Traveling to Emerald Bay will look a little different this summer.
Keep Tahoe Blue and the Tahoe Fund have partnered to fund the Emerald Bay Shuttle.
The non-profits offer the service as a replacement for parking along California State Route 89, which has proved dangerous in recent years.
Keep Tahoe Blue Title and Policy Director Gavin Feiger says highway parking caused not only safety concerns, but environmental problems as well.
"People park all over on dirt surfaces," Feiger says. "It causes more erosion. Sediment going into the lake, making it less blue."
Feiger says people walking from their cars to the lake creates "social trails" that also contribute to erosion.
On top of the shuttle, physical barriers and increased enforcement from the California Highway Patrol are meant to further discourage drivers from parking along the highway.
Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry says they and Keep Tahoe Blue each chipped in $150,000, but there's still a few more expenses related to the shuttle.
A round-trip will cost $10 for adults, and $5 for children under 13 years old.
Berry says the shuttle is a stress-free way to enjoy the bay.
"Just park at Camp Richardson, park at the Y, park at Sugar Pine. Get on the shuttle, come to Emerald Bay, and have a great day," he said.
There's a lot of spots around the lake to stop and get on the shuttle to Emerald Bay. To learn more about the shuttle, click here.
