This April will be a busy time on the roads of Northwest Arkansas as the Joe Martin Stage Race returns once again to the region. On Time Logistics also returns as one of the sponsors and we’re excited to get involved.
You’ll be reading more about this on our various social media channels as the events get closer, but we wanted to announce our sponsorship and give you more information about all the events that are part of the overall weekend.
This will be the 38th year for the amateur races and the 13th anniversary on the National Race Calendar and the first year to be on the Union Cycliste Internationale America Tour Calendar.
Why is OTL involved?
You might be asking yourself at this point why a logistics company is sponsoring a bike race. Well, we look at it like this.
Our couriers are on the road every day and they share the roads and highways with other vehicles of all sizes, motorcycles and bicycles. We have experience with sharing the road with just about everyone!
We’re also pretty interested in fitness around here. Our founder, Steve, is an avid bicyclist and several other members of the On Time Logistics family are interested in sports of various types.
Our knowledge of the road combined with our love for fitness makes sponsoring the event an natural fit.
What’s happening and how can I participate?
First, the Iron Pig Festival is April 4 starting at the Fayetteville Executive Airport (Drake Field). It includes four events: a duathlon, 5K run, 1 mile fun run/walk, and a bike time trial.
The full Joe Martin Stage Race is the weekend of April 23-26 with more than 700 athletes from 20 countries and all 50 races. We’ll share more information as the event gets closer, but you can also monitor the Joe Martin Stage Race website. The spectator page offers fantastic information about how your whole family can get involved, including the best places to watch the race in Fayetteville.
During that weekend, the inaugural Joe Martin Gran Fondo will happen on April 25. There will be three races. We’re so excited that this has already been designated a top event in the country before it even happens!
Be safe during all the events
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We talk a lot about safety around here and we’re doing it again for this. Every single one of these bike races will be happening on the streets of Fayetteville. Most will be on blocked off streets, but not all. Law enforcement will be helping protest the racers but as motorists who share the road, it’s imperative that we be extra careful during these events.
Did you know that bike fatalities are on the rise? According to a study done in 2013 (most recent numbers available), 741 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in this country. This article from October 2014 provides slightly updated information and says that bicyclist deaths have increased by 16 percent in recent years.
Both bicyclists and motorist have a responsibility to operate safely and be conscious of each other while sharing the roadway. According to Arkansas state law, “cyclists may use any public road, street or highway in Arkansas with the exception of the freeways and other controlled-access highways.”
Both motorists and bicyclists should watch out for each other, follow basic traffic laws for their location (bicyclists are also required to signal!) and realize that both the bicyclist and motorist have right to the roadway.