Bike Month events kick off in Fayetteville

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan speaks Saturday morning before a group ride from Dickson Street to downtown Springdale for the official grand opening ceremony of the Razorback Greenway.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

May is National Bike Month, and several local events are planned to help celebrate the many benefits of bicycling and encourage more folks to give biking a try.

Mayor Lioneld Jordan helped kick off the month-long celebration along with a large group of residents Saturday morning along Frisco Trail near West Dickson Street. The event was part of a series of regional grand opening ceremonies held for the newly opened Razorback Greenway, a 37-mile trail from south Fayetteville to Bella Vista.

Following the event, cyclists were invited to either participate in a group bike ride or a free train ride to the main ceremony in Springdale where over 1,000 people gathered to help usher in the new trail system.

The following is a list of events scheduled for the remainder of the month:

Some cyclists rode their bicycles to downtown Springdale, while others enjoyed a free train ride to the event.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

May 6 – Bike to School Day
School officials are encouraging students to ride a bicycle in celebration of National Bike to School Day.

May 9 – Bike Month Booth at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market
Register for traffic skills 101 course. See more at the official Facebook event.

May 10 – Bike to the Game
Participants should meet at the depot on Dickson Street for an 11 a.m. ride to Baum Stadium for the Arkansas baseball team’s 12:05 p.m. game against Tennessee. Discounted general admission tickets will be offered to anyone who participates in the ride. A return trip to the depot will leave 15 minutes after the game ends.

May 11-15 – Bike to Work Week
Residents are encouraged to ride their bicycles to work all week as part of The League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike to Work Week.

May 15 – Bike to Work Day
Residents who are unable to ride to work every day during Bike to Work Week are encouraged to try riding to work at least one day on National Bike to Work Day.

May 15, 20, 28, 29 – FPS Bike Education Field Trips
Fayetteville Public Schools officials are seeking volunteers to ride along with students on tours of some of the city’s trails. See a full schedule with volunteer information here.

May 16, 23, 30 – Bike Maintenance Booth at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market
Receive minor bike maintenance and repair from mechanics at Good Bikes, Lewis & Clark Outfitters, and Phat Tire Bike Shop.

May through September – National Bike Challenge
The National Bike Challenge is five-month competition to see which community can rally the most residents to bike to work or school. Visit nationalbikechallenge.org for more information.

Residents cheer as an Arkansas-Missouri Railroad train enters the depot at Dickson Street Saturday morning before a grand opening ceremony for the Razorback Greenway.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff