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CVTA needs your help to finish trails

19 Oct

From Carson Valley Trails Association (http://www.carsonvalleytrails.org/)

This is an urgent call for help building trail up Sierra and Genoa Canyons (up to the Tahoe Rim Trail) to all mountain bikers.

Background: The CVTA is dedicated to providing access and developing trail in the Carson Valley for all users (hikers, bikers, and equestrians). Under a matching state grant program, the CVTA was able to build a significant new trail network from Eagle Ridge (N of Genoa) to Genoa Canyon and up Sierra Canyon to the TRT (near Genoa Peak) this summer. The mountain bike possibilities on this trail are tremendous including loops and downhill runs starting from the TRT between Daggett and Spooner Summits.

Construction on the Genoa Foothill Trail System

What is needed: CVTA is in desperate need of volunteers to help build trail (at this point mostly trail cleanup). Hours are needed to comply with the matching portion of the state grant. The deadline to provide matching volunteer hours is the end of calendar year 2011. If bikers are going to be users of this trail it is only fair that they pitch in to help build and maintain the trail.

What you can do: Trail building dates are posted on the CVTA web site: http://www.carsonvalleytrails.org/Programs-Calendar.html

All tools are provided and NO experience is necessary. We need all cycling groups to post this message to their members. Help is needed urgently as future trail development is contingent of the success of this major initiative.

Please pick a date and show up. If you enjoy the trails you should realize that they are only exist because of the hard work of many volunteers. Won’t you be one of them?

CVTA invites you to “Build for Bill”

Saturday, October 22, 2011
8am to 3pm
Genoa Canyon (located at the end of Carson St in Genoa)

Come to Genoa Canyon and “Build for Bill” on Saturday, October 22. Every hour of trail building that you donate will be an hour of support for Bill Hay, CVTA president, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer, which prevents him from doing the trailbuilding he loves. For more information on how you can help, see the “Build for Bill” flyer (.pdf).

 
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Posted by on October 19, 2011 in bicycling, news, trails, walking

 

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Nevada Legislature Passes Two Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Bills

15 Jun

The Nevada Vulnerable  Highway Users Law and  3-Foot Passing Law will improve conditions for bicycling and walking in the Silver State

 Nevada’s pedestrian fatality rate is almost twice the US average.  Between 2000 and 2009 541 people were killed while walking in Nevada – this makes the state the eighth most dangerous in the nation for walking, according to Transportation for America’s 2011 “Dangerous by Design” report.  Conditions are also hazardous for bicyclists. Urban streets and rural roads with high speed limits, a discontinuous bicycle and pedestrian transportation system, and  careless drivers in a car-oriented culture make for dangerous conditions.

But Nevada also has a growing and active community of bicycle and pedestrian advocates who got together in the 2011 legislative session to work with legislators on two bills to improve cycling and walking conditions in the state.

Muscle Powered, a grassroots citizens organization advocating for better bicycling and walking conditions in Nevada’s capital city, decided last year to make the passage of a Vulnerable Users Law a priority for the Nevada 2011 legislative session.  The bill was modeled on Oregon’s law, which defines vulnerable users and describes additional penalties for careless driving when vulnerable users are affected.

Assemblywoman Teresa  Benitez Thompson  agreed to sponsor the bill.  Benitez Thompson’s district  – Reno’s “old southwest” neighborhood  – is home to many who commute by bicycle from their homes in her district to the University of Nevada and downtown offices and casinos. She saw the bill as directly affecting the wellbeing of her constituents. A coalition of advocates from Muscle Powered, the Nevada Bicycle Coalition, UNLV’s Safe Community Partnership, the Alta Alpina Cycling Club and others worked closely with Benitez Thompson in drafting the bill and providing testimony in committee hearings.

The Nevada Vulnerable Highway Users bill passed both houses unanimously and was signed by Governor Sandoval on June 13. The bill amends Nevada’s reckless driving laws to provide that a person who strikes a pedestrian or person who is riding a bicycle has committed reckless driving, and provides penalties from $250 up to $2,000 and driver’s license revocation.

