Bicycle & Pedestrian

Kimberly Sanders
Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator
Email: Kim.Sanders@ardot.gov
Phone: (501) 569-2020

News:

New 11^th Edition Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) – New in this addition are changes to improve the accessibility and safety of vulnerable road users. Of note among the many provisions is that the “Share the Road” sign is no longer in the MUTCD. The IN ROAD (W16-P) plaque or IN STREET (W16aP) plaque has replaced it. These plaques must be mounted with a warning or regulatory sign. Also, the “Bikes May Use Full Lane” sign has been removed and replaced with “Bikes Allowed to Us Full Lane.” (R9-20)

U.S. Bike Routes 80 and 51 now through Arkansas– The designation of USBR 80 in Arkansas is from the Tennessee state line to North Little Rock. It is the first USBR segment designated in Arkansas and the first segment of USBR 80 designated in the country. A feasibility study for route selection was completed by the consulting firm Crafton Tull. The Study was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention through the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Division of Family and Preventive Medicine-Center for Health and Education’s SPAN (State Physical Activity and Nutrition) team.

If you start this trek from Tennessee (Memphis) you will enjoy a beautiful ride along the Harahan Bridge (or Big River Bridge) over the mighty Mississippi River from Memphis Tennessee to West Memphis, Arkansas. From there you will start your journey in Arkansas on the Big River Trail. Along the scenic and rural settings are the historical downtowns of Marianna, which is the home of the James Beard Award winning Jones BBQ, Clarendon, Stuttgart, and England. Amenities such as camping and southern cuisine can be enjoyed in various hub communities along the route. The journey ends at the foot of the world’s first longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge, The Big Dam Bridge that spans the Arkansas River between North Little Rock and Little Rock.

The designation of USBR 51 in Arkansas is from the Missouri state line to Alma, Arkansas. This is the first USBR 51 segment designated in Arkansas. It is the northern most segment that will eventually connect to the Louisiana border. Approximately 35 miles of this route follows along the Razorback Greenway. A separated trail system that serves as a transportation spine for both Washington and Benton Counties. The Razorback Greenway connects will connect touring cyclists to restaurants, hotels, entertainment, and other amenities.

The terrain is the Boston Mountain range at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. The ride is adjacent to a beautiful overlook including the scenic Lake Fort Smith flanked by rustic cabins and picknick areas. Depending on your direction of travel, it could be an uphill climb as you move north or a downhill slide southbound. From the Missouri border the route moves south through some of Arkansas most urbanized areas while also being in the backdrop of some of the most scenic vistas for cycling. As the route continues south of Fayetteville on state highway 70, the setting turns rural as you move through smaller more quaint communities of West Fork, Winslow and Mountainburg. This phase of the USBR 51 will terminate in Alma, Arkansas.

If you have had the opportunity to ride either of these or any of the USBR routes. Adventure Cycling would like to hear from you. Please visit this survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N62DRPF and give your thoughts. There are 25 questions and they should take about 5 – 10 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept anonymous. The survey will be open until July 30. Later this Fall Adventure Cycling will share the results of the survey and we will post them here or provide a link.

Upcoming Events:

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Conference
Detroit, Michigan – August 14-15, 2024 and the State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinators Meeting
National Week Without Driving Challenge (America Walks)
September 30 – October 6, 2024
Safe Routes to School National Conference (Safe Routes Partnership)
October 22 – 24, 2024, Fort Collins, CO
World Trails Conference 2024
September 30 – October 3, 2024, Ottawa, Canada
True Grit Ride – Fort Smith
Arkansas Graveler – Fayetteville

Active Transportation and Safety:

How walkable is your neighborhood?

People for Bikes City Ratings (Little Rock)

Support Local Bike Infrastructure

Road Safety Audits (RSA), request one for your community – RSA are one of FHWA proven safety countermeasures and the review encompasses all road users.

Bicycle Friendly Community Ideabook –

ARDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordination

Project Development – Review scheduled highway projects for bicycle pedestrian accommodations based on ARDOT existing policies.
Policy Development – Manage updates of ARDOT policies on bicycle and pedestrian accommodation, such as the Bicycle Facilities Accommodation policy and the Sidewalk Policy.
Corridor Planning – Assist Project Planning staff in development of bicycle-pedestrian recommendations for corridor planning studies.
Statewide Planning –Manage, coordinate and implement updates to ARDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian related plans and policies.
State/local Planning – Serve as a liaison between ARDOT and State agencies, local communities, MPOs and others in development and implementation of their bicycle pedestrian plans, programs, and policies.

Goals of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Program:

To further ARDOT’s TZD goal, by coordinating infrastructure design planning, programs, and policies that focus on safety and awareness of Vulnerable Road Users (VRU).
Continue ARDOT’s efforts Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), by advancing the strategies outlined in the Arkansas Strategic Highway Safety Plan. A plan that provides a framework for reducing non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries on the state’s highway system.
Complete Streets Policy development
Continue to plan and develop the statewide bicycle network (USBR 80 West, USBR 251) to foster the growing bicycle tourism in the state.
Participate in a grass roots development of a Statewide B/P Advocacy group.

ARDOT Ongoing Bicycle & Pedestrian Special Projects

U.S. Bike Route 80 –The United States Bike Route (USBR) is a national network of state highways, city streets, county roads and bike paths. Its purpose is to facilitate bike travel across the country. In the Fall of 2022 AASHTO designated the first segment of USBR 80 from the Tennessee border in Memphis to North Little Rock Arkansas. Work is underway to apply for USBR 80 designation from North Little Rock to Fort Smith. To date, there are over 18,000 miles in 34 states that have been designated USBR by AASHTO and Adventure Cycling.
U.S. Bike Route 51 – The planned route is from the Missouri Border north of Bella Vista south to Alma.
Hub Communities Program Development – The committee will also identify Hub Communities along the USBR for the purpose of promoting local business development to serve the bicycle tourism market. These local businesses will provide food, lodging, supplies and information.
Safely Share the Road Campaign – As the number of road users who choose to walk and bike increases, so does the number of serious injuries and fatalities to those users. The ARDOT Strategic Highway Safety Plan identifies the following education strategies in its Emphasis Area Action Plan to reduce these increasing numbers among Bicyclists and Pedestrians. Based on this Action Plan ARDOT will develop a media campaign producing the following;
- Public services messages that target school children on bicycle and pedestrian safety.
- Public services messages that are aimed at increasing the awareness of the dangers of bicycle and pedestrian traffic on high volume roadways
- Utilize social media to educate the public on bicycle/pedestrian laws and safety