Last year, around August 24, 2013, an individual or group of individuals placed black tacks along County Farm Road and Pinnacle Valley Road in order to intentionally and maliciously cause cyclists traveling on this common biking route to have flat tires. See http://www.bicycleadvocacy.com/little-rock/tack-attack-on-pinnacle-valley-road-county-farm-road  Because this day was also the day of the 2013 ALS Bike & Hike, numerous riders incurred flats and were not able to complete the event. On August 23, 2014, individuals placed black tacks on Barrett Road, causing numerous more flats. Again, on August 29, 2014, tacks were placed on Pinnacle Valley Road and Highway 300. See http://jbarcycling.blogspot.com/2014/08/2014-tack-attack-two-on-road-vandalism.html While the average cost of a new tube is approximately $8, there are much bigger issues at stake: the legal rights of cyclists and more importantly, the safety of cyclists.

In the upcoming weeks, cyclists from around the area and across the country will be training for and riding in the Big Dam Bride 100 and MS 150. These routes will cover County Farm Road, Pinnacle Valley Road, Barrett Road, Highway 300, and Highway 10. It is no coincidence that the tacks have resurfaced at this time. Unfortunately, while last year Pulaski County officials and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office immediately responded and had street sweepers clear the roads, there has been little to no support from the local government this time around. There are criminal statutes that these individuals could be charged with, including criminal mischief in the first degree. If a cyclist were to be injured as a result, these individuals could also be charged with assault and battery. Immediate action MUST be taken. This situation will likely only get worse before it gets better unless something is done.

While the law is clear regarding the rights of cyclists http://www.bicycleadvocacy.com/arkansas-cycling-statutes.html, cyclists struggle each and every day to have those rights enforced by law enforcement officials. As recently as May, a cyclist in Faulkner County* was badly injured when a driver violated traffic laws, but the Faulkner County Sheriff's Department* chose not cite the driver for any violations. http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2014/05/20/a-near-death-experience-is-a-reminder-bicyclists-have-rights-too Unfortunately, this has become the standard of enforcement across the country. If law enforcement officials refuse to enforce the laws in existence, a very clear message is sent: the rights, safety and lives of cyclists just aren't important.

While cyclists understand that drivers get frustrated with cyclists who ignore and violate traffic laws, this frustration is not justification for intentionally causing property damage to cyclists and certainly not causing physical harm to cyclists. There are no justifications for this behavior, and there are no justifications for law enforcement refusing to take these issues as seriously as the violation of other laws.

Therefore, on behalf of cyclists everywhere, we urge you to sign this petition and ask law enforcement to monitor these areas more closely and have city officials send street sweepers to clear the area periodically.  Our hope is that this petition not only causes law enforcement to take action but causes people to take action, whether that be reporting someone who has placed tacks on the roads, yelled at or swerved at a cyclist on the road or simply taking action to become more cautious driving around cyclists. Cyclists are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Their rights are important. Their safety is important. Their lives are important.

*Please note that this petition originally stated Conway and local enforcement and was changed to more accurlately reflect Faulkner County and the Faulkner County Sheriff's Department.