Path puts users in woods, off major Tahoe road
Cyclists no longer have to ride on Lake Tahoe Boulevard on the South Shore. Photos/Kathryn Reed
By Kathryn Reed
Sometimes riding on Lake Tahoe Boulevard between Highway 50 and the Angora burn area can be an adrenaline rush. The problem is it has nothing to do with pedaling and everything to do with drivers.
With the vehicle lanes being narrow and the shoulder non-existent, it can be scary with cars whizzing by at speeds topping 55 mph, even though the posted speed limit is 50 mph.
Now there is an alternative to that harrowing ride. A 1.7-mile Class 1 bike path was laid down this fall. It essentially follows what had been a dirt path mountain bikers would use.
It starts at Viking Way at the base of South Tahoe High School, meanders through the woods – with singed trees from the 2007 Angora Fire still visible, and ends at Sawmill Road.
The nearly $800,000 trail is on U.S. Forest Service land, operated by El Dorado County under a special use permit.
“There is no plan to extend a Class 1 bike path,” Donaldo Palaroan, senior civil engineer with El Dorado County, told Lake Tahoe News. “However, we do plan to construct bike lanes toward Clear View Drive where the bike lane currently ends. So, a Class 2 bike lane will be extended from Clear View Drive/Mule Deer Circle to Sawmill Road to connect with the Lake Tahoe Boulevard bike path and the Sawmill 2 bike path.”
Erosion control measures line the trail.
While road bike riders traditionally prefer the road to a path because they can go faster and not be encumbered by other users, they have been seen on this trail.
“Bikers are hypersensitive to 3,000-pound-plus metallic objects lumbering down the road at or above of 50 mph while rocking out to Axle Rose and Slash, particularly when those objects are within an arm’s reach,” Garrett Villanueva, USFS trails specialist, told Lake Tahoe News. “So, I think some roadies will use the bike path and I think recreational or less experienced bicyclists will tend to use the path exclusively.”
Mountain bikers are also using the trail. This gets them to dirt trails in the Tahoe Mountain area. A sign at the Sawmill end includes a permanent map that lists the various trails in the area.
Walkers, dogs and inline skaters have also been populating the trail.
At the Sawmill juncture people have the choice to get onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard without any lane markings or to cross the boulevard to get onto Sawmill Road. Eventually the county is going to reduce Lake Tahoe Boulevard to one lane in each direction from Sawmill to Tahoe Mountain Road.
At the crosswalk there is a button that will trigger a flashing yellow light to warn motorists people are in the road.
The new path connects to the Sawmill Road trail.
Once across people have the opportunity to be on a trail for seven-tenths of a mile along Sawmill Road that was built in 2012. In 2015, the rest of the trail will be constructed. In total it will be 1.3 miles. The second half will remain on the same side as the current trail (which wasn’t always the plan) and has already been outlined. The erosion control work for the trail was done this year.
Once that section is done it’s possible to be on a bike trail from Meyers to STHS.
Future connections include going from STHS to the Y.
There is limited parking at Sawmill Road and Lake Tahoe Boulevard.
Well done to all involved, a real improvement for everybody.
An overall downhill ride from Meyers to the high school is quite an option.
The bike trail is a welcome addition. The flashing yellow light however, is constantly flashing 24/7. When I go to work @ 3:45 A.M. There it is a’ blazing. This needs to be as the article mentions, activated on demand. I do not want to play “frogger” because drivers become numb to the ever flashing amber.
One option which was not included as part of the construction of the project was overhead/street lighting at the intersection of Sawmill Road and Lake Tahoe Boulevard in order to illuminate the area when it is dusk or dark. The trail is used by walkers and bikers at those hours, not all of whom are wearing clothing which makes them more visible. The yellow flashing lights as you approach that area are always on, and I am concerned that someone might get hit. Vehicles are traveling 45-55 mph or greater, and if drivers become used to seeing those lights flash, I suspect their vigilance in looking out for those crossing from the trail might wane.
Have been riding the trail every day for my work commute. The County did a great job!! When the remaining Sawmill portion gets completed, this trail will be an excellent way to get to town without worry on a bike. Good job!!
Great trail – now we need the connector class II to Glorene. Then a crosswalk and blinking yellow light on 89 at 10th or 15th to get people safely out to the forest bike path off Eloise. Imagine, a relatively safe ride from Meyers to Pope, Kiva and Baldwin.
Actually, the posted speed limit is 55 from just past the high school, to right before the Sawmill Pond intersection, where it goes down to 45. They’ve added flashing lights and a great crosswalk there at Sawmill. Looks like a lot of thought went into it. I haven’t walked there yet, but it appears that it’s set up to have pedestrian-initiated flashers actually AT the crosswalk in addition to the warning flashers ahead of the intersection.
Yes, the bike trail is a good addition that will help visitors and locals alike get around town more safely on bikes. Two things:
Coming from town, there are too many signs at this intersection–two sets of signs noting the 45 mph speed limit, an redundant sign telling people not to park on the road during snow removal conditions and then the sign praising locals for surviving the Angora fire. Nothing wrong with these signs individually but when combined with the new bike trail signs it presents a confusing array of things to read as the motorist approaches. I, too, am concerned about an accident there.
A GENERAL NOTE ON BIKE TRAILS: There have been many posts here and in other venues about some trails being overrun by mountain bikes to the point where family recreational hiking is rendered less pleasant if not hazardous. I was at Marlette the other day and noted that parallel to the main road there is a trail to be used only by horses and hikers to provide a safe and quiet experience for non-mechanized uses.
The article mentions the Tahoe Mountain mountain bike loops. As far as I know, every inch of trail up there is open to mountain bikes with not one (out of 15 to 20) designated for hikers. There have been problems with this and some complaints. Now Mr Villanueva plans to put bike trails on BOTH ridge lines which parallel the road up to Angora. This will give riders three choices–the road and both ridge lines. Couldn’t ONE of the ridge line trails be for the many family groups who walk up to Angora in the summer? The old trail up to the aviation beacon (the steepest one) could be designated for hikers as not many riders use it and its the trail most hikers use.
Most hiking areas in the western states have some trails designated for foot use only. I think Mr Villanueva is seriously behind the curve on this one and that while riding will grow (I hope it does), hiking may diminish on our close in local trails because people are daunted by dodging mountain bikes all the time. Not all locals or visitors want to have to enter Desolation to have a quiet day in the woods.
I think a little fairness and forethought is in order here.
There is a job for you Collecting beer cans along the path,You can take them to the recycle and collect on them.No one should go hungry ,or homeless.
Hooray! Totally awesome trail. Looking forward to more bike paths and our community expanding bike paths and standing up to the “Bike Friendly Community” sign that welcomes our visitors. Were coming for you NIMBY’s!
I agree with Dogula about the changes in the speed limit as one approaches the intersection and about the center mounted flashing light, but the light in the center of the road is somewhat obstructed by the signage when approaching from the Y, and is apparently user activated as opposed to continuous flashing. Coming from the opposite direction, you approach from around a somewhat blind curve. I travel that route more than once a day, and have witnessed both pedestrians and bicyclists crossing in dusk conditions when the center flashing light, for whatever reason, was not activated. I noticed them because I was looking out for walkers/cyclists, but drivers are not always attentive. I just think that overhead street lights at the intersection would improve safety.
This is a wonderful trail. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.
Hiking in that area I have had very pleasant interactions with joggers, walkers and mountain bikers. It is great to see folks getting out and enjoying Lake Tahoe.
This is especially good for Meyers kids and others who would like to commute to school or work without using a car. Thank you to all who made this happen. Would love to have more paved bike/walking trails as an option.