Meanwhile,  in the Nevada Senate, Senators David Parks and John Lee were joined by Assemblyman Elliott  Anderson  and  nine other state senators in introducing a “3-Foot Passing” Law that requires drivers to change lanes, if there is an additional lane, or leave at least three feet of room while passing bicyclists.  This bill also passed both houses easily, and was signed by the governor on May 19.

Muscle Powered’s Kelly Clark, who headed the team that worked on the Vulnerable Users law, initiated it with the idea of making the streets safer. “It seems like the environment on the streets has been getting more angry, not less. This law is really just the beginning. It basically says striking a pedestrian or cyclist can be grounds for reckless driving and losing your license. There is still a lot of work to do: educating the public; getting cyclists to report incidents; getting law enforcement to take accidents seriously. This legislation is a small step, but it is a start.”

 
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Posted by on June 15, 2011 in legislation, Muscle Powered, news

 

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Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail Update

12 Jun

Cell over Carson.jpg

View from the future trail. Elev-6100′

The future Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail (KC/ACT) will be a seven mile non-motorized multi-use trail designed for mountain biking and running, and managed for hiking and equestrian use.

Chas,Toby.jpg

Chas Macquarie (Lumos & Assoc.) and Toby Welborn survey the Ash Creek bridge crossing.

After we work out a few details with the City (we’re reviewing the final draft of a cooperative agreement between Muscle Powered and Carson City) we can start construction on the City owned land while we work toward meeting the environmental requirements on the U.S.F.S managed land. We believe this arrangement will speed up the completion date of the trail. By the time trail crews reach the U.S.F.S. boundary, the NEPA process should be complete and we can continue building through to our goal of reaching Kings Canyon.

Chas,Mrk,Dan,Juan.jpg

Juan Guzman (w/camera) Chas Macquarie, Mark Kimbrough, and Dan Morris (USFS) discuss Ash Creek bridge crossing.

Two thirds of the KC/ACT is on land managed by the U.S.F.S., while one third of the alignment is on land owned by Carson City. Our only requirement before construction can begin on City land is to conduct a cultural survey, and in November 2010, Vidler Water’s archeologist Jim Hutchins generously donated his time to perform the survey. Thanks Jim! When it comes to federal land though, we have to comply with the NEPA. And while the cultural survey is one component of NEPA, the other studies we need to complete are hydrology, wildlife, and botanical.

Dr Jim.jpg

Archeologist Dr. Jim taking notes.

Plant Identification.jpg

Kelly, Natalie and Ann discussing plant identification.

On Friday, June 10th, I guided U.S Forest Service botanists Kelly and Natalie across the KC/ACT alignment for the botanical survey. Joining us were Carson City Natural Resources Specialist Ann Bollinger, and Muscle Powered hike leader and board member Donna Inverson.

Big Boulder.jpg

The trail will pass just below the big boulder.

It takes quite a long time to cross the alignment. When we mapped the trail in June of 2010 it took us six hours to cross. To prepare for the upcoming surveys we re-flagged the area and it took us 11 hours to cross. The new deadfall and the rapid re-vegetation make this a difficult area to cross. Fortunately the “ologists” haven’t found anything that will require us to reroute any sections yet.

Kelly,Natalie & Donna.jpg

Kelly, Natalie and Donna.

We hope to start construction on the KC/ACT at the end of June or beginning of July. With all volunteer labor it will take us approximately five years to reach Kings Canyon. To achieve an earlier completion date we are pursuing grants that will fund a professional trail crew to assist in trail construction.

Amy T&K at the high point of the proposed Trail.jpg

Tank, Kayla and Amy at the trail’s high point: 6700′

If you would like to become involved with this project please contact me at: jeffpotter@musclepowered.org.

