Bentonville

 

I just got back from a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. I was there to ride bikes with a buddy of mine and his son. There was a big bike race/ride called the Hincappie Grand Fondo but we went early to take advantage of trails surrounding town.  And, oh my goodness, do they have trails.

If you don’t know much about Bentonville, just know that it is the headquarters for Walmart.  The Walton family has been responsible for much of the growth of this town, which used to be a sleepy little place in the northwest corner of Arkansas.

The Walton family has been responsible for turning this town into a mecca for outdoor activities and a healthy lifestyle.  Bentonville has embraced a culture that promotes getting outdoors and all the good that goes along with that.

They have 129 miles of mountain bike trails, 137 miles of hiking trails, and the Razorback Greenway that can take you all around the city or to nearby Fayetteville. Coffee shops and cool restaurants all around town. A truly world-class art museum in the Crystal Bridges Art Museum.

In town, I often saw more bicycles than cars. They don’t just have bike lanes—they have bicycle highways.  Two lanes with a shoulder! And in areas where the bike lanes parallel busy streets, these gigantic bolsters that would block most vehicles from drifting into the bike lanes.

But I’m not here to make the all-star list for the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce. I’m here to talk about how we can take advantage of what we have here.

Now, don’t get me wrong—we aren’t going to become another Bentonville. We don’t have Walmart money backing everything that we do. What we can do is to grow and foster what we already have. 

For one thing, we can change our mindset about transportation. I hear complaints about the road infrastructure but if we didn’t hop in the car and skip around town for every little whim, traffic might be better. The Greenbelt is wonderful but if there were more access points, into neighborhoods all around town, maybe more people would be inclined to travel around by bicycle.

At times, we love our Smoky Mountains to death. Cades Cove is one of the most beautiful places in the world, yet bumper-to-bumper vehicles creeping around those 11 miles is the last place I want to be.

There are many places in the Smokies that you can go and avoid the crowds. And for goodness sake, get out of your vehicle. You’ll see more, feel more, smell more. There are 900 miles of trails in our national park.

Get out on the water. We’re surrounded by it. Ever paddle down the Little River?  It’s a magical experience. Or go up to the boat ramp just below Chilhowee dam and paddle over to the mouth of Citico Creek. You might even see Bald Eagles along the way.

You don’t have to have a big boat with a bigger motor to enjoy our waterways. A paddleboard, kayak, or canoe are far better.

Slow down and sit at a downtown café or coffee shop. We’ve got ‘em and they’re really cool places. And if one of those places has a musical performance, try that too. You might be amazed at the local talent.

Our country roads can be great places to bike but, dadgumit, bikers—respect the rules of the road. Stay to the right. Observe all traffic laws. If there is a group ride, stay in single file or, if there are a bunch of you, stay in a double line.

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles—please respect the right of the bicycle rider to be on those roads too. They’re not out there to slow you down or get in your way.

Hopefully you get my point. We have a wonderful place to work, live, and play. Take advantage of what is at your doorstep. Love your neighbor. Embrace our differences, what makes us unique.

We can’t be Bentonville. We can be better.