Bicycle Friendly Community

Conway, AR | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: During the past three years, Conway and its partners have added more than 100 miles of new bicycle network, including striped lanes, sharrowed lanes, and shared use paths. By passing the Complete Street ordinance and tying it to the street fund, the City has provided a perpetual source of revenue to fund the continuing work. Conway increased awareness through city and partner programs, regular newspaper columns, school efforts, and special training events. The local LCIs are often busy hosting training events for both youth and adults. The local advocacy and advisory groups use mass media to present a consistent message to the public, with information about the benefits of increased ridership. The Safe Routes to School committee is building sub-committees at K-8 schools throughout the city, using previous grants for targeted promotion and educations, and pursuing new grant money for infrastructure additions. Through events and activities, including group rides, races, tours, and chamber of commerce involvement to promote cycling, Conway is establishing itself as a regional cycling destination for residents and visitor alike. The city's efforts with National Bike Month have been lauded by the public and local business; the local advocacy groups have sponsored innumerable campaigns; and, the events and races are draws for enthusiasts and families from throughout the region.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishements:Conway has proceeded with the comprehensive implementation of its bicycling master plan, including paint and signage along roadways, as well as increased connectivity of many previous gaps in the network. This has dramatically increased the number of arterial and local streets, which are marked with lanes and sharrows that now interconnect to the ever-expanding off-street trail system, creating a unified bicycling network covering most of the city. In addition, the City Council passed an ordinance requiring bicycle parking to be provided at all new multi-family, office, commercial, and industrial developments in 2010. More than eighty new bike racks have been installed by City employees at City buildings and parks as well as along public sidewalks near downtown shopping, dining, residential, and employment locations.