This project wouldn’t happen without the assistance and support from our outstanding partners and friends:

Amy Potter
Anne Macquarie
Chas Macquarie
Steve Hartman
Howard Riedl
Janice Brod
Roger Moelendorf
Juan Guzman
Ann Bolinger
Vern Krahn
Jim Hutchins
Toby Welborn
Amanda Garcia
Lester FitzHenry
Jeff Moser
Oliver Lieder
Keith Conrad
Alex Kirkpatrick
Josh Lynn
Ward Knous
Marcus Marcheggar
Jenny Scanland
Pat Glancy
Max Jones
Dr. Sandra Koch
Vdler Water
Poedunks
Carson City Runners
Sagebrush Stompers
IMBA
Carson City-Open Space Advisory Committee
Board of Supervisors
Parks and Recreation Commission
U.S. Forest Service-Genny Wilson
Dan Morris
Tank, Kayla, Zuesa, Bogart & Percy

Tank.jpg

This trail wouldn’t be possible without Tank.

 
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Posted by on June 12, 2011 in news, trails

 

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CAMPO / RTC Meeting Alert

06 Jun

There are a few items on June’s CAMPO/RTC agenda that are important Carson City pedestrians and cyclists! Please take the time from your busy schedule to attend these meetings and show your support for these important projects. Your presence and voice really do make a difference!

Ride with the City Supervisors

On the agenda:

  • Safe Routes to School
  • Freeway Multi-Use Path
  • Bicycle Friendly Community application review

When: June 8th, 4:30 PM
Where: Carson City Community Center, Sierra Room (west side of the building)

Full meeting agendas can be viewed here:

CAMPO Agenda
RTC Agenda

 
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Posted by on June 6, 2011 in Bicycle Friendly Community BFC, bicycle routes, bicycling, news, safe routes to school, walking

 

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Ride With the Carson City Board of Supervisors

08 May

When: Monday, May 9th at 11:00 a.m.

Where: Telegraph Square (the corner of Telegraph & Curry Streets)

Ride with the Mayor
“Mr. Potter, have you seen the movie Alien”

Come out and join Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell and Carson City Supervisors Karen Abowd, Shelly Aldean, and Molly Walt ride around historic downtown Carson City to help promote Bike to Work Week and the Carson City Corporate Challenge.

The ride will be about 30 minutes and we will stop a few times along the way for photos.

Click here to enter the Carson City Corporate Challenge

Upcoming events:

Vulnerable User Procession

When: Wednesday, May 11th at 10:30 a.m.

Where: 911 East Second St.

It is vitally important that we let the Legislature know that this bill is supported by all vulnerable users; pedestrians, hikers, bicyclists, wheelchair/scooter users, come one, come all. Meet at the old Greater Nevada Credit Union at 911 E. Second St. at 10:30 a.m. to assemble. Procession will begin at 11 a.m., and will travel west along Fifth Street to South Carson, then proceed by foot across the legislative plaza to the front of the Legislative Building, where a press event regarding Vulnerable User Legislation will be held.

Flat Tire Repair Clinic

When: Wednesday, May 11th at 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Bike Smith 900 North Carson St.

 
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Posted by on May 8, 2011 in bicycling, bike month, bike to work week, events, news

 

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Vulnerable Highway Users Bill

29 Apr

The Nevada Vulnerable Highway Users bill passed the Nevada Assembly unanimously on Monday. Freshman Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez Thompson of Reno  introduced the bill and has done a great job of shepherding the bill through.  Here’s a picture of Benitez Thompson taken in front of the State Legislature today, with Kelly Clark, Lee Harter and Anne Macquarie of Muscle Powered, Tim Rowe of Muscle Powered and the Nevada Bike Board, and Terry McAfee of Procrastinating Pedalers and the Nevada Bicycle Coalition.
Nevada Vulnerable Highway Users bill

On to the Senate. The bill must pass out of the Senate Transportation Committee by May 15 or it dies. Any letters or phone calls in support of the bill – AB 328 – to members of the committee (see Nevada legislature website for names and addresses) would be helpful.
The Nevada Vulnerable Highway Users bill amends the state’s reckless driving statute to include striking a bicyclist or a pedestrian as reckless driving, with penalties including a fine of up to $2,000, community service, and license suspension.

 
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Posted by on April 29, 2011 in bicycling, legislation, Muscle Powered, news, walking

 

Earth Day Cleanup Report

26 Apr

On April 23rd, Muscle Powered volunteers assisted the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department and the Chamber of Commerce with a Community Cleanup. There were three cleanup locations around town, and I attended the event that staged at Fremont Elementary School, cleaning up along the Linear Multi-Use Path. Many people showed up in spite of the rain to lend a hand at keeping our community clean.

