is often fueled by a fear that many drivers are unwilling to share the road. The fact of the matter is that in Spokane and the Inland Northwest, thanks to the efforts of government leaders and cycling advocates, cycling is becoming increasingly accessible and safe.
One strong indication of progress is Spokane being awarded Silver Level Bicycle Friendly City status by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). Silver level was achieved after eight years at Bronze. The LAB describes Silver-level cities as being “welcoming to most bicyclists, but [the city] may not be reaching the full range of people who would like to bike commute, but don’t yet feel comfortable doing so.”
Another indication of Spokane’s cycling progress is the return of Jon Snyder, Out There’s founder, to city government as the director of transportation and sustainability. Snyder says, “This is a great time for Spokane. There are people working hard both inside and outside city hall to improve our transportation system. I’m here to amplify those efforts.”
Now being a great time is reflected in National Household Transit Survey data showing that Spokane has nearly three times the national average of bicycle commuters. About 1.4 percent of daily commutes in Spokane are by bicycle compared to 0.5 percent nationally. Over the last 10 years, Spokane cycling commutes have nearly doubled from 0.8 percent to 1.4 percent.
Tyler Kimbell, Spokane City Planner and Bicycle Advisory Board liaison, says, “We are trying to get better through infrastructure and design to protect people on the roadway.” Kimbell says infrastructure development targets those who would cycle if there were safer and more accessible infrastructure. He says “if we target that audience of cyclists, we can really increase the number of people” on bikes.
So what has the city done to target these cyclists? There are a number of recently completed projects and others in the works, all aimed at creating safer infrastructure. Projects include extending the shared use path on Sunset Boulevard from Government Way to Spotted Road. Currently ending at Royal Street, this would be a nearly two-mile extension. West Maxwell is set to have a protected, buffered bike lane from Pettett Drive to Walnut Street. Protected bike lanes are to be added along North Lincoln from Summit Parkway to Maxwell. The Children of the Sun Trail crossing of the Spokane River is also slated for completion.
In addition for 2025, bike lanes on Country Homes and Cascade Way will be widened. There will be eight traffic calming projects in the city, each making those areas safer for all users, not just cyclists. Affected neighborhoods include Minnehaha, Hillyard, Cliff/Cannon, Five Mile, and West Central. There are also several projects about to go to design, each offering clear evidence that citizen involvement and cycling advocacy pay off.
None of the infrastructure would be possible without the policy work that includes the Bicycle Priority Network, Bicycle Parking Guidelines, and the “27 by 2027” project, which looks to complete 27 miles of greenways by the year 2027. The Bicycle Priority Network aims to establish a fully connected network of safe, all-ages bicycle routes connecting people to almost anywhere in the city.
All of the work is the result of meticulous planning. The city is working with Parametrix, a Sumner, Wash., consulting group. Kimbell says the Parametrix data helps the city with “analysis of our existing network and honing in on the best routes for accessibility, for people to feel comfortable.” This data gives the city “a quantitative background that allows us to apply for grants and hopefully get implementation done quickly.”
It’s not just the city who is making the area more conducive to cycling. The Spokane Regional Transportation Council 2025-2028 Improvement Program includes six active transportation projects, including funding for a Fish Lake Trail connection to the Children of the Sun Trail, the Pacific Avenue Greenway, and a shared use Path along Sunset Highway.
All this progress doesn’t mean that concerns aren’t merited. According to Washington Department of Transportation data, since 2015 there have been 12 cycling-related fatalities in Spokane county and 101 collisions with a suspected serious injury.
The most recent cycling-related fatality for the City of Spokane found in WSDOT data is not even for a cyclist. Danielle Littrell died on July 2, 2024, while descending the South Hill on a scooter. She was struck and killed at the intersection of Fourth and Lincoln when a car pulled into her path.
Kimbell says, “At the end of the day, the city’s goal is vision zero, no serious injuries or fatalities. For us, if you build a community around bicycling and people start to see that, it becomes more comfortable. It becomes a norm.”
Sponsored by Barden & Barden
Bradley Bleck is a long-time Spokane cycling advocate and Out There contributor.
