Local Businesses Apply to Be Bike Friendly Through BMC’s Workshops
In Bentonville, business is a pleasure, in part because of our bike-friendly businesses that welcome residents and cyclists. Currently, 15 Bicycle Friendly Businesses, as recognized by the League of American Bicyclists, operate in and around Bentonville.
Thanks to a workshop hosted by the Coalition in March that number will most certainly double. Quickly!
So far, nearly 20 local businesses have completed their applications to the League during these workshops, which means more Bicycle Friendly Businesses—and more good things for all of us.
(left to right) Jessica Pearson, executive director, Bentonville Moves, assists on an application during the March Bicycle Friendly Business workshop
Any business can claim they are bicycle friendly, but our local businesses are doing it right by applying for official recognition from the League of American Bicyclists. Businesses are recognized by the League for actively supporting and promoting bicycling and fostering a safe, comfortable and convenient cycling environment.
“It’s a lengthy application,” says Bret McCormick, community engagement manager, Bentonville Moves Coalition. “Our local businesses deserve a lot of credit and support, which is exactly why our Bentonville Moves Coalition Business Committee stepped up and showed its servant leadership.”
The Momentum Is Real
Bret and fellow Coalition members already feel the energy among Bentonville businesses toward achieving this recognition. “We have momentum,” he says.
“It makes one wonder if Bentonville could have the most bike-friendly businesses in America? With the leadership coming together in our community, I’m betting on it.”
The Bike Inn owner Jeremy Rose says that while being a Bicycle Friendly Business is good for business it also strengthens the city’s reputation as the mountain biking capital of the world.
“As Bentonville continues to grow and attract riders from all over the world, it's more important than ever for local businesses to take part in our bike-friendly identity. It sends a clear message: This is a community that values active transportation, outdoor recreation and forward-thinking infrastructure.”
Mark Bray of Airship Coffee feels the same. “With all four of Airship’s cafes located alongside trails, we’ve experienced firsthand the value of being a Bike Friendly Business in Bentonville. For us, more bikes mean more business,” he says.
More Workshops Coming Soon
The Coalition plans to host another Bicycle Friendly Business application workshop around September. Details to come, so stay tuned; we’ll post the date/time/location on our website and of course, on our social channels.
“Being in a room with other business owners who shared the same goal was inspiring,” says Kenny Williams, executive director, Pedal It Forward. “The camaraderie and collective effort to make Bentonville businesses more accessible motivated me to take the next steps and having people in the room who knew answers to complex questions made it so much easier to apply.”
Be a hand-raiser and business leader like these participants at our March 2025 Bicycle Friendly Business workshop held at the Bentonville Public Library.
So please join us. Your voice, your business—they mean more bike-friendly businesses for Bentonville, which is a lift for all of us.
For business owners, being a recognized Bicycle Friendly Business is an opportunity to be part of something bigger. For residents and cyclists, it makes daily life more accessible, healthy and connected. “Being a Bicycle Friendly Business isn’t just a label,” says The Bike Inn’s Jeremy Rose. “It’s a commitment to a better, more inclusive Bentonville.”
