Clark County advisory committee urges council to fund, update 2010 bike-and-ped master plan

The Clark County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee told county council members on Tuesday that the county’s 2010 bicycle and pedestrian master plan should be updated and funded to address safety gaps and rising fatalities.

"This plan is now 16 years old. Its age shows," said Dave Zilloughby, chair of the advisory committee, as he outlined BPAC’s review of the county network and a proposed 2026 work plan. Zilloughby said the committee will help identify gaps and prioritize projects for the council’s consideration.

"Active transportation infrastructure is the built environment that makes it safe, convenient, and comfortable to get around without a car," said BPAC member Megan Phillip, defining the improvements the group seeks — sidewalks, crosswalks, protected bike lanes, trails and other facilities that separate people on foot and bicycle from motor vehicles.

Committee members pointed to local safety data and usage trends to make their case. "The data doesn't lie. It's the reality of what I see and navigate," said BPAC member Scott Sloan, who summarized county figures showing an average of seven to nine active-transportation user fatalities per year from 2015 through 2023, with that figure rising to 17 in 2024 (data attributed in the presentation to the county’s Target Zero manager).

BPAC recommended adopting a six-part bicycle-facility typology and using multimodal level-of-service metrics to match facility types to roadway speed and volume. Presenters said minimal county code definitions have allowed stripe-only bike lanes on fast roads that feel unsafe and discourage use.

The committee also pressed for better baseline data and accountability. "We have no routine collection of data regarding active transportation implementation," Brian Watson, a BPAC member, told the council, listing questions he said the county should answer: how many linear feet of each facility type were installed and at what cost, where gaps remain, how many near misses or complaints occurred, and which agency will be responsible for monitoring implementation.

Council members responded supportively and asked BPAC to provide specific, actionable recommendations. Council Chair Marshall called the presentation "excellent" and said he was receptive to next steps, including identifying an agency to take responsibility and establishing a baseline. Multiple councilors suggested BPAC coordinate with county planning staff and with the youth commission to fill the committee’s unoccupied youth seat.

BPAC highlighted community partners and programs — Bike Clark County, Vancouver Bike Club, Safe Routes to School, the Intertwine coalition and several local nonprofits — and said local outreach and demonstration projects could be used to test low-cost solutions while a broader plan update is scoped.

The council did not take a formal vote. Instead, staff were asked to help identify baseline data and an implementation lead; BPAC agreed to produce a gap map and specific action items for the council, to be routed through staff (council members suggested using Jordan as a staff contact). The committee framed the ask as a modest investment to improve safety, access and local mobility.

Next steps: BPAC will follow up with a prioritized gaps list and measurable recommendations. County planning staff indicated they will assist in assembling baseline metrics for the council to consider when budgeting and setting timelines.