Earth Day Cleanup
A good turnout!

Once we were briefed on our mission, it didn’t take long to spot litter. Almost all the litter we found was near the road and adjacent to the playground of the school. There was plenty of trash along the banks, but much of it was located in the ditch itself. Thankfully, a few brave people waded out into the water and reeds to retrieve the trash the rest of us couldn’t reach.

Earth Day Cleanup
Trash in the Linear Path ditch

When you do an event like this, it gives you a pretty good picture of what people are discarding, and what the big problems are. I picked up a lot of empty disposable water bottles. Half of the trash I picked up on Saturday would not have been there if people would simply use reusable water bottles, which in my opinion are way more convenient anyway.

Earth Day Cleanup
Volunteers hard at work

With all the volunteers we had, we made quick work of our project, and helped restore the ditch to a pristine looking condition! Big change comes from lots of people doing little things.

Earth Day Cleanup
Finishing Up the Cleanup

According to Tillery Williams, one of the event’s coordinators,

The cleanup was an overall success. We ended up attracting roughly 85 volunteers. We had about 15 of us at Del Taco, about 25-30 at the Moffat properties, and over 40 at Fremont. We were able to pick up a great deal of trash in all of the areas. Maybe next year the weather will be a little better! Thanks for helping us spread the word and for volunteering.

 
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Posted by on April 26, 2011 in events, news

 

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Bicycle Saftey Check this Thursday

05 Apr

This Thursday evening Muscle Powered and the Carson City Health Department will doing a bicycle safety check! From 5-7pm on April 7th, we will have a booth setup at Telegraph Square at the crossroads of Telegraph and Curry Streets to help celebrate National Public Health Week.

Carson City
Telegraph Square

Thursday’s theme is Safety on the Move. It’s been a long winter, and those bikes have been sitting for a while. Bring your bicycles on down and let us make sure you’re ready to roll safely! Also, Muscle Powered and the Carson City Health Department will have some give-aways and info to hand out. Hope to see you there!

 
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Posted by on April 5, 2011 in bicycling, Education, events, health, news

 

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IMBA Trail Care Crew to Visit the Area

31 Mar

If you’ve ever been interested in the effort that goes into constructing the trails that we frequently enjoy, from working with land managers to working in the field, then this trail building class is for you.

The International Mountain Bike Association Trail Care Crew, with assistance from the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association, Carson Valley Trails Association, and the USFS, is coming to our area to offer a trail building weekend that is open to the public. This is a great opportunity to learn from the pros:

Subaru/International Mountain Bicycling Association Trail Care Crew Coming to South Lake Tahoe, California

Expert team will join TAMBA to teach sustainable trail building

South Lake Tahoe, CA: April 8-10 – The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in South Lake Tahoe, from April 8th through the 10th to talk trails, how to work more effectively with your area land managers, and how to improve the overall economic and social health of our community by creating more riding opportunities. The visit is one of about 70 stops on the 2011 schedule. Everyone is invited to attend the weekend’s events.

The award-winning Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program includes two full-time, professional teams of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading IMBA Trail building Schools, meeting with government officials and land managers and working with IMBA-affiliated groups to improve local mountain biking opportunities. IMBA’s crews have led more than 1,000 trail projects since the program debuted in 1997.

With the abundance of spring snow, the crew will spend the first day in the classroom on Friday. In collaboration with the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA), topics will include Land Manager Training, Better Living Though Trails, and Club Care Advocacy. These presentations will teach and advocate the health, economic, and social benefits of trails within our community. Weather permitting, Saturday’s session will culminate in a trip to the Carson Valley to break ground on a new trail that will ultimately connect the Tahoe Rim Trail with the town of Genoa. The crew will spend the morning teaching attendees about the proper techniques of trail building with actual hands-on trail work in the afternoon.

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program has inspired great volunteer trail work across the U.S. and abroad – a big help to government agencies and land managers who have limited funding for trail construction and upkeep. As a direct result, there are now thousands of new and improved trails in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and several European countries.

