BACA Advocacy Close the Loop

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.

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.

In May, 2010, the Clinton Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the acquisition of the needed funding for renovation of the Rock Island Bridge, soon to be known as the "Clinton Park Bridge." The renovated bridge is expected to be opened on September 30, 2011 (or thereabouts).

With the resources in place to connect the eastern end of the River Trail loop with the Clinton Park Bridge, the Task Force is focusing its efforts on a much tougher problem, that of making a safe and reliable connection of the River Trail through the City of Little Rock, from Murray Park, downtown to the River Market and Clinton Library Park. The current route, using multi-lane, arterial city streets and stretches of sidewalks, is poorly designed and considered, and fosters poor and unsafe riding practices. The Task Force's, and BACA's goal is to ensure that cyclists have a route that they can use safely and confidently using the River Trail as well as to any other destination in Little Rock.

LITTLE ROCK'S GAP IN THE RIVER TRAIL...

With the Two Rivers and Clinton Park bridges in place, why do we still harp about "Closing the Loop?" Because after many years, the City still advocates an uncomfortable, unsafe, difficult-to-navigate route between Murray Park and the end of the actual "River Trail" and the downtown area. Click on the above link to see just why this is still a problem...

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.