Tahoe Cycling News

April 2011
South Lake Tahoe

Public Meeting:  Lake Tahoe Blvd. Enhancement Project
The County of El Dorado invites you to attend a public meeting to discuss the Lake Tahoe Blvd. Enhancement Project located between Boulder Mountain Rd. and D St.  The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public and provide an opportunity for its input about project alternatives that meet the following goals:  1) Improved Bicycle/Pedestrian Mobility, 2) Erosion Control, and 3) Stream Environment Zone Restoration.

 

Location and time: Friday, April 29, 2011, 6:00PM - 8:00PM, City Council Chambers, 1901 Airport Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA.  For more information visit www.edcgov.us/DOT/, under the Information and Resources link.  If you are unable to attend and wish to comment, please contact Brendan Ferry, Senior Planner, via email at brendan.ferry@edcgov.us. or by phone at 530-573-7900.

 

Reallocation of Measure S Funds May Reappear
In 2000, the residents of South Lake Tahoe approved a bond to raise monies for recreational facilities and bicycle path maintenance.  In 2009, an effort by the Joint Powers Authority (JPA), who administers the bond monies, advanced a Measure B to reallocate the accruing bicycle path maintenance funds for recreational facilities beyond the scope of the original Measure S.  That measure was narrowly defeated - requiring a 2/3 vote for passage.

 

The JPA is presently taking steps to revisit the possibility of advancing another Measure in which to allocate as much as $500,000 bike path maintenance funds to ball fields and broaden the scope of bike path maintenance to include paths built prior to the 2000 Measure stipulations.

 

The reason there is nearly $470,000 currently accruing for bike paths is because expenditures are earmarked for trails built after 2000, which there are few and not needing attention, and to insure that sufficient funds be available for future bike trails.  Bike path maintenance funds are a condition for new paths being built and there are several in various planning stages.

 

Now, that the Bike Coalition is a 501 c 3 tax exempt educational corporation it is restricted in what it can and cannot do with regards to advocating a political or legislative position.  However, it is unclear about advocating for or against a ballot measure.  Therefore, the Coalition is seeking a legal opinion.  Until then, the Board of Directors reached a consensus that it would remain neutral about the proposed measure until such time that it receives a legal opinion.  The Coalition will be providing information and analysis of details regarding bike path maintenance and the essential elements of being a bicycle-friendly community should the JPA decide to place this measure on the ballot.


Tahoe Bike's Tour of California Events - Partial List
 
Thursday, May 12
Spirit Bike Parade
The Slowrollers Bicycle Club is leading a bike parade for everyone to celebrate the Amgen Tour and the Spirit of bicycling in South Lake Tahoe.  The Parade starts at 4:00PM from Miller's Outpost at the "Y" and travels along Hwy 50 to Mont Bleu Hotel Casino at Stateline.

Please obey all traffic laws, ride safe, wear helmets and if you plan to be riding after dark be sure to have front and rear lights.  See ya there!

How We Ride Bicycles Presentation
Mont Hubbard, the director of Sports Biomechanics Laboratory at UC Davis, will be presenting two research projects involving bicycling:  rider's balance and control, and understanding the mechanics of the bicycle and human body limits to calculate the "best" way to improve performance.

At 5:30 is the No-Host bar and the program begins at 6:00PM.  A $5 donation is requested.  The location is at theTahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV.  For more information visit, http://terc.ucdavis.edu/calendar/events/20110512_HowWeRideBikes.pdf.

Saturday, May 14
Lake Tahoe Legends Ride
Here is your chance to ride elbow to elbow with some of cycling's legends on the day before the Pro cycling race.  You can select to ride the 72 mile Roadway Route around the Lake or the 35 mile Half-ride Boat Cruise.  The ride starts and finishes at the Horizon Hotel Casino in Stateline, Nevada.

For more information and to register online visit www.bikethewest.com by April 30.  After April 30, only Late/Same Day registration will be available for an additional $20 late fee.

