Whatcom County is looking for residents who care about safe streets and want a direct hand in shaping them. The Whatcom County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, known as BPAC, is accepting applications for new members who want to help guide county decisions on walking and biking infrastructure across the region.
The call for applicants comes from Whatcom County Public Works, which staffs and supports the committee. BPAC works alongside county staff to review projects and programs aimed at making it safer and more welcoming to travel on foot or by bicycle throughout unincorporated Whatcom County and its communities. If you have ever wished you had a seat at the table when roads and trails are planned, this is the formal mechanism for doing exactly that.
What BPAC Does and Why It Matters
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is not a symbolic body. It provides recommendations that feed directly into county planning decisions, capital project priorities, and grant applications related to active transportation. Members review proposed projects, weigh in on safety concerns, and bring the perspective of everyday cyclists and pedestrians into a planning process that can otherwise be dominated by vehicle traffic considerations.
Whatcom County has been working in recent years to expand its network of safe walking and biking routes, particularly in areas where pedestrians share road space with high-speed traffic. Rural roads in Whatcom County often lack shoulders, sidewalks, or marked crossings, creating real hazards for people traveling without a car. BPAC's work touches those problems directly, helping to identify where investments are most needed and what kinds of improvements would have the greatest impact.
The committee also plays a role in the county's compliance with federal transportation planning requirements, which increasingly require jurisdictions to demonstrate that they are meaningfully engaging communities of cyclists and pedestrians when making infrastructure decisions.
Who Should Apply
Whatcom County Public Works is looking for community members who have a genuine interest in active transportation, whether as regular cyclists, walkers, trail users, or advocates for safer streets. No professional background in planning or engineering is required, though people with experience in those fields are welcome to apply. What matters most is a willingness to engage with county staff, review project materials, and bring a community perspective to committee discussions.
The committee typically includes members from different parts of the county, reflecting the range of conditions faced by people who walk and bike in urban Bellingham, suburban Ferndale and Lynden, and rural stretches of the county where infrastructure is often thinnest. New members with experience in those varied environments are particularly valuable.
If you have been involved with cycling advocacy, trail maintenance, neighborhood planning, or simply have strong opinions about the condition of sidewalks and bike lanes near your home, BPAC is the official body through which those concerns can be channeled into county decision-making.
How to Learn More and Apply
Whatcom County Public Works has posted information about the committee and the application process through its official channels. Prospective applicants can learn about the committee's meeting schedule, member responsibilities, and current projects before submitting their interest. The county has also published information through the Whatcom County government website, where residents can find general information about county boards and committees open for public membership.
Serving on an advisory committee like BPAC is one of the more direct ways a Whatcom County resident can influence how public money is spent on the built environment. Members typically attend monthly meetings, review project documents in advance, and participate in discussions with county engineers and planners. The time commitment is modest compared to the potential impact, particularly for residents who live in areas where walking and biking infrastructure has historically been underfunded.
Whatcom County has been investing in active transportation infrastructure as part of broader transportation planning efforts. The county's chip seal and road maintenance programs, which affect road surfaces used by cyclists, have been running actively this summer across dozens of roads. Residents who want a voice in how those projects are prioritized and designed are exactly who BPAC is meant to include.
For context on other recent Whatcom County infrastructure work happening this month, a look at recent road and infrastructure updates in the county shows the range of transportation issues the region manages. Active transportation planning sits alongside that larger picture.
To find out more about BPAC and submit an application, visit the Whatcom County Planning and Development Services page or follow Whatcom County Public Works on social media for direct links to the application. The county has indicated the application link is available through its published outreach, and prospective members are encouraged to reach out with questions before applying. Spots on advisory committees like this one fill on a rolling basis, so residents interested in joining should not wait long to submit their materials.
