Bike and Pedestrian Master Planning

Biking and walking is a great way to get around Spokane Valley because the city has the essential elements, considering most streets connect, congestion is minimal, terrain is often flat, and weather is suitable many months of the year. 

The prioritization of bike and pedestrian facility improvements in the city are guided by Chapter 5 (Transportation) of the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan describes the planning, development and management of existing and future multi-modal connections within Spokane Valley. 

Bike & Pedestrian Capital Improvements

As with many cities, Spokane Valley has limited funds to use to pursue its bike and pedestrian goals. Focused and prioritized resources will aid the city in having a positive impact on non-motorized transportation infrastructure. The city strives to make strategic investments of the limited resources available and where possible, leverage resources in cooperation with other governmental and private agencies. Priority is given to those projects anticipated to serve the greatest number of people and to contribute to overall safety. 

The Community & Public Works Department is responsible for the planning, design, construction, repair, maintenance, and operation of the city’s transportation system.  Bike and pedestrian improvements are often implemented through existing procedures such as restriping with pavement preservation projects.  The non-motorized transportation system can be viewed through our interactive online maps.

Safe Routes To School (SRTS)

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is an initiative to encourage and support biking and walking to school. Developing a SRTS program has a multitude of benefits, including public health, public safety, education and transportation.

The city has developed partnerships with the Spokane Regional Health District, West Valley School District, Central Valley School District, East Valley School District, Washington State University, and Bicycle Alliance of Washington to develop a SRTS program. The outcome of this collaborative effort is a comprehensive sidewalk inventory identifying ADA facilities (such as wheel chair ramps), crosswalks, dangerous intersections, and other pertinent data that will be used to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle improvements in an effort to increase safe routes to schools within our city. In cooperation, the city and school districts use the SRTS program to leverage funding for prioritized sidewalk projects and safer street crossings to encourage users to walk and bicycle to school.  

Through this collaborative effort, the following SRTS maps (poster size) were developed for the three school districts in the area.