Northern Nevada bikeway trail could be extended

RENO (AP) - A bike path that volunteers hope will one day stretch from the Truckee River to Pyramid Lake could be extended this year.

The extension could include opening the first trail in the Truckee Canyon west of Verdi and opening a stretch through the scenic McCarran Ranchl.

"It's unparalleled river riparian scenery," Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway leader Janet Phillips said of McCarran Ranch. "It will get to three of the four river restoration projects. There's a lot of waterfowl, cottonwood forest and wild horses."

Phillips said that once McCarran is opened to bike riders after a new bridge is built, they will have nine miles of trail to ride from Mustang to Tracy.

But it won't be opened until the Fleish suspension footbridge is made sturdier, Phillips said.

Fred Boyd, Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce acting executive director, said the plans for next year sound exciting.

"I'm not a bicycle person per se, but I like to hike and bike," Boyd said. "I think it's a definite plus for our area, for the people who live here. And for visitors, it's another little arrow in our quiver."

Phillips said work could begin this year on the first four miles of trail after the Truckee Meadows Water Authority signed an agreement making its dirt maintenance road public.

A grant to cover $200,000 of a $350,000 in improvements now is in the works, she said.

Phillips is among roughly a dozen professionals and recent retirees who are in their seventh year pursuing a bikeway following the Truckee River from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. So far, 68 miles are open, with 45 more miles to go.

She said another 70 volunteers assist in trail construction, pulling weeds or maintenance.