SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A Tahoe bicycle destination website has launched during Tahoe Bike Month. It is a redesign of the popular Bike Tahoe website (www.biketahoe.org) made possible with grants from the City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, and the Tahoe Community Foundation (formerly Parasol).
The website is the outcome of many inquiries over the years from bicyclists throughout the country and internationally, who want to know where to go and what to do in Tahoe, according to Bike Tahoe President Ty Polastri.
The new design can assist local and visiting bicyclists, or would-be cyclists, of all skill levels who are looking to enjoy Tahoe via mountain biking, road and gravel cycling, or riding leisurely on a bike path. According to Polastri, “the website is now more than a collection of 75 Google-mapped bike trails. It’s an invitation to explore the region on two wheels where nature, community, and recreation intersect, creating memorable rides and experiences of the Lake Tahoe region.”
Bicyclists can now plan their visit or day with more ease using the addition of two regional destination hubs: the South Tahoe Destination Hub and the North Tahoe Destination Hub. Each hub hosts a comprehensive directory of resources a bicyclist is commonly interested in: bike shops and rentals, shuttle service, restaurants, brew pubs, beaches, campgrounds, and lively entertainment for when the day’s ride winds down.
Just as the website is helpful for bicyclists, Polastri says businesses can use it to help guide their customers, guests, and visitors to find what they are looking for while planning their visit or during their time in Tahoe.
The region is experiencing an upsurge in bicycle-related events. These are complementing long-standing bike rides, such as America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride and the Death Ride, each attracting thousands of visiting cyclists annually. Market studies (Lake Tahoe Visitor Profile and Insights by Omnitrak) show that outdoor recreation and bicycling are key drivers for Tahoe visitation. Now, throughout the summer, the region is responding to bicyclists’ interest with a growth of organized rides, competitions, festivals, and coaching camps for women, kids, and adults of all ages and abilities.
Helping bicyclists plan their visits and activities is the new Bike Tahoe Event Calendar. Knowing there are events throughout the summer months can help bicyclists plan their trips with friends, look forward to meeting new ones, build new riding skills, or raise valuable dollars for important causes while enjoying their rides. Increasing event awareness also helps support the sustainability of event organizers, and they can post their events by going to the website’s event calendar submission page.
This launch is an expanded chapter in Bike Tahoe’s efforts to get more people to experience Tahoe’s natural beauty by bike and learn about the trails, businesses, and recreational resources available to them. According to Bike Tahoe, on the horizon is the announcement of another major effort to help build and promote Tahoe’s growing bicycle culture.
