Traffic is a growing pain. We see evidence of this bittersweet ache throughout Bentonville, whether we’re running errands on Walton or navigating Downtown around mealtimes. Thankfully, our one-of-a-kind biking culture helps break up the saltiness of packed parking garages and lengthy commutes.
“Twenty-three years ago, if you were in Bentonville, you had to go to Fayetteville for everything,” recalls Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman. “Now, we get to stay in Bentonville. I think that shows the evolution of the area.”
Orman and Velocity NWA Founder, Kourtney Barrett, recently collaborated on a Ride to Work Wednesdays campaign, demonstrating the ease of mobile meetings and the perks of exploring a growing Bentonville by bike.
“Ride to Work is really just about having candid conversations on a bicycle,” Barrett explains. “Showing the human side of leaders and our beautiful town. In Bentonville, we like to do things a little bit differently. The big picture is best seen on a bike.”
I can attest to this truth. After joining Social Ride Bentonville for one of its Monday rides from Archie’s Sandwichery, I saw a side of Bentonville that is best explored via Greenway rather than my go-to single-track. The mellow ride began with cruising down Central past Conifer to the Amazeum, then looping back through Walmart Campus and The Momentary grounds before ending at the Square.
This infrastructure is a priority in the City’s work to make alternative mobility a pillar of the Bentonville lifestyle.
“There was a lot of intentionality with creating infrastructure that makes you want to slow down,” Orman said. “We want you to connect with your community. But along with that, we're always concerned about safety. It’s important for us to help educate the public and learn how we make mobility safe for everybody.”
This is where the Mayor’s collaboration with Barrett comes into play. Barrett’s work through Velocity–a Walmart consultant–focuses on behavior strategy, educational storytelling, and brand activation. She and her team work with various community leaders on initiatives, including Ride to Work Wednesdays, Active Commuter Academy, and a bike share program. Each program is part of a larger campaign to create welcoming opportunities for locals to swap their car for a bicycle.
“At Walmart, for Ride to Work Wednesdays, about 103 individuals have said ‘yes’ to bike training to work every Wednesday of the year,” Barrett shared. “The Active Commuter Academy is a free educational resource where we collaborate with the police department, the parks department, the fire department, the Mayor, the school district…all of these different collaborators on what safe bike commuting looks like. Then we require you to complete this eight-minute educational video before you receive your e-bike rebate.”
We can thank Walmart and the Walton Family Foundation for the Bentonville E-Bike Rebate program. The goal is to increase buy-in for alternative transportation by easing the financial burden of e-bike ownership. Eligible applicants can receive a $800 to $1,600 rebate on the purchase of an e-bike, e-cargo bike, or adaptive e-bike.
“With the e-bike rebate, I was able to get an e-cargo bike, and that's the bike of choice now,” Barrett said. “No matter what the day brings, my bike can do it all.”
If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘Despite living in the biking capital of the world, I’m not much of a biker,' Orman hopes her Ride to Work video with Barrett serves as encouragement.
“It’s important to me that we encourage everyone to try biking in whatever way they are comfortable,” she said. “I'm not nearly as good on a bike as Kourtney, but I want everyone to experience our trails and be able to do it with their families. We have some amazing bikers here, so when you see them invite someone who is not at the same level, I think that makes our biking culture very special.”
“When our leadership shows that they can hop on a mountain bike and ride with other women, that’s inspiration,” Barrett added. “That’s the whole point of the Ride to Work program; just showing how easy and fun it is.”
Both Orman and Barrett explained that the invitation is as important as the ‘Yes.”
“Kyla Templeton really got me started riding in the very beginning,” Barrett shared. “It didn't take long, and Allyson de la Houssaye, Lauren Pickman, Ashley Patterson, and Ashley O’Reilly…so many of these women were like, ‘Let's ride together.’”
She’s talking about the genesis of Women of OZ, a women’s cycling group that Orman says helped her get reacquainted with her bike and local trails.
“I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would say, ‘No,’ to joining you on a ride or helping you learn,” Barrett says. “That's not the spirit of Bentonville. We all get the opportunity every day to affect the local culture. That's something that we all have to have ownership over.”
And isn’t this the heart of it all? The Bentonville Way is one that is welcoming, social, and collaborative. It’s a place brimming with enthusiasm for the outdoors, entrepreneurial spirit, and neighborly support. It’s both ambitious and easy-going, and many of us are navigating this rare lifestyle on a bike.
If the options feel overwhelming, or group activities feel intimidating, take note from Orman or Barrett’s ideal ‘bikeable’ day in Bentonville to get started.
“We've created so many spaces in Bentonville, where I feel like I can do my perfect day every day in some different way,” Orman says. “I would probably start by getting on one of our bikes at City Hall and riding down Main to 8th Street. Then, take that infrastructure over to the Walmart Campus; there's a new coffee shop I need to check out. Depending on the day, I’d ride back Downtown to stop by the Farmers Market or hit the Crystal Bridges Trail before having brunch or lunch with my family.”
For Barrett, the ideal bikeable day starts at work with ‘moving meetings’ or biking to a luncheon. At the end of the workday, you’ll find her riding and socializing via her e-bike.
“Most likely, I will see people I know also commuting or at a cafe,” she said. “I love progressive stops with unexpected interactions that continue the efficiency of the day. You can do it all on a bike. If you want to socialize and connect with people, it's easier to do it on a bike.”
She says she likes a slow start and end to her days, offering a moment for quiet reflection.
“Entrepreneur or not, we are all in a hurry most of the time,” she adds. “But we can be intentional to slow down and enjoy the relationships we've made. That's a big part of the Bentonville experience, and it’s the best. I don't think you could pry any of us out of this town.”
"If you want to socialize and connect with people, it's easier to do it on a bike. That's a big part of the Bentonville experience."
"We've created so many spaces in Bentonville, where I feel like I can do my perfect day every day in some different way."