Help Prioritize Bike & Field Project Expenditures
The South Shore's recreation Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is seeking applicants to serve on its Bicycle Trail Advisory Committee and its Fields Advisory Committee. As part of Measure R, passed last month to provide funding for both ballfields and bike trails in the community, the formation of committees to advise the JPA on their needs and various relevant issues is required. The committees will consist of seven members each. Applications may be obtained through the South Lake Tahoe City Clerk's office, through the JPA and through the Tahoe branch of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors office. The deadline to submit applications is January 13, but may be extended.
Award Recipients To Be Announced
The Coalition's Board of Directors has selected the recipients of the 2010 and 2011 Lake Tahoe Bicycle Achievement Awards and plans are being made for the Awards Ceremony to be scheduled in February. You'll receive a special invitation soon.
TLC Network of Lodging Properties
This month, the Coalition begins building the online presence for the TLC lodging property network. The Coalition would like to welcome Lakeland Village and Howard Johnson in South Lake Tahoe as being the first to join the network. Other properties have expressed their interest to join and enjoy the marketing to this highly sought after active-adult visitor with discretionary income.
For more information about joining the network go to www.TahoeBike.org and click on the TLC logo. You may also contact Ty Polastri at BikeTahoe@aol.com.
Tahoe Bike Trail Map Being Expanding.
The third edition of the Tahoe Bike Map is expanding with a new name, updated content, and a marketing and distribution plan that will extend its reach from Santa Barbara to the Oregon border, and the Central Valley. The new working title is the Lake Tahoe Bikeway Map. Bikeway is being considered because it more accurately describes the inclusion of several bicycle facilities; roads, paved bike paths, and native surface trails. The enhanced marketing reach will be accomplished through a collaboration with Cycle California! magazine and its 76,000 readers, 20 cycling events, and 800 retail distribution outlets.
50,000 maps will be printed with an improved online version that can be downloaded and printed. All maps are free of charge thanks to the donations by such agencies as the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Tahoe/Truckee Transportation Management Association to name the early partners. Additional partners are needed to help underwrite the production and marketing costs of this exciting campaign.
Businesses and agencies who are interested in learning more about the map sponsorship program may contact Ty Polastri at BikeTahoe@aol.com. Map marketing and distribution is planned for April.
Coalition Receives Grant to Help Advance Mission
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Coalition received several grants to help advance its mission. In addition to the above mentioned map partners, the Coalition received a grant from the Livestrong Foundation and the American Celebrity Golf Tournament. This grant will enable the Coalition to purchase bicycles and helmets for South Tahoe youth who are in need of both. The bikes and helmets will be distributed during June is Tahoe Bike Month.
Help us Grow Our Capacity To Affect Change & Have Fun!
Increasing the Coalition's capacity to affect positive change in the region and build a more bicycle-friendly region is dependent in large part by its Action Teams. Over the past five years, the Coalition has been doing the heavy lifting of bicycle advocacy among public agencies in two states, five counties and a city. This is not exactly what a cyclist's thrives on, but it is the essential element of the Coalition's mission and success.
Now with a good level of regional stakeholder buy-in for a more bicycle-friendly region and the construction of many new bike lanes and paths in the pipeline, the Coalition wants to expand into the area of fun activities for locals and visitors to Tahoe. With this in mind, the Coalition is seeking Team Captains to work with the Board of Directors in elevating its presence and fun in the community with more events and members. People interested in joining the Coalition Team can email their interest to BikeTahoe@aol.com.
New Event in the Works - The Saturday Ride
A collaboration between a local public agency and the Coalition are in initial planning discussions for a weekly bike ride around the Lake on Saturdays. It would be a no fee ride with an escort vehicle warning motorists that slow moving cyclists are ahead. There will be no rest stops and cyclists will have to be self-reliant - carrying water, energy bars, spare tubes, air, and appropriate clothing. The concept is to provide a reliable ride on Saturdays where cyclists could get together and ride - the notion being there is safety in numbers. For now, this grass roots event series is to launch during June is Tahoe Bike Month. Organizers will learn from this initial experience and adapt as needed. If there is sufficient participation, the weekly rides may extend throughout the summer months. More details to following in the coming months.
The Coalition would like to know your thoughts about a weekly ride around the Lake. Would you ride? Would you invite your off the hill friends to participate? Let us know your thoughts. Send to BikeTahoe@aol.com.
