Legislative Updates

California Passes 3 Foot Passing Law
On Monday, Aug. 27 the California Assembly approved the three-foot passing bill by a 54-24 vote. The next steps for Senate Bill 1464 include a vote - largely procedural - in the Senate to formally concur with the technical amendments made to the bill by the Assembly. Then SB 1464 goes to the Governor for his signature, probably right after Labor Day.

Environmental Review Exemption for Bike Lanes Goes to Senate
Pending a vote by the California Senate later this month, Gov. Jerry Brown will have the opportunity to sign legislation that will speed up bike lane projects throughout the state.

Assembly Bill 2245, authored by Santa Clarita Assembly member Cameron Smyth, would exempt all bike lane projects throughout the state from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. CEQA review for bike lanes can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete, often costing more than the actual project on the ground. These timelines and costs deter many cities from the robust implementation of needed and necessary bike networks.

AB 2245 essentially requires cities to examine the same environmental impacts for bike lane projects as under CEQA, but in a much more streamlined and cost-effective fashion. Bike lane projects that languish in the environmental review process for up to two years could gain local clearance and exemption in a matter of months under AB 2245.

News

South Tahoe Bike Rodeo a Success
On Friday, August 17 nearly 50 kids from the Boys & Girls Club participated in a Bike Rodeo - a fun name for a Bicycle Safety program for youth. Each kid went through six stations: Bike safety check, Helmet fitting, Mounting/Dismounting and stop and go, Bike control, Figure 8, and the Traffic intersection. Each station had a coach to help instruct the kids on safe bicycle handling skills and traffic safety awareness.

The success of this event was dependent upon the collaboration of many: Karen Houser and her staff Matt and Diana, South Tahoe Boys & Girls Club; Chief Brian Uhler and officer Matt Morrison from the CSLT Police Department (Traffic safety); Hec and Chris Hernandez, South Shore Bikes (Bike safety check); Mark Cartwright, Slowrollers Bike Club (painting the course); Karen Fink, Tim Rowe and his son Christopher, and Christina (Sparrow) Padovani (station coaches), Curtis Fong (water bottle donation); and Ty Polastri, event organizer.

We also want to thank all the parents for helping get their kids to the event with bicycles and helmets. We were impressed with their commitment and interest to help get their children more prepared for safely riding their bikes.

Bike Coalition to Participate in National Leadership Retreat and Bike/Walk Conference
Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition President Tim Rowe and Executive Director, Ty Polastri, will be heading to Long Beach for two important national bicycle/pedestrian advocacy conferences: The Alliance for Biking and Walking Leadership Retreat entitled Cultivating Strong Leaders for Our Future, (Sept. 7-10) and the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference's Pro Place (Sept. 10-13)

The Leadership Retreat is meant to inspire and connect Alliance leaders with:

• The sharing of best practices and techniques
• Discussion of cutting-edge campaigns
• Tools to increase leadership and improve organization efficiency
• Ways to conquer internal and external challenges; and
• Opportunities to increase and diversify the pedestrian and bicycling movement

For more information about the retreat and the alliance, visit www.peoplepoweredmovement.org.

Pro Walk/Pro Bike® 2012: Pro Place is the leading international conference on walking, bicycling, and creating great communities through Placemaking. For over 30 years Pro Walk/Pro Bike has created the most cutting edge, "hands on" dynamic training and learning experiences for professionals interested in and advocating for healthier, more vibrant livability through the realms of biking and walking. This year's theme is Pro Place. Walking and biking are community-building tools; community is built around place. Throughout the four-day conference, during poster sessions, panel presentations, plenary sessions, and mobility tours via biking and walking, conference participants will be challenged to think of themselves as Placemakers.

The Bike Coalition looks forward to building an expansive sphere of influence, sharing its best practices and learning from others in order that it may elevate its capacity to guide, influence and mobilize resources that will significantly help Tahoe become a more walkable and bikeable region. For more event information go to www.prowalkprobike.org.

Better Living Through Trails Presentation & Trail Building Workshop Scheduled
The Subaru/IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association)Trail Care Crew is coming to Incline Village, NV to help teach sustainable trail building techniques and deliver their Better Living Through Trails presentation. The presentation is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7th from 3:00 - 5:00PM, at the Parasol Building located at 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV. The presentation focuses on the health, economic, and social benefits of trails to a community.

Beginning on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 9:00 am, the crew will spend the morning teaching attendees about the proper techniques of trail building with actual hands-on trail work in the afternoon on the US Forest Service's Tyrolian Trail. The Trail Care Crew teach "sustainable" trail building techniques, which means building lasting trails that require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment and enhances visitor enjoyment. For more information and to register for Friday's class or Saturday's trail building school, please visit www.tamba.org.

Bikeway Updates

Sawmill Bike Path 2A to Open
The County of El Dorado's Sawmill 2A Bike Path & Erosion Control Project will be complete and open to the public on August 3rd, 2012. The .6 mile Class 1 bike path is located on the south side of Sawmill Rd. from Lake Tahoe Blvd. to the Echo View Estates subdivision. The project also includes water quality and erosion control elements.

In 2013, the county hopes to construct Sawmill 2B Bike Path that will extend 2A to Hwy 50 where the bike bridge meets Sawmill Road. This 2 mile Sawmill Bike Path section will be a critical link in the County's multi-use path efforts to link Meyers to the 'Y' in South Lake Tahoe. Also planned for 2014 is the Lake Tahoe Blvd. Bike Path - an erosion control and transportation project that parallels Lake Tahoe Blvd. traveling 2.2 miles from the Sawmill Road intersection to Viking Road - the entrance to South Lake Tahoe High School.