Sunday, May 15
BMX Olympians to Rip at Tahoe Bike Expo
Two of the top 2008 Olympic athletes in BMX Racing will be demonstrating their skills on a track to be built along the pro cycling race course.  Mike Day (Silver Medalist), Donny Robinson (Bronze Medalist) and coach and Olympic athlete trainer, Greg Romero, will also be on-site to introduce and announce the BMX skills and drills being demonstrated.

Bicycle related and interested businesses are invited to be exhibitors on-site for a small $100 fee to set up their tent, exhibit and sell products, and generally promote their business.  This event is a collaboration with the city of South Lake Tahoe, On Course Events, and the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition.  The location will be announced on the week of April 11.  Businesses interested in exhibiting may contact Ty Polastri at biketahoe@aol.com.
 
Challenge2011
Tahoe Bike Challenge 2 Work, School and Play
May 23 to June 3.

The 6th annual Tahoe Bike Challenge 2 Work, School and Play is planned from May 23 to June 3.   This annual event challenges everyone to ride their bike in lieu of using an automobile to go to work, school or just riding for errands and enjoyment.  In 2009, over 700 people, 87 company teams, and six schools registered online to log their trips and miles for a total of 23,000 miles.  Last year's event added an unforecasted challenge - snow and cold temperatures that significantly reduced participation.

This year's Bike Challenge, the Coalition is inaugurating a new community program called Bucks 4 Bikes.  Bucks 4 Bikes is being promoted to raise dollars for the purchase of bicycles for Tahoe's youth who might otherwise not have one.  Will we be asking individuals and teams to consider pledging a dollar per mile they ride during the Challenge for this program.  Individual and Team awards will be given to those who raise the most dollars.  More details will appear on www.TahoeBike.org.

logoBecome a member of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition & Help Build a Legacy.

 

 The mission of the Coalition is to promote liveable and sustainable communities by encouraging more bicycle/pedestrain-friendly facilities and promoting educational programs in which residents and visitors can safely and conveniently ride and walk on a more frequent basis.

 
Help us get the word out by sending this newsletter to family and friends to let them know more about Tahoe cycling in general and how the Coalition is specifically working to improve the bicycle friendliness of our communities.  Thank you.

 

Anyone interested in attending the Coalition's monthly meetings may do so. They are held on the second thursday of each month at Design Workshop Conference at 128 Market St, Ste. 3E, Stateline, NV from 5:30-7:00 pm. 
Join Our Mailing List
Hey Tahoe Cycling Buddies,

As you have read above there is a lot going on for Tahoe bicycling.  And, this is just a beginning.  You can expect to receive more announcements, events and stories about our growing bicycle community.  But we need your involvement to voice your opinions, take actions, and help keep our wheels rolling in the direction we all envision - a world-class bicycle friendly region that connects our communities and provides viable transportation and recreation alternatives.
  
Now more than ever, I want to strongly encourage your participation, at any level but at some level, because it is absolutely necessary for you to show up and make your vision and commitment publicly known.  Our regional and local agencies are moving toward our shared vision but here are others that are either in-different to or do not want bicycle/pedestrian facilities in our neighborhoods.  Can you imagine that?  There are other forces in the U.S. Congress and here locally who want to redirect bicycle related funding for other purposes.
  
The Bike Coalition continually attends public meetings (nationally, statewide and locally), serves in technical advisory capacities, reviews and comments on regional and local transportation plans, and helps inform agencies and the public about the facilities and measures necessary to become a more bicycle-friendly region.
  
We have helped strengthened the Tahoe Region Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan, the City of South Lake Tahoe's master bicycle plan, and made recommendations to North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and others.  Presently, I am drafting a Five Year Bicycle Plan to help the community remain focused on the essential missing links in the bike trail system, insure regularly scheduled maintenance, and provide additional recreational resources for native surface riders to mention a few items.  I'll share that plan and other issues and activities in the very near future.
  
For now, become a member and/or volunteer in our efforts and be on the beat of action that's making a sustainable contribution in our region for generations to enjoy.  Thank you.
  
  
Here's looking for you on the trail, 

Ty Polastri
President, LTBC
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