Advocacy group to market bike tourism

Better bicycling routes in Carson City would not only benefit residents here, a local advocacy group is asserting, but also would attract visitors and new business to invigorate a slumping economy.

"It's probably one of the biggest benefits in encouraging businesses to relocate to the area," said Dan Allison, project manager for the effort. "Employees want a bikeable and walkable community. It's often second on the list, right below salary."

Muscle Powered, a group dedicated to increasing biking and walking, is appealing to the city to make a formal application to the League of American Bicyclists to designate Carson City a Bike Friendly Community.

Leaders in other cities who have been awarded the designation report a better outdoor image to market to tourists.

It also would serve those living here, said Marcus Marchegger, treasurer of Muscle Powered.

"I used to live in a Bicycle Friendly Community, and I loved it," he said. "You could put the whole family on bikes go out to eat or safely get anywhere downtown. It was much more fun than driving."

To be considered for the designation, the city would have to commit to making Carson City more bicycle friendly.

That would mean more bike lanes, reduced traffic speeds

and more bike racks throughout the city.

"We're putting in more bike racks. We want the city to put in more bike racks and businesses and corporations to put in more bike racks," Allison said. "We'd like every commercial or public corner in downtown to have a bike rack, so no matter where you go there's

one nearby."

Another important aspect would be safety education.

"Bicyclists are not being as safe themselves as they could be," he said.

The Regional Transportation Commission approved the plan last week, and it will be presented in the coming months for approval from the Carson City Board of Supervisors.

Shelly Aldean, who serves as the board of supervisors' representative to the transportation commission, said she likes what she has seen so far.

"Tourists of today are looking for a different type of recreation and entertainment," she said. "They're more inclined to go somewhere with a variety of activities that are outdoor oriented that allow them to enjoy the vistas."

Her concern, she said, is "that this process doesn't place an additional burden or staff or we aren't going to incur any major costs."

She said she has been satisfied with Muscle Powered's willingness to take on the bulk of the burden.

One of those burdens is being assumed by Jeff Potter, a member of the board of directors. With support of city planners, Muscle Powered is moving forward with a plan to increase mountain bike trails in the area.

Potter would take the lead in building a 5-mile trail to connect two sections of trails in Kings Canyon and Ash Canyon.

However, in order to do so, they'll need to get permission from the U.S. Forest Service to build on federal land.

Members of the Open Space Advisory Committee lent their support to the plan this week, which will make the application to the Forest Service easier, Potter said.

"It puts us in a better position," he said. "We already have a nice little network of trails, and that's great for quality of life, but to bring in tourism, we'd have to extend that."

With the connector trail, he said the city could offer 17 miles of mountain biking in the west Carson City hills. Eventually, he said, the trails could link up to surrounding trails like the Tahoe Rim Trail and the Flume Trail.

Already, Carson City trails are increasing in popularity, Marchegger said. It used to be, all riders knew each other. Now, he said, he sees new faces all the time, even cyclists coming down from Lake Tahoe.

"They're jonesin' to ride, but they can't because there's too much snow," he said.

Nevada currently has no Bicycle Friendly Communities. If Carson City were to receive the designation, it could take up to a year.