The River Market in Little Rock: What Helps If You Break Down There

If your car dies in Little Rock's River Market, get it out of the travel lane and off the streetcar tracks first. Turn on your hazards. Then wait somewhere lit and busy, near the car but not in the street. Note the nearest cross street or the parking deck level. If anyone is hurt or the car is stuck in traffic, call 911. For a jump, a lockout or a tow, call for roadside help.

Why is a breakdown in the River Market different?

The River Market is not a quiet side street. The city's tourism bureau says the district runs the length of President Clinton Avenue, about 10 blocks along the south shore of the Arkansas River. It packs in Ottenheimer Market Hall, the farmers market pavilions, restaurants and bars.

That mix changes the problem. On a weekend night, the sidewalks fill up. People step off the curb between parked cars. Drivers circle slowly, looking for a space. A stalled car with its hood up pulls eyes off the road, and that's when a walker gets clipped.

So your job is a little different from a freeway breakdown. You're not only keeping yourself safe. You're keeping the crowd around your car safe too.

Is my car stuck on the streetcar tracks?

Check this first. Rock Region METRO's Blue Line streetcar runs right through the district. Its River Market stop sits at River Market Avenue and President Clinton Avenue. Other stops nearby include Scott Street and President Clinton Avenue, plus 2nd Street at Rock Street and at Scott Street.

Rock Region METRO's safety page is plain about it. Streetcars can't make sudden stops. They can't steer off the tracks to get around something in the way. A car stalled on the rails is in the one spot a streetcar can't avoid.

• Still rolling? Coast past the rails and pull to the curb if you can.
• Dead on the tracks? Get everyone out and onto the sidewalk. If you can't move it, call 911 so they can warn the streetcar and traffic.
• Hear a bell? Operators ring it to warn people a streetcar is coming. Step well back.

The streetcars can also hold a green light at intersections with tracks. Look both ways before you or your passengers cross, even on a green.

What should I do the moment the car quits?

The Arkansas driver study guide says never stop in a travel lane for any reason. On President Clinton Avenue, that means using what's left of your speed to reach a curb space, a lot or a deck. Then turn on your hazards. The state guide says those lights tell other drivers your car is broken down.

• Set the parking brake and turn the wheels toward the curb.
• Keep passengers on the sidewalk side when they get out.
• Close the hood once you've looked. An open hood draws people into the street.
• Don't stand in the lane to wave cars around you.

Where should I wait for help?

On a busy night, sitting inside a dark car on a crowded street isn't always the best choice. Neither is standing alone by the bumper. Pick a spot where you can see your car, under good light, with people around. A restaurant doorway or the edge of a lit plaza works well.

If the car is in a safe space and you feel uneasy, lock it and wait nearby. Keep your keys with you. You'll need them when your driver shows up.

If someone makes you feel unsafe, call the Little Rock Police Department. For something that isn't an emergency, the LRPD Communications line is 501-371-4829. If you're in danger now, call 911.

My battery died in the River Market deck. Now what?

This happens a lot. You park for dinner and a show, come back hours later, and the car just clicks. The River Market Parking Deck is at 500 East 2nd Street. It's owned and run by the city.

Tell your driver exactly where you are

A deck is easy to miss from the street. Give the level and the nearest stairwell or ramp. Say whether the car is nose in or backed in, because that decides how jumper cables reach the battery.

Expect a jump first, not a tow

Parking decks have low ceilings. Many tow trucks can't drive inside. A jump start is usually the answer, since your driver can bring a portable pack to the car. If the car still won't start, it may need to roll down to street level before a tow. Your driver will tell you what fits.

Little Rock weather is hard on batteries. NOAA's normals for the Little Rock airport show about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter. They also show about 51 nights a year at or below freezing. Summer heat wears a battery down, and the first cold night finishes it off.

Will I get a ticket while I wait?

The River Market has no single-space meters. The city uses pay and display stations instead, eight of them across the district. A city release says they sit on President Clinton Avenue, the 100 block of Sherman Street and the 100 block of River Market Avenue.

• City meters run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• The time limit is 2 hours.
• Stations take coins and cards, not bills.
• Put the printed receipt on the dash on the curb side.

If your car dies in a paid space on a weekday, pay at the station before you walk away. If it's stuck blocking a driveway, that's its own violation, so move it if you can. For questions, call Little Rock Parking Enforcement at 501-371-4528.

What if I locked my keys in the car downtown?

It's easy to do when you're juggling bags from the market hall. A car lockout gets your door open. Tell us if a child or a pet is inside. If so, call 911 too, and don't wait.

A lockout service opens the door. It does not make keys. If your keys are lost, not locked inside, you'll need a dealer or a locksmith.

What if my car is gone when I come back?

An empty curb in the River Market doesn't always mean theft. Police tows in Little Rock go to the city's Vehicle Storage Facility. Read our Little Rock impound guide to find out who has it and what to bring. Sentinel doesn't do impounds, but we can tow your car home or to a shop once it's released.

How does Sentinel work?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. We don't own trucks or run an office downtown. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We lock your price by text before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise.

You also get your driver's name, photo and truck by text, so you know who to wave down in a crowd. You can track your truck on a map from your table or the sidewalk.

What should I tell you when I call?

• The street and nearest cross street, like "President Clinton Avenue near River Market Avenue."
• If you're in the deck: the level and the closest stairwell.
• Whether the car is near or on the streetcar tracks.
• What happened: a click, no sound at all, a flat, or keys inside.
• Make, model and color.
• Where it should go if it needs a tow.

For towing across the rest of the city, from Chenal Valley to the airport, see our Little Rock towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

River Market Breakdown Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Little Rock Parking Enforcement, City of Little Rock River Market parking, River Market Parking Deck, Little Rock CVB River Market, Rock Region METRO streetcar stops, Rock Region METRO streetcar safety, Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, City of Little Rock helpful numbers, NOAA normals, Little Rock airport.