Riders with Ozark Gravel Cyclists gather outside Puritan Coffee & Beer before the group’s weekly Thirsty Thursday group ride on Dickson Street in Fayetteville. (Ozark Gravel Cyclists)FAYETTEVILLE – The city this month added 13 more companies to the list of Bicycle Friendly Businesses, as designated by the League of American Bicyclists.
With Fayetteville now having 50 official bike-friendly businesses, it’s the third most of any city in the country. And with only 48 total businesses being added to the Spring 2023 list in the U.S., Fayetteville businesses made up 27% of the overall spring cohort.
“There is always fierce competition among cities to be among the top places with the most BFBs as both a point of pride and to encourage more bicycling tourism,” according to a League news release. “This round, Fayetteville, Arkansas, stood out.”
The designation recognizes an organization’s commitment to making workplaces more welcoming to both customers and employees who bike. Some things businesses can do to receive the designation include providing secure bicycle parking, encouraging staff to bike to work, offering amenities for cyclists, such as showers, changing rooms or lockers, and supporting local bicycling organizations by donating money, volunteering time, or participating in events.
Staybridge Suites is one of eight Fayetteville hotels designated as a Bicycle Friendly Business.
“We have had several international bicycling teams stay at our hotel thanks to our willingness to let bikes in rooms and the storage lockers,” said Hydisia Bird, front office manager at Staybridge Suites. “In addition, the extra notoriety of having a Bicycle Friendly Business certification goes a long way in cyclists wanting to be supportive of our facility.”
Top 5 U.S. cities for the most bike-friendly businesses
1. Tampa, Fla. (68)
2. Fort Collins, Colo. (59)
3. Fayetteville, Ark. (50)
4. Arlington, Va. (48)
5. St. Petersburg, Fla. (47)
Data: League of American Bicyclists
The new Fayetteville additions include silver-level businesses Columbus House Brewery and Barn on the Hill, along with bronze-level businesses Staybridge Suites, Subway 11433, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Sleep Inn, Comfort Inn Suites, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Boulders and Brews, Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, Feed and Folly, City Park and Spin.
The news comes after Fayetteville last year was named the first Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community in Arkansas. With 50 of the state’s 76 Bicycle Friendly Businesses located in Fayetteville, the city now represent 66% of all the officially designated businesses in Arkansas.
» See a database of all BFBs in the U.S. at bikeleague.org.
Fayetteville Bicycle-Friendly Businesses
Adventure Subaru – Bronze
Barn on the Hill – Silver
Bio-Tech Pharmacal, Inc. – Bronze
Boulders and Brews (Climbing + Coffee) – Bronze
City Park – Bronze
City of Fayetteville Arkansas – Silver
City of Fayetteville Sustainability Department Offices – Platinum
Clinton House Museum – Bronze
Columbus House Brewery – Silver
Comfort Inn Suites – Bronze
Crown Barbershop – Gold
Delta Group Electronics – Bronze
Dirty Apron BakeHouse – Bronze
Entegrity – NWA Regional Office – Gold
Experience Fayetteville – Bronze
Fairfield Inn & Suites – Fayetteville – Bronze
Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce – Silver
Fayetteville Public Library – Silver
Fayetteville Town Center – Silver
Feed and Folly – Bronze
Field Agent – Silver
Fossil Cove Brewing Co. – Bronze
FTN Associates – Bronze
Garver of Fayetteville – Gold
Graduate Fayetteville – Silver
Hampton Inn and Suites – Bronze
Highroller Cyclery – Bronze
Homewood Suites by Hilton – Bronze
La Quinta Inn & Suites – Bronze
Lake Fayetteville Boat & Bike Rental – Gold
Maurice Jennings + Walter Jennings Architects, PLLC – Bronze
McClelland Consulting Engineers – Bronze
modus studio – Bronze
Mount Sequoyah Center – Bronze
Northwest Arkansas Land Trust – Bronze
Ozark Natural Foods – Bronze
Pack Rat Outdoor Center – Silver
Pedego – Silver
Einstein Bros Bagels – Bronze
Prime Real Estate & Development – Bronze
Puritan Coffee & Beer – Bronze
Rockin’ Baker – Silver
Sleep Inn – Bronze
Southern Food Company – Bronze
Specialized Real Estate Group – Silver
Spin – Bronze
Staybridge Suites – Bronze
Subway 11433 – Bronze
Theo’s – Bronze
Veo – Bronze
