This conversation we kept more casual and leaned in on peer-to-peer learning. Here are some of the things we discussed:
Public Transit:
How was riding the bus? Even though we timed the pub crawl to get back in time for the last bus out of the station, the last bus left before we arrived. Some riders had to find a different means of getting home. It isn’t super easy to secure the bike to the bus, so perhaps a demonstration or instructions could help. Higher frequency and coverage (North / South) versus the hub & spoke model would make it more of an everyday option.
Other resources to explore: There is a Rock Region micro-transit system available through downloading an app called Via, lots of questions about how this works (it works in tandem with the fixed bus routes), where it stops (if traveling beyond a zone, you’ll take it to a bus stop), and service coverage (Little Rock currently has two zones and you can only travel within one zone per trip). Little Rock School District & CALS offer bus passes for students and families respectively.
What’s next? There’s an appetite for another crawl & interest in exploring tactical urbanism for bus benches like what the Chattanooga Urbanist Society is doing here and/or exploring impact grant opportunities.
Unhoused Neighbors: CALS branches have free 24 hour bus passes available, as do Neiman House, Jericho Way, Our House, Canvas, and St Francis. You can also purchase passes for panhandlers and send a pass via your app to another user. Housing options are in development: Pulaski County’s Community Village (expected Summer 2024) and the City of Little Rock is developing a Micro-home village. Current options for 16+ males are limited, they are able to find housing via some churches. There are more women’s shelters with Salvation Army being one. There’s another housing conversation happening today at 11:30am at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, 10900 N. Rodney Parham Rd.
Kanis Park renovations are looking great! If you haven’t yet, go play a game of pick-up basketball or cross the water bridge.
