ADVOCACY
Advocacy is defined as the
act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a
cause, idea, or policy; active support.
Our goal is to do so on
behalf of bicycling in Central Arkansas. We exist to advocate
the many benefits of bicycling to our community.
BACA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS CONTINUE - CLOSE THE LOOP
In connection
with the Build Our Bridge Campaign, BACA has established the
Close the Loop Task Force, a coalition of River Trail users
whose purpose is to advocate the conversion of the Rock Island
Bridge to a bicycle pedestrian bridge and completion of the
Little Rock River Trail. Steve Bentley has been selected as
chair of the task force. He and other task force members have
met with the Mayors of Little Rock and North Little Rock and
representatives of the Clinton Foundation. All are supportive of
conversion of the Rock Island Bridge and completion of the River
Trail. The Clinton Foundation is committed to building the
Bridge. The Clinton Foundation wants to continue an open
dialogue with us; but they are not at the point to give a date
as to when the Bridge will be completed. Mayor Stodola has sent
the Clinton Foundation an ultimatum. The Foundation is obligated
to build in exchange for getting the land from the City of
Little Rock
The Task Force has designed a “Close the Loop” logo to be placed
on long-sleeved t-shirts.
BACA SUPPORTS BUILD OUR BRIDGE CAMPAIGN
In 2001 the
Clinton Foundation promised to renovate the Rock Island Bridge
at the Presidential Center to become a part of our 14 mile
Arkansas River Trail Loop. To date that promise to our City is
unfulfilled. The Foundation also sold to the public many
thousands of dollars of commemorative brick pavers that were to
be installed on the bridge and that commitment is unfulfilled as
well. BACA supports the efforts of the Build Our Bridge campaign
to persuade the Foundation to fulfill its promise to complete
the Bridge.
The BACA Board, at its April, 2008 Board meeting, adopted the
following principles in support of the Campaign: (1) That the
Foundation establish a reasonable timeline to complete the
bridge conversion; (2) that the Foundation pursue by its own
initiative funding for the bridge conversion from all available
revenue sources; and (3) that there non-intrusive public and
private lobbying for the bridge conversion with specific regard
to positive interactions with the Foundation and the public.
On June 3, 2008, a group of 7 supporters stood outside the
Clinton Presidential Center and handed out flyers about the
Build our Bridge campaign. They wore stickers saying "I (heart)
trails." The peaceful, non-intrusive demonstration was to
coincide with the Rotary Club's meeting at the Center, but the
Rotary Club changed its meeting location at the last minute.
Additional informational demonstrations are planned. Check the
www.buildourbridge.com
website. In addition, we will be sending e-mails to our members
about the demonstrations.
