Public transit in Bentonville is becoming more popular, but cars are still the predominant form of transportation.

According to the latest U.S. Census data, 95.8% of Bentonville residents who commute to work do so by car.

What’s life like for residents who don’t own a car?

The Bentonville Bulletin asked three intentionally car-free residents to share their experiences.

Most of the time, I walk or bike — probably 90% of my trips. I usually walk to work and for daily errands like groceries or the library, since my neighborhood has sidewalks. For longer rides, like going to Rogers, I bike along the Greenway and other trails. I currently ride a hybrid, but I’ve been thinking about investing in a cargo e-bike to make getting around quicker and more convenient, especially for hauling things or riding in the summer heat.

For longer trips — like to Fayetteville or Springdale — I usually get rides from friends, and we often make a day of it. That’s been a theme throughout my life: relying on community and shared trips to reach places that are harder to access without a car. I’d love to be more independent when traveling across NWA, but options are still pretty limited, especially on weekends. Biking between cities is possible, but it takes a lot of time and planning — it’s not something I can always do spontaneously.

I’ve occasionally used ORT’s on-demand service, usually when the weather’s bad or I’m carrying something too bulky to bike or walk with. I’m really glad it exists as it fills an important gap, but it’s not always reliable. I often find myself refreshing the app or waiting 30+ minutes for a ride, which makes it hard to count on for time-sensitive trips. Expanding driver availability and service hours or allowing people to schedule rides in advance would make a big difference in making it more usable day-to-day.

I’ve been in Bentonville a little over a year, and in that time, I’ve seen clear momentum toward making the city more walkable and bikeable. The trail system is great, and I feel lucky to live somewhere where active transportation is encouraged. But there’s still a big gap between recreational infrastructure and practical, everyday mobility like sidewalks that go all the way to grocery stores or regional transit that reliably connects cities. I think we’re moving in the right direction, but it’s going to take more investment in the systems people use to get where they need to go.

Right now, being car-free in Bentonville is most feasible for people who live near downtown, work nearby, and have flexible schedules. It also helps if you’re comfortable biking or walking longer distances — and if you have friends willing to give the occasional ride. But being car-free still involves a lot of planning, workarounds, and tradeoffs, which limits who can realistically do it. I’d love to see Bentonville become a place where going car-free isn’t just a lifestyle choice, but a real, supported option for a much broader group of people.

I use a mix: fixed-route and on-demand buses (when available), walking when the weather allows and it's safe, and rideshares when there are gaps. Taking the bus connects me to the community. I get to know the drivers and passengers, explore different neighborhoods, and support local businesses. That said, my mobility depends on having the time, health, and resources to patch things together. We need a system that works for more people—especially those with less flexibility, fewer options, or tighter budgets.

Getting around without a car takes a lot of planning and sometimes creativity. I take the bus when I can, split rides with friends, or pay for Lyft when it makes more sense for timing. It’s doable—but it shouldn’t be this complicated. Not everyone has a safety net or spare cash to fill the gaps. As the region grows, we will need solutions that serve all residents—not just those who can drive themselves everywhere right now.

ORT is doing what it can, but it’s stretched thin. The City—not ORT—decides where bus stops go, and most stops are uncovered, with no benches or shelter from the weather. A glaring omission? There’s no bus stop at Crystal Bridges—one of Bentonville’s most significant cultural and economic assets. That leaves out students, seniors, people with disabilities, and those of us who can’t or don’t drive. But it also affects drivers. A well-placed stop could ease parking demand, reduce traffic congestion, and support tourism and local businesses. If we want Bentonville to be more connected, inclusive, and future-ready, adding a stop there is a meaningful and doable step forward.  

Bentonville has made progress on trails and sidewalks, but too often it feels like our infrastructure is built for leisure, not for everyday life. People need to get to work, school, the doctor—even when it’s raining, or 95 degrees. We should be planning not just for today’s drivers, but for the future—when kids grow up, older adults stop driving, and more people want to live sustainably. Better sidewalks, crossings, and transit help everyone move more freely and safely.

Right now, it's a very small group. You need to be physically able, live near a fixed bus route, and have enough time and resources to work around the system’s gaps. Most people just don’t have that luxury. But this isn’t about individuals ‘trying harder.’ It’s about building a city where more people—of all ages, incomes, and abilities—can participate fully in public life, even if they don’t (or can’t) drive. That benefits everyone: less traffic, better air, safer streets, and a stronger sense of belonging.

It depends on the weather. In this heat, my bike. In the rain or cold, on foot or the bus. I rideshare, use ORT On Demand, or borrow or rent cars when I need to haul things around or go further than about 10 miles. 

If I can be flexible, I try to take the bus since it’s free and I want to support public transit infrastructure in NWA. However, the schedule is limited and it takes about 2 hours to get from Bentonville to Fayetteville. If I can’t be flexible or need to get around on nights or weekends (the bus only runs during the day M-F), I rideshare, carpool, or rent a car. It’s about the same cost to rent a car for the day as it is to Uber back and forth (actually, sometimes significantly less), and I can wrap in some errands at the same time. 

My experience has been mostly positive. My typical route is from 8th Street Market to the Bentonville Community Center to get to my yoga classes or swim laps at the pool. If I can time it right, it’s a direct shot and takes about 15 minutes. I also take it most Thursdays to Downtown Springdale, which involves two transfers, a 20-minute walk, and about an hour and a half. There have been a couple of times I missed the bus, or service is disrupted for one reason or another, and then I’m stranded for an hour until the route comes around again, or I call a friend for a ride home. It’s cool that we have free public transit here, and the PassioGo app lets you track buses in real time, making it harder to miss your bus. But, it doesn’t run very frequently and it’s hard to work around a specific schedule. 

In terms of biking, yes. In terms of walking, no. In terms of public transit, no. Sidewalks should be connected all over town, new development or not, and funded 100% with taxpayer dollars. They are public space and we shouldn’t be waiting for private developers to invest before it’s safe to walk the streets. Public transit needs to be more convenient than driving; right now it’s not. I’d like to see ORT really test out a frequent, convenient, consistent round-the-clock schedule between Bentonville and Fayetteville with a dedicated bus lane and see how ridership increases. 

I think it’s feasible for anyone able-bodied who doesn’t live far from work. My decision was largely financially motivated. Living Downtown can be expensive, but I’ve offset the cost by getting rid of my car. I’m paying more for an apartment, but I’m saving about $800/month by not having a car payment, maintenance, or insurance, and I’m enjoying my day-to-day life a lot more.