The Trail Care Crews teach “sustainable” trail building, which means building lasting trails that require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment and enhances visitor enjoyment.

The Crews travel in new Subaru Outbacks provided by Subaru of America. The company has been IMBA’s leading sponsor since 1997.

All are welcome to join the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders when they come to town. Below is a schedule of events that are open to the public:

Friday, April 8: 12:30 – 5:00 pm; USFS conference room, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe

-TAMBA presentation – “Who we are and what we’ll do”

-Land Manager training.

-Better Living Through Trails

-Club Care presentation (time allowing)

6:00pm -Social event at the Divided Sky in Meyers

Saturday, April 9: 9:00am – 12:00 pm; USFS, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe

-Trail Building classroom session.

1:00 – 4:00 pm – trail construction on the Carson Valley trail outside of Genoa.

Sunday, April 10

-Group mountain bike ride in the Carson Valley. Specifics TBA.

To register for the work day visit https://www.imba.com/civicrm/event/info?id=111&reset=1

For more information contact: bfish@designworkshop.com

 
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Posted by on March 31, 2011 in news, trails

 

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Highway 50 Bike Path Obstructions

21 Mar

It’s quite evident to today’s cyclist that our transportation system is designed with the automobile driver in mind. Millions have been spent on roads, highways and other infrastucture for the motorist, but very little in comparison for people that prefer or need to travel under their own power. Bicycle advocates often have to work hard just to get basic transportation infrastructure that is safe and gets people where they need to go. Because we often get so little, it’s frustrating when it’s taken away from us from a group that already has way more than its fair share.

HWY 50 Bike Path

Carson City has long had bike paths along Highway 50, leaving Carson City to the east. These bike paths are the primary way to travel by bike when heading east or west, to and from Carson City. They provide a safe area to ride that separates the cyclist from 50mph traffic, and connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, and shopping. In addition to the cyclists of all ages that use these paths, walkers and disabled citizens also rely on this route.

HWY 50 Bike Path

People have recently come to me with complaints of businesses and customers along Highway 50 using the bike paths as parking. When a car is parked in the path, often for no good reason, since there is usually alternative parking, the path user is forced off into the dirt, gravel, or mud. And depending on the weather or what bike your riding, it can be no easy task to navigate this terrain. At the very least, extremely inconvenient. For the person in a wheelchair, it may be impossible to get around a car on the path.

Blocking the Bike Path

The city has been receptive to complaints from users of the bike route, and has even taken steps to provide better signage along the path, even reminding motorists that there is a fine for misuse. I rode down the paths recently to see the situation for myself, and it didn’t take long before my way was blocked by a parked car. The car was even parked under one of the new signs that the city just installed. And once again this weekend, I had to navigate around another parked car, riding through the mud to do so.

Blocking the Bike Path

I believe there is some education that needs to take place for people to better understand what they’re doing wrong. It seems to be understood that we don’t park our cars in red zones, in front of fire hydrants, or in reserved parking spaces, but for some reason it seems acceptable to block a bike path. From what I’ve heard, some businesses are even angry that they’ve been told the bike lanes aren’t for parking, and said they’d fight it if further measures were taken. It’s hard to understand this though, as there is often a dirt shoulder to park on right next to the bike path. There seems to be room to accommodate everyone.

Blocking the Bike Path

This story is still unfolding, so it’s anyone’s guess how it will progress; however, as fuel prices and unemployment continue to rise, we will certainly see an increased use of alternative transportation like biking and walking. And we mustn’t forget our friends in wheelchairs that simply have no other method of getting around than these paths. I’d like to give people the benefit of the doubt, and assume they don’t know the trouble they’re causing by obstructing the paths.

Blocking the Bike Path

A couple of the photos above are mine, and others were sent to me by Carson City residents. Have you had problems with cars blocking bike paths in Carson City? Let me know, and please send me photos if you have them. What do you think would be the best way to educate these motorists?

You can contact me at: jeffmoser@musclepowered.org

 
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Posted by on March 21, 2011 in bicycle routes, bicycling, Education, news, safe routes to school, walking

 

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