New Active Transportation Board to Begin Work in May
The new board will help guide Bentonville’s biking, walking, and accessibility efforts.
Sam Hoisington
April 08, 2025
On Tuesday night, the City Council approved the appointments of the nine inaugural members of the Active Transportation Advisory Board.
The creation of the board was approved at a City Council meeting in October, and it is expected to begin meeting in May.
The board will:
Gather public input and share it with city officials to guide decisions about biking, walking, and accessible transportation.
Recommend investments, safety rules, and funding strategies for improving trails, sidewalks, and bikeways across Bentonville.
Work with local organizations and city departments to coordinate efforts and address active transportation-related challenges.
Among those appointed is Luke Powers, who was clipped by a truck while riding his bike in 2023. His experience helped spur the creation of the board, as previously reported by The Bentonville Bulletin.
Members will serve staggered terms to ensure continuity over time. The full list of members:
One-year terms: Steven George, Christina Johnson, and Luke Powers
Two-year terms: Monica Diodati, Jocelyn Lampkin, and Jason McCrory
Three-year terms: Ashley Calderon, Shannon Reyenga, and Evan Springer
Sadie Koudelka, an IGNITE student from Bentonville West High School, will serve as a youth ex-officio representative.
In their application materials, the new board members shared why they were interested in joining the board:
“I'm a carless resident of Bentonville that depends on public transportation and walking and biking infrastructure to get around … I want the place I live to be walkable, safe, and reflective of the people who live here, regardless of income.”
“I want my daughter to have the best quality of life. She’s 5 months old and the sweetest baby ever. By the time she’s 10, I want her to have the freedom to explore the city with a friend on their bikes. I want Bentonville to be so safe, so well designed, and have such an inviting culture that our kids don’t grow up under house arrest. I envision a city where all road users enjoy their commutes.”
“I moved to Bentonville this year, and the exceptional active transportation infrastructure inspired me to start biking to work. What started off as a few days a week endeavor has evolved into a complete change of lifestyle. Not only do I now bike to work every day, I also bike to run errands, go to the square, see concerts or visit friends whenever possible.”
“I hope to contribute my input as a teenager and voice my opinion to help other teenagers feel heard and seen. As a student in the Ignite program who drives an extraordinary amount, I'd like to share my experience with the board regarding transportation.”