We hope you had a chance to see Arkansas Outside on KATV Good Morning Arkansas this morning. We talked about Arkansas’s participation in celebrating the bicycle this month. In case you missed it, below is the information we discussed with Ansley Watson plus more that we didn’t have time for.
National Bike Month is a celebration of cycling held every May in the United States. It is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast-to-coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and to encourage more folks to give bicycling a try. As part of National Bike Month, National Bike to Work Week is usually held the third week of May, with Bike to Work Day being on that Friday.
The idea for National Bike Month was first proposed by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. The league saw an opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of bicycling and to encourage more people to ride their bikes. The first National Bike Month was celebrated in 1956, and it has been celebrated every year since then.
National Bike Month is a great opportunity to learn more about the benefits of bicycling and to get involved in your community. There are many events and activities that take place during National Bike Month, so there is something for everyone. If you are interested in learning more about National Bike Month, you can visit the League of American Bicyclists website.
Here are some of the benefits of bicycling:
- Bicycling is a great way to get exercise.
- Bicycling is a good way to reduce air pollution.
- Bicycling is a fun and healthy way to get around.
- Bicycling can help you save money on transportation costs.
- Bicycling can help you improve your mental and emotional health.
If you are interested in giving bicycling a try, there are many resources available to help you get started. The League of American Bicyclists has a website with information on how to find a bike, how to ride safely, and how to get involved in your community. There are also many local bike shops that can help you get started.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proclaimed the Month of May as Bike Month in the State of Arkansas. In the proclamation, she stated,
- WHEREAS, the State of Arkansas has not designated a state sport in the law; and
- WHEREAS, bicycling is a sport that all Arkansas citizens may enjoy regardless of age or ability level; and
- WHEREAS, Arkansas has numerous bicycling trails and routes across the state totaling over two thousand seven hundred (2,700) miles; and
- WHEREAS, the USA Cycling announced that the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team will be based in Bentonville in a lead-up to the 2028 Olympics (link); and
- WHEREAS, the League of American Bicyclists has designated Fayetteville, Arkansas a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community (link), the first in Arkansas and there is one (1) Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community and six (6) Bronze- level Bicycle Friendly Communities in Arkansas; and
- WHEREAS, the Adventure Cycling Association designated a one hundred seventy-seven and a half-mile bicycle route from Memphis to Little Rock, as an official United States Bicycle Route (USBR 80) and this path takes cyclists from the Mississippi River in West Memphis to the Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock through rural areas and historical downtowns of the Arkansas Delta (link); and
- WHEREAS, the third grade class at Evening Star Elementary School in Bentonville, Arkansas, have worked to get legislation drafted making cycling the state sport and this is the first step in their endeavor,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
THAT the House of Representatives, proclaim the month of May as Bike Month in Arkansas.
Some recent Arkansas news involving cycling includes:
- Fayetteville has been ranked third in the nation for the number of bicycle-friendly businesses. (link)
- Oz Brands announced OZ Gravel, a lifestyle brand promoting Northwest Arkansas’ gravel cycling scene. (link)
- Arkansas State Parks recently hosted a national mountain bike event, the Big Mountain Enduro Race bringing riders from over 35 states to Arkansas. (link)
- Arkansas is one of only two states to pass stoplight and stop sign legislation to support urban cycling. (link)
- Arkansas State Parks continue to develop the Delta Heritage Trail. (link)
- The Monument Trails in Arkansas State Parks were recently named the best system of mountain bike trails in the country by Outside Magazine. (link)
This Friday, May 19, is National Bike to Work Day, so if you don’t bike to work already, work out a route now and get your bike ready.
You can find more information and support bike-friendly communities at:
- Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas (BACA)
- NWA Trailblazers
- Bicycle Fayetteville
- Conway Advocates for Cycling
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy National Bike Month!
