Lauren Novotney, Author at Tahoe Fund

Have you ever gone for a beach day in Lake Tahoe and had to park (what feels like) a mile away from the beach? Well, you can avoid this by taking free shuttle services around the lake this summer!

Free shuttle services allow you to avoid driving, steer clear of parking, and save on gas money. Not only does this improve traffic congestion, but these transportation options also reduce air pollution and the impact on Lake Tahoe’s waters and forests. Here are two great options to help you get around this summer:

TART Connect in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee

Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) offers TART Connect, a free, on-demand, curb-to-curb ride service–much like an Uber or Lyft. It’s easy to use, just download the TART Connect app and request a ride to the destination of your choice. TART Connect, which is funded in part by the Tahoe Fund, is available in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee this summer.

The extended summer services on the North Shore begin June 30, and operate 8am to 12am within Lakeside zones, and 6pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday evenings within Resort zones (Olympic Valley & Northstar). Truckee TART Connect service began summer operations June 25and is operating 10am -10pm. Learn more: https://tahoetruckeetransit.com/tart-connect-2/

New Lake Link Service in South Lake Tahoe

Lake Link is a new, free microtransit service coming to South Lake Tahoe this summer. This new service, operated by South Shore Transportation Management Association, will initially run three miles through the casino corridor from Stateline, Nevada, to the Lake Tahoe Community College/Al Tahoe neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe along both US 50 and Pioneer Trail. Just like TART Connect, Lake Link will have an accessible app available for riders. To learn more about Lake Link, visit http://ss-tma.org/lake-link/ or call 530-494-0153 to book a ride.

By taking these free shuttle services instead of driving, you are helping to improve road congestion, reduce environmental impacts, and make it easier for everyone to get around in Tahoe this summer!

Lauren Novotney is an intern for the Tahoe Fund

TART Connect Photos by Ryan Salm Photography

Whether you like to mountain bike, e-bike, or take a cruiser to the beach, Lake Tahoe is one of the best places to ride in the world. There are 63 miles of paved bike paths in the Tahoe Basin, ranging from trails that climb to the highest ridges, to paths that coast alongside the lake. June is Tahoe Bike Month, and people around the lake are celebrating with friendly biking competitions, bike trail cleanups, and even bike to work days.

The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting bicycling, bike events, and new bicycle infrastructure, is helping Tahoe become a more bike-friendly community. Together with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and supported by the Tahoe Fund, the Bike Coalition is improving wayfinding and bicycle safety across the region by:

Creating a comprehensive online and paper bike map to help people find the safest places to ride their bike
Placing bike safety ambassadors at high-use trail locations to help visitors navigate to their destinations
Providing bike racks at popular recreation sites and businesses
Distributing bike safety equipment such as bells and lights for bikers to be more visible to the public

All of these efforts are vital for both residents and visitors to bike safely while also promoting an eco-friendly way to get around the lake. Not only is biking environmentally friendly, but it also creates countless memories with friends, co-workers, and family!

If you’d like to join in the bike festivities in June, check out the Tahoe Bike Month Competition, where riders compete for the most miles and rides. So far, over 12,000 miles have been reached and almost 80,000 vertical feet have been climbed. Bring your friends and family to join in on the fun! Learn more: tahoebike.org.

Lauren Novotney is an intern for the Tahoe Fund

Free Shuttle Services Available in Lake Tahoe This Summer

It’s Bike Month in Tahoe!