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Regional
Bike/Ped Plan Open for Comment
The updated 2010 Lake Tahoe Bicycle/Pedestrian Regional Plan is available for public review and comment. The Bike Coalition strongly encourages you to take a look at it for the issues, concerns, and opportunities that you believe are relevant for our community. Visit www.TahoeBike.org and click on the Bike/Ped Plan box to review the plan.
Achievement Award Winners Announced
 The 2009 Lake Tahoe Bicycle Achievement Award winners have been announced. The Award brings attention to and recognition for those who have significantly contributed to the advancement of bicycling in the Tahoe Basin. The Award is given in four categories and they are: Individual, Business, Agency, and Organization.
This year's Award winners are:
Individual - Bob Kingman, a early bicycle advocate instrumental in organizing and managing collaborating efforts that gt bike paths built.
Business - Spooner Lake Outdoor Company, the Flume Trail champion and custodian who has significantly improved the trail surface, safety, and access to one of the Nation's top ten mountain bike trails.
Agency - City of South Lake Tahoe, the first nationally designated Bicycle Friendly Community in the region, and continual sponsor of the Bike Trail Map, bicycle events, bike racks for businesses, and working to improve and build new bicycle facilities.
Organization - North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, instrumental in the leadership, collaboration, and investment for bicycle facilities/paths in the North Lake Tahoe area. |
Tahoe Bikeway Updates
Caltrans is currently constructing Bikeways along Hwy 28 at the following locations:
4 foot shoulders east end of Tahoe City to Dollar Hill,
Class II Bike Lanes from Dollar Hill to Hwy 267,
Class II Bike Lanes from Chipmunk St. to the NV State Line (already in). And, the Kings Beach commercial core is a separate project with Placer County as the lead agency, which also plans Class II Bike Lanes. This will provide a continuous bike route.
South Shore
Al Tahoe Blvd. Bike Path Rehabilitation
The Al Tahoe Bike Path is currently closed for a Southwest Gas pipeline installation and to be followed by the resurfacing of the Bike Path. The South Lake Tahoe City Council approved a contract change order in the amount of $143,019.70 for resurfacing the Bike Path from Johnson Blvd. to Pioneer Trail.
Bike Lanes on Highway 50
Class II Bike Lanes on Hwy 50, from Trout Creek to Ski Run Blvd., are scheduled to be constructed next summer. Sawmill Road, from the Bike Bridge to Lake Tahoe Blvd., is being delayed due to a lack of funding and some un forecasted certification procedures. It is hoped construction can begin in 2011 and be completed by 2012 - funding dependent. Stateline-to-Stateline Bikeway Phase One is scheduled to break ground in 2011. Its a shared-use path from behind Horizons Hotel to Round Hill Pines Resort. This is the first phase of the 30 mile bike path planned along the entire East Shore. Grants Being Sought for New Bike Paths City of South Lake Tahoe is applying for a $400k grant to build a Class I Bike Path, from Johnson Blvd. to Hwy 50. This grant is being solicited to the Safe Routes to School program in an effort to improve the safe mobility of children going to the Middle School. El Dorado County Dept. of Transportation is applying for a $450k grant to construct a Class II bike Lane from Boulder Mt. to Sawmill Rd. Then, a Class I Bike Path from Sawmill Rd. to D Street, at the High School. This too is a plan to safely connect the neighborhoods with the High School - another Safe Routes to School grant request. |
Bike Racks Available Now
 Bike racks are available for businesses within the city limits of South Lake Tahoe that have a high-use location for bicycle storage and are committed to being a Bicycle Friendly Business. The racks are made possible by a grant from the City of South Lake Tahoe. There is no charge for the racks, but there are terms and conditions for installation, maintenance, and promoting bicycle use among employees and customers.
Interested business may contact the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition for a bike rack application. Contact Ty Polastri at biketahoe@aol.com or by telephone at 775.586.9566.
Tahoe Bike Day Parade & Festival Success
The first Official Tahoe Bike Parade & Festival was a success measured by the 29 exhibitors, 500 visitors, 125 riders in the parade with police escort, and the great support of many sponsors. According to Ty Polastri, President, "this is the first time public agencies, environmental groups, bike industry members, and other businesses and organizations came together to collaboratively promote Tahoe cycling".
Planning for the 2011 event is already in process with more activities and events within the event. Companies and organizations interested in participating as a sponsor and/or exhibitor may contact Ty Polastri at biketahoe@aol.com for more information. Next year's event is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, following the Tahoe Bike Challenge 2 Work, School and Play campaign running from May 23 to June 3.
Sierra Nevada Alliance Champion The Sierra Nevada Alliance, a leading nonprofit environmental organization with over 100 member organizations, was the Tahoe Bike Challenge Team Champion for 2010 with 17.36 bike trips per employee. They are the winner of the prestigious Perpetual Trophy. Congratulations! |
 Become a member of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition.
And, please e-mail this newsletter to family and friends to let them know more about Tahoe cycling in general and how the Coalition is working to improve the bicycle friendliness of our communities.
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Dear Tahoe Bike Buddies,
You can see by just some of the reports mentioned above that we are making progress in becoming a more bicycle friendly community, increasing our collaborative partnerships, and moving toward the Coalition's vision for a World-class cycling destination.
There is a lot of momentum for improving bicycle facilities and connectivity, and we can use your support and assistance in keeping these efforts rolling ahead. There are actions and projects in the early planning stages in which we will be calling out for your support to help build, or cause to be built, more bicycle facilities and programs in the near future.
During this time of financial uncertainty affecting our states, communities, businesses and us personally, it provokes us to become more open, strategic, and adaptive to the changing conditions. And, in this open place is where creativity and innovation thrives, collaboration strives, and efficiencies of scale can produce more cost-effective and sustainable outcomes.
Let's keep it rolling. Always feel welcome in contacting us with your ideas, projects, complaints and we will do our very best to collaborate with you in building our cycling community of influence, effectiveness and fun.
Enjoy the summer, be safe, and see you on the trails,
Ty Polastri
President |
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