What runs deeper than Lake Tahoe? Our desire to preserve it.
The word Tahoe is a mispronunciation of the Washoe word Daʔaw, which they used to refer to the Lake. The term DaɁaw ɁagaɁ translates to “edge of the lake,” as the tribe enjoyed the warmer months on the shores of Tahoe. The Washoe tribe are the true Tahoe locals having inhabited Lake Tahoe for over 2,000 years!
The aspen trees that you see in Tahoe are called Quaking Aspens. They get their name from the way their flat leaves and lengthy stalks tremble in the lightest of breezes. Aspen leaves turn vibrant yellow due to a decrease in photosynthetic activity as the days get shorter in the fall, causing the green hue to fade as chlorophyll production is stopped. Aspens are also the most massive organism on Earth.
The nonprofits have teamed up to install nearly 450 bike racks in the Tahoe Basin over the last three years, offering secure parking for 900 bikes
With a grant from the Tahoe Fund and matching contributions from local businesses, the nonprofit Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition completed the third phase of its efforts to create secure bike parking within the Tahoe Basin. The Bike Coalition purchased and installed 100 bike racks in high-priority spots near Town Centers and one public bike repair station in Tahoe this summer, offering parking for 200 bikes. In total, the Bike Coalition and Tahoe Fund have teamed up to provide access to 450 bike racks at outdoor recreation locations, area businesses and community hotspots all around the lake since 2018, offering secure parking for up to 900 bikes.
“The Bike Coalition has consistently heard from members and supporters that the lack of bike racks is a barrier to getting people to make more trips by bike. Based on this need, we created the Bike Racks for Tahoe program in 2018,” said Chris Mertens, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition board member. “Anecdotally, we regularly see bikes parked at the new racks, sometimes as they are being installed, and locations throughout the Basin have been very happy with the program.”
The Bike Coalition had the high-quality bike racks installed at 31 locations within one-quarter mile of Town Centers around the Lake including South Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach, Tahoe City and Incline Village. Each of the two styles of racks provided can park two bicycles.
Businesses, recreation spots and schools applied for racks by completing a short online survey. Along with the racks, the Bike Coalition also purchased five public “fix-it” stations over the last two years. The stations have been installed in convenient locations where people riding bikes can use tools and a pump to address minor bicycle repair issues for free. This year, a fix-it station and bike rack were sent to North Tahoe in memory of Pam Emmerich, a long-time resident, community advocate and champion of bicycling.
“The Tahoe Fund has continued to support the Bike Coalition’s efforts to install more bike racks because we recognize the value it offers to the community and the Tahoe environment,” said Allen Biaggi, Tahoe Fund board chair. “Increasing the amount of bicycle parking and access to free repair stations region-wide encourages residents and visitors to ride. This in turn helps reduce vehicle emissions and roadway sediment that can affect lake clarity.”
Along with ongoing advocacy, event bike parking, safety messaging and providing the Tahoe Region bike map, the Bike Coalition plans to continue to inventory bike racks. It also advocates for requiring bike parking with all new development and will continue to provide as many racks to existing locations as possible through partnerships like what has been established with the Tahoe Fund.
An interactive map of existing rack locations can be found online at tahoebike.org/bike-parking. Learn more about the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition at tahoebike.org.
The average daily evaporation of Lake Tahoe is half a billion gallons of water. This would meet the daily water needs of 5 million people, or enough to support the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles! This fun fact comes from our friends at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. You can learn more about evaporation by clicking on the article below.
Today’s Fun Fact: The current lake level for Tahoe is 6,226.39 feet, this marks the lowest that the lake has been since 2017. The lake is down nearly two feet from it’s maximum earlier this year of 6,228 feet. Built between 1909 and 1913, the Tahoe Dam helps regulate the outflow of water from Lake Tahoe.
