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Tahoe Bike News |
August 2013 |
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Bicyclists Placing Themselves and Others at Risk
According to the motor vehicle code, bicycles are vehicles that have many of the same rights and obligations as motor vehicles using the roadway. Local law enforcement is reporting, and members of the bicycle community are noticing, a lot of unsafe and unlawful behaviors by bicyclists that are placing themselves and others at risk of injury and/or citations.
Since you are reading this newsletter, it is highly probable that you are a lawful and safe riding bicyclist. With your experience, would you be willing to help inform our growing bicycle riding community to become more aware about how to enjoy riding safely and lawfully? Thank you for your consideration. Here are a few laws and best practices you can share with others riding on paved surfaces. Have Fun, Be Safe, and Ride More.
- Stop at all stop signs and signals
- Use proper hand signals when turning and stopping to alert others of your intention
- Ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic - not against it!
- Ride on the right side of the road/lane as is safe and possible
- Bicyclists may use the full traffic lane. When five or more vehicles are backed up behind you, you must pull over to the right, where it is safe, and allow the motorists to pass.
- Children 12 years of age and younger must wear a helmet in California.
- When riding at night, bicycles must have a functioning white head lamp and red taillight.
- When riding in traffic, it is best to wear bright colored clothing to enhance your visibility.
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 Smart Road Cycling Course Offered
Cyclists have more fun and are safer when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. This workshop provides classroom and on road instruction in the basic principles of vehicular bicycling. Topics include: Bicycle Basics (Choosing, Fitting Identify Parts and Pre-ride Check), Basic Maintenance, Clothing, Helmets & Equipment, Basic Handling Skills, Bicycling in Traffic, Crashes & Hazard Avoidance Maneuvers, Riding Enjoyment (Cadence & Shifting) and Riding Etiquette. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 completion certificate. Bike and helmet are required along with transportation to Carson City for the road ride.
Facilitators: Charles Nelson and Tim Rowe, League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors
Dates: Tuesday & Saturday, September 10-21 Location: LTCC, G4
Classroom and Parking Lot Training: Tues., Sept. 10 & 17, 5:30-8:00pm
Road Ride: Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Time: Tuesdays: 5:30-8:00pm & Saturday: 10:00 - 4:00 pm 4:00pm Fee: $89
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More Bike Lanes on Our Roads
While everyone's patience is being tested during highway construction around the Lake, what is being revealed are new curbs, cutters, filtered storm water drainage, sidewalks, street lighting, landscaping and the addition of bike lanes. These community enhancements have been in the works for many years with well hundreds of million of dollars being spent. Thank you to all the agencies and bicycle advocates working diligently to help build a more bicycle/pedestrian-friendly Tahoe. You can expect more of these projects in 2014-2015, and they will be reported here. |
Free Bike Racks Available To City Businesses
There remain a few bike racks available free of charge to businesses within the City Limits of South Lake Tahoe. These racks are made available by the City of South Lake Tahoe and were designed by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition. Businesses interested in bike racks must request an application form from the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition who is managing the application process. The City will deliver the racks but each business must install the racks themselves. Email biketahoe@aol.com to request the application packet. |
3 Foot Passing Law Update
While the 3 Foot Passing Law passed in Nevada last year, a similar bill was defeated in California because of a provision allowing motorists to cross the double center line to pass a bicyclist. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the insurance industry were strongly opposed to the provision and the Governor vetoed it. So this year, the bill moves through the legislature (house and senate approval) without the crossing the double centerline provision and has the support of the CHP and is highly likely to be signed by the Governor. While it's not completely what bicycle advocates want, they feel they are making progress for improved safety on the roadways. |
Parking Meters Can Encourage a Bicycle Alternative
The introduction of parking meters in any community often meets strong opposition by local residents and Tahoe is no exception. Municipalities strapped with the constraints of the new economic reality are seeking additional revenue channels and paid parking may provide them with one - but not necessarily. Paid parking meters in small rural communities have received mixed results and do not always generate the revenue stream they had hoped.
However, paid parking may well provide the success bicycle advocates are looking for - an incentive to ride your bike. |
 Help Welcome Thousands of Cycling Visitors
On Sunday, September 8, you can join the Bicycle Coalition in welcoming nearly 2,000 cyclists, from around the country, as they ride in the annual Tour de Tahoe bike ride around the Lake. The Coalition hosts the last rest stop at the top of Spooner Summit where there is much appreciated support, water, fruit, mechanical assistance and transportation if needed. As a rest stop volunteer you have fun and you receive an event staff shirt, attend the end of ride dinner party, and eat as much fruit as you can bear - plus hear more thank you in a day than in the rest of the year combined.
To learn more and be a part of the rest stop team, contact team captain Karen Fink at pedaling_2@yahoo.com. Thank you. |
 In Memory - Bike/Community Advocate and Friend Fellow Tahoe Bike Buddy, Tom Wendell, pedaled on to do his work in another dimension on Monday evening, August 6, 2013. If you lived in South Lake Tahoe for the past couple decades you would know Tom. His bigger than life size, passionate commitment and clear voice helped lead the way to transform community to be more bicycle-friendly, "green" and sustainable. You would have possibly heard him speak at a public forum or on the radio, read an editorial opinion in the newspaper, and maybe even supported his efforts to become a member of the City Council to participate in the process at the point of decision making. He was a healing professional, (a massage therapist), who also worked to heal community. One of his nicknames was Doc because he was a wealth of knowledge about healthy living practices. And, you would see him on a pow pow day skiing on his mono-ski at Heavenly with a radiate smile and a contagious joy of aliveness - always excited to share with you. Tom was also an early bicycle advocate and president of the Tahoe Region Advocates for Cycling (TRAC). He headed up the recycling program for South Lake Tahoe, served on the Sustainability Commission, and passed the baton to help start the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition as a founding member. Appropriately, he was awarded the 2012 Lake Tahoe Bicycle Achievement Award for his work in helping make significant advancements for bicycling in the region. Tom will be remembered as one who has gone before us to show us the way. His vision and spirit will continue to help drive the mission of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition. And, South Lake Tahoe is a better place for having Tom lived and contributed fully there. RIP. |
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Hey Tahoe Bike Buddies,
Tahoe is rolling with more bicycle facilities, education and fun. We can do more with your help. Whether it be volunteering your time, expertise or becoming a member. Your contribution will join others in Helping Tahoe Become More Bicycle Friendly. That's our mission.
Event organizers and bike shops be sure to send your events for our calendar listing - its free.
And, another way to stay connected to the Coalition is by liking us on Facebook/LakeTahoeBicycleCoalition or Facebook/TahoeBikeChallenge.
In the next couple of months, the 2014-2015 Lake Tahoe Bikeway Map will be updated. If you have suggestions to improve the value and accuracy of the Map, please let us know. We will be producing at least another 50,000 copies and distributing them throughout Northern California/Nevada at leading bike shops, events, and our own visitor centers in the region. Map sponsorship opportunities for businesses, organizations and agencies will be available shortly. If you haven't been a sponsor in the past and are interested, be sure to contact me.
Continue to enjoy the ride, be safe and ride more often. See ya on the bikeways.
Ty Polastri
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