Small sets of stairs along Old Main Lawn and Duncan Avenue Apartments have recently been replaced with wheel-friendly ramps as part of a continued effort to make the U of A a more connected and bicycle-friendly campus. 

The ramps are both on the edge of campus and close to the Razorback Greenway, serving as a stronger link to the Greenway’s trail system. The Old Main Lawn ramp is on the east side of Carnall Hall, connecting the sidewalk to Arkansas Avenue. The nearest Greenway connection is the Maple Street crossing, which is visible from the new ramp. 

The Duncan Avenue ramp is on the east side of the Duncan Avenue Apartments, connecting directly to the Greenway. There is also a Bicycle Fix-It Station outside of the apartments with a full array of hand tools and convenient work stands for DIY bike repair and maintenance. 

Ramps reduce barriers for anybody active on wheels — people using mobility aids, strollers, bicycles, e-scooters and more. 

“Installing these new ramps dramatically improves access for people waking and riding bikes to and from campus, especially for folks that use the Razorback Greenway as a primary active transportation route,” Ammen Jordan, active transportation coordinator at the U of A, said. “The ramps are part of a larger effort to improve conditions for walking and bicycling across campus while preserving the history and campus charm and creating a positive legacy for generations of faculty, staff and students.”

Active transportation — walking, biking, skateboarding, etc. to and from campus — is a great way to enhance your health, reduce your footprint and work towards the university’s goal of carbon neutrality. The new ramps were developed and designed by the U of A Office for Sustainability and FM Planning and Design.

About FM Planning and Design: Planning and Design directs a broad range of planning issues, including land use and master planning, campus development standards, landscape design, transportation planning, resource allocation oversight, and facilities assessments. This group is the source for capital and physical planning at the University of Arkansas, and ensures that all projects support the academic goals of the University and promote the highest physical potential of the Fayetteville campus.

About UA Office for Sustainability: The mission of the University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability (OFS) is to motivate, facilitate, and coordinate responsible practices through partnerships with students, faculty, and staff across all campus departments. The OFS uses the campus as a living laboratory by overseeing the implementation of the University of Arkansas environmental goals. These programs are part of the UA Resiliency Center, hosted by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, and are supported by UA Facilities Management.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.