Fayetteville rides mid-pack on list of top bike cities

Saddle up NWA, Fayetteville is the sixth most bicycle-friendly city in the U.S. according to the League of American Bicyclists.

• The city has 30 registered bicycle-friendly businesses (BFBs).
• By comparison, Bentonville has 11 BFBs and Rogers has four.

Why it matters: Bike-friendly communities are attractive to a growing number of tourists and professionals looking for places to live in the new work-from-home economy.

• Cycling reduces traffic, parking needs, CO2 emissions and is good for one's physical and mental health. Plus, it's fun.

The criteria: The league maintains a national registry of BFBs. It awards bicycle-friendly status to businesses based on certain criteria, including offering encouragement, education, and resources to help commuters bike safely and confidently.

• Application fees range from $50 for small businesses to $500 for businesses with 1,000 or more employees.

💬 Our thought bubble: Bentonville's Walmart Stores Inc. is a BFB and has the largest employee-related impact in NWA with 23,000 employees.

• But, c'mon, can't the city that calls itself the mountain bike capital of the world tie with Fayetteville? Challenge made.