New Goals Set For Lake Tahoe Bike Challenge

The 7th annual Tahoe Bike Challenge sets new goals for the 2012 event scheduled for June 4-15th. The Bike Challenge is a Tahoe Basin-wide campaign that challenges everyone to ride their bike to work, school and during play and errands in lieu of using the automobile. The Challenge is not a competition but rather a personal and environmental health initiative defined by participants who choose to ride their bike instead burning fossil fuels to travel short distances, says event organizer Ty Polastri, Executive Director, of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition.

In the past, the Tahoe Bike Challenge has had as many as 730 registered riders, 87 company teams and 6 schools participate for a total accumulation of 23,000 miles traveled in one week. Over the past two years, severe weather has significantly impacted rider participation due to freezing cold and snow conditions. This year, organizers made some changes by moving the Challenge later in the spring to increase the probability of good riding conditions and extended the event to two weeks in hopes more people would be inclined to ride their bike.

The event is organized by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Together they set the new goals for the 2012 Tahoe Bike Challenge and they include:

— 1,000 registered bicyclists
— 100 teams
— 10,000 trips made by bikes
— 30,000 total miles traveled
— And $5,000 Bucks 4 Bikes raised to purchase bikes and helmets for Tahoe’s Youth

Anyone may participate in the Bike Challenge and there is no fee. To register, and for more information, go online at www.TahoeBike.org. Participants can log their miles or number of trips at any time and day during the event. To receive daily Challenge updates, prize winners and announcements, bicyclists are encouraged to sign up for the Tahoe Cycling Newsletter located on the web site.