For more information about these county projects, contact Brendan Ferry at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone at 530.573.7905. Brendan is pictured here on the path happy and proud about the county's progress.

Nevada Stateline-to-Stateline Bikeway Project Breaks Ground
The planned 30+ mile Nevada Stateline-to-Stateline Bikeway project broke ground in late July with phase one called the South Demonstration Project. This first section will travel from Lake Parkway (behind Harveys/Horizon hotels) to Round Hill Pines Beach and becomes the beginning link in a Tahoe-wide bike trail system that will circle the lake - being branded as "America's Most Beautiful Bikeway". This 3.2 mile shared-use trail will provide bike and pedestrian (non-motorized) transportation opportunities, linking recreation areas, businesses, communities and transportation facilities along U.S. Highway 50.

The Demonstration Project is segmented into three sections: now under construction is Phase 1B: a 10 foot wide path from Kahle Drive to Elks Point Road that includes expansion of the existing Trailhead at Kahle Drive with 14 additional parking spaces, a restroom, picnic tables and interpretive reader boards and 1 mile of bikeway constructed. This segment will provide linkage to Nevada Beach, Kahle Community Center and the existing Douglas County parking structure. Phase 1A is planned from the California/Nevada stateline on Lake Parkway West to Kahle Drive will the Phase 1C segment planned from Elks Point Road to Round Hill Pines Beach. Phase 1C is scheduled for construction during the 2013 construction season.

For project history or to look for construction updates visit www.tahoetransportation.org and for questions/suggestions contact: Tahoe Transportation District, Alfred Knotts at 775.589.5503.

Sunflower Hill Trail Build Day - Saturday, August 11
On Saturday, August 11, 2012, Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association and Nevada State Parks will be working to complete the connection of the Sunflower Hill Trail. If you would like to get dirty and help out, then you can meet at Lakeview Gate at 8:30AM for a 4WD carpool up the hill. Bring your lunch, water, sunscreen and it is advised to wear long pants and long-sleeve shirt and sturdy shoes. A cooler with refreshments will be provided at the end of the day which is scheduled for approximately 3:00PM.

You can ride your bike in from another access point and meet at the bottom of Sunflower hill or on the trail. For more information about this important trail day contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Measure R Funds to Improve Bike Bridges

On Friday, July 27, the Bicycle Advisory Committee (formed as a result of Measure R) presented its bikeway maintenance recommendations to the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for consideration. With some discussion about project priorities, and the timing of the City's grant request for additional funding to repair its bikeway system, the JPA agreed to approve the Advisory Committee's highest and most immediate recommendation for repairing the bikeway bridges spanning Trout Creek and the Upper Truckee River. The bridge's wooden planks and fastening systems will be replaced and improved upon.

The approval came about because the project could be completed this season, be performed by City staff, and was allocated up to $30,000. This money became available through the voters passage of Measure R last year - the measure that amended the 2000 Measure S bond for recreational facilities and bike paths.

News

Tahoe Lodging for Cyclists (TLC) Launches
The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition in collaboration with local lodging properties have come together to build the first lodging network with bicyclists in mind. Called Tahoe Lodging for Cyclists or TLC, each participating lodging property provides secure bike storage, bike wash area, air pump, and discounts and other benefits to the visiting bicyclists.

TLC properties are Tahoe's Cycling Concierge - providing bikeway maps and information about places to eat, ride, and activities such as special events and entertainment.

The TLC properties are Lakeside Inn & Casino, Aston Lakeland Village, Tahoe Keys Resort and Howard Johnson - all located in South Tahoe on or near a bikeway with immediate access to the Lake and shopping areas. For more information about each property and their specific bicyclist offers go to www.TahoeBike.org and click on the Lodging tab. Other lodging properties interested in becoming a TLC property may contact Ty Polastri at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Tell your visiting family and friends to stay at a TLC property and receive valuable offers and authentic hospitality.

Bike Coalition Donates Bikes & Helmets The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, through a grant received from the American Century Pro/Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, purchased three BMX style bicycles, 50 bike helmets, and 500 Kids Bike Safety Coloring books to donate to the Boys & Girls Club and the upcoming Bike Rodeo scheduled for August 17, 2012.

The Bike Rodeo is open to the public to help develop safe bicycling skills for kids. On hand at the Boys & Girls Club in South Lake Tahoe will be a bike safety check performed by South Shore Bikes, and the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to guide the bike handling skills course. The event begins at 3:00 PM and bikes and helmets will be provided if children do not have them. For more information, contact Ty Polastri at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Additional information is forth coming.

Feature

Twelve Takeaways from the Bikeable & Walkable Community Workshop

1. We are ALL pedestrians
2. 1/3 of the population do not drive automobiles and we must accommodate for them
3. Walking and bicycling are good for the economy, environment and public health
4. Communities must provide safe and connected access equally to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists
5. The highest incidents of crashes are at conflict points (intersections, driveways, left turn lanes)
6. As roadway speeds increase so too the severity of crashes. As speed decreases bike/pedestrian use increases
7. Pedestrians want and need to cross the street safely and will do it where it is most convenient for them
8. Traffic calming (speed reduction measures) and crossings are good for pedestrians (safety)
9. Bikeways need to be part of a connected network (OK to combine various types - including on and off street)
10. Bike Boulevards are preferred over diversionary bike routes (thoroughfares offer most direct route to places and businesses located on the route, slower speeds good for pedestrians, bicyclists, and residents; and cyclists will choose thoroughfares anyway because of direct route).
11. Cannot design roadway system for peak traffic demands, but rather the demand 24/7, year-round
12. Create an authentic, connected and accessible community to live and work and the tourists will follow

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