Spokane council interviews Bicycle Advisory Board applicants; candidates urge improved trail signage, mechanic training and network connections

Spokane City Council heard four applicants for the Bicycle Advisory Board during its agenda review meeting, with candidates praising existing trail facilities and urging targeted changes to help more residents bike for everyday trips.

The applicants — Clark Tucker, Claudine Zender, Daniel Powell and Jared (last name not specified) — each described long experience riding and offered ideas for immediate improvements. Clark Tucker said he rode “over 630 miles purely for commuting” last year and suggested “improved signage along the trails to help pedestrians and bicycles cohabitate.” Claudine Zender, who said she lives in the Haystack Heights cohousing community, noted Spokane’s trail network and said, “Your bicycle facilities are absolutely unequaled.” Daniel Powell, a longtime local rider, said he has “probably done a hundred thousand miles just around town” and suggested focusing on tying existing routes together. Jared, who described cycling experience in Madison, Wisconsin and Paris, urged the council to prioritize routes that connect people’s homes to grocery stores and workplaces rather than only creating loops for recreation.

The applicants also highlighted gaps beyond pavement. Jared and others said residents sometimes refrain from using longer routes because they worry about flats or mechanical failures; Jared recommended more accessible mechanic training and routine “fix-a-flat” events. Clark and Jared asked council members to review the city’s '27 by '27 plan and provide feedback; a council member noted the council had approved the initiative to add 27 miles by 2027 and invited the applicants to submit comments.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the plan and recruitment steps. Council President Wilkerson said the council will vote on appointments in the coming weeks. The city staff did not take any appointment action during the meeting.

Why it matters: Applicants combined lived experience with concrete, near-term proposals — clearer signage, community mechanic training and a focus on connecting the prioritized network to everyday destinations — that align with the council’s existing '27 by '27 initiative and could influence the advisory board’s priorities if these volunteers are appointed.

Next steps: Council members said they will consider the applicants and hold a vote at a future meeting; no appointment was made at this session.