The Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway is the ultimate commuter road. It’s a car-free cyclists’ path, the equivalent of a non-motorized Interstate 80 that bisects the Truckee Meadows and for the most part parallels the Truckee River. Its paved sections run from Verdi to Vista Boulevard in Sparks with roughly 10 miles spanning in each direction from its current midpoint downtown near the Siena Hotel Spa & Casino. The blacktop is interrupted here and there, but regardless, it’s very cohesive; a cool and exclusive place for bikers, joggers, dogs and inliners to venture, exercise and meander. At some points, it cuts through dense vegetation, at others, desert vistas and sometimes, interestingly, it threads beneath the cement bridges you’ve driven your car over a thousand times. Because of it’s variety of land- and cityscapes, this section is sort of like taking a road trip—but it’s short, free, and on your bicycle.
The official Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway is a great vision in the works. It’s part of a path that stretches from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, and it will eventually comprise more than 100 miles in length, spanning multiple bridges, five counties, two states and about 2,000 feet in elevation change. For more info visit www.tpbikeway.org.
There are some things that are better left unsaid.
Photo By Chris Carnel
The east end of the paved bike trail. This desert trail sector is cool and takes users over a train bridge toward Lockwood. Eventually, this northernmost piece will go all the way to Pyramid Lake—the only section of the trail that won’t be free. On the reservation, the $6.50 day-use permit is required.<br><br><b>Please take note of this letter to the Editor</b><br><br><i>I could not believe my eyes when reading the caption of a photo of Amtrak train No. 5 at Vista Boulevard as part of your feature article. To clarify for your readers, the trail DOES NOT “take users over a train bridge”! The bridge in question is railroad property, is off-limits to pedestrians and bicyclists, and is extremely dangerous. Back in April, I was at the throttle of the same train captured in your photo—Amtrak No. 5—when we hit a young bicyclist on this same bridge. Not more than a week later, I encountered two more cyclists on the bridge who narrowly escaped death. In the past few years, a number of others have been killed when hit by Amtrak trains at this same spot.<br><br>Trains approach this bridge at speeds of up to 70 mph. By the time an engineer notices a bicyclist on the bridge, it is too late to stop. Because of the momentum involved, a train moving at high speeds can take a lengthy distance to slow and/or bring to a halt. This location is particularly dangerous because the tracks approach the bridge on a curve. The engineer may not see a trespasser, nor would a trespasser see the train until the engine is close to crossing the bridge. In addition, because of its proximity to Interstate 80, the constant noise of traffic can drown out the sound of an approaching train, so that those who venture out onto the trestle may not even hear the train coming. And the “walkway” in places is not wide enough for a pedestrian—let alone a pedestrian with a bicycle—to clear a train.<br><br>Every year hundreds of trespassers are injured and killed on railroad property all across the United States. And in the process, numerous locomotive engineers are traumatized by what can be a frightful experience. Please, stay off the bridge at Vista!<br><br>Ron Kaminkow<br>Amtrak Locomotive Engineer <br>Reno<br><br>
Photo By Chris Carnel
Stay in your lane? OK.
Photo By Chris Carnel
Spooky bridge! Duck when you go under and use daytime headlights. I don’t recommend night travel because it’s eerie.
Photo By Chris Carnel
The long road ahead. What’s the speed limit here? Is it really only 15mph?
Photo by Chris Carnel
Kellie Wright at one with wildlife for a brief second. This section reminds me of Europe.
Photo by Chris Carnel
The path here is about to close. The evening is a great time to ride as the day cools off, and the moon is rising.
Photo by Chris Carnel
Sure there’s a little congestion up ahead, but it’s nothing like the traffic on Interstate 80 near the Spaghetti Bowl.
Photo By Chris Carnel
Getting exercise outside instead of in the gym is good—wheels and legs combined. Yield to oncoming traffic while passing.
Photo By Chris Carnel
Some locals on the east end of the bike trail live nearby and travel with more than two wheels.
Photo By Chris Carnel
