The flat, two-laned Pope-Baldwin Bike Path is one of South Lake Tahoe’s best bikeways for its accessible, rider-friendly terrain and connections to all other regional trails. Popular Lake Tahoe hotspots along the way include clear water beaches and big views of aesthetic peaks from Pope Beach, Kiva Shoreline, Baldwin Beach and Fallen Leaf Lake, Camp Richardson’s shops and ice cream, Taylor Creek’s stream profile experience and Tallac Historic Site. Seasonal attractions include snow visible in spring and salmon spawning in fall. Between these stops, bikers wind through tall green pine groves with crisp forest scents, bird chirps and warm sunlight shining through the tree canopy.
Family owned and operated Anderson’s Bicycle Rental has continually served as this trailhead’s popular bike rental shop and access point since both the trail and business opened here in 1978. They provide the most direct park-and-ride bike access to South Lake Tahoe’s sprawling bicycle trail system while avoiding all busy highways.
“Clean mountain air, popular destination stops and spectacular views make Tahoe such a great spot to rent a bike,” says Sue Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Bicycle Rental. “The experience allows you to connect with the scene much more than you can from your car window but a lot quicker than is possible on foot.”
Adjacent to the trail, it’s hard to miss Anderson’s Bicycle Rental’s big green lawn, outdoor kiosk and immense bicycle inventory. Retired school teacher Augie Anderson established the company with his son Doug and other family members, and since Doug’s passing in 2014, his wife, Sue, and their children, Bailey and Danny, proudly continue running the company daily and updating the inventory and business operations. In their historic five-decade run, Anderson’s has adapted to outlast 1980s droughts, 1990s floods, fire evacuations and COVID.
“This all started with a family love for biking in this forest community, and growing up in that has made it become a passion of mine,” says Sue’s son, Danny Anderson. “My motivation is to see this business grow as much as possible and give a service that people want to return for.”
Danny and his sister, Bailey Anderson-Kinard, share general management responsibilities while leading social media and a certified professional mechanic team, which includes Bailey’s husband, Andrew Kinard, and Jeff Dietz, who has worked here since the beginning in 1978. This core also guides a team of about 10 seasonal employees who are often family friends.
Their 250-plus bike inventory is among the region’s largest. It includes comfortable beach cruisers, tandem bikes for shared riding, childrens’ bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids and eBikes along with child and dog trailers. About one-third of this fleet is replaced annually, guaranteeing visitors that the inventory will be up to date. Daily or multi-day beginner renters seeking a leisurely ride or experienced technical trail riders are all well supported. Large business, school and private groups are also welcome with reservations.
“This place rocks!!! Go nowhere else to rent bikes in the Tahoe area,” raves one of hundreds of positive online reviews. “Anderson’s Bicycle Rental has become part of our favorite family memories,” shares another.
Previous visitors describe an overwhelmingly positive experience, reflected by Anderson’s huge multigenerational return rate. The business estimates that more than 80% of customers return, and they’ve befriended several who started as children several decades ago and now return with grandchildren. Notoriety has spread rapidly via social media and online content over the last decade, but many customers suggest the experience has been memorable since far before.
Anderson’s warm, welcoming and personalized customer service begins with staff members determining which equipment best matches a customer’s needs, and their free activity guide map and full verbal description of everything there is to see helps plan trail stops. Each bicycle is test ridden and sanitized by one of Anderson’s certified mechanics before and after every ride, and helmets, bike locks and water bottles are included free with every rental.
Special discount days dot the calendar, like parents’ free rentals on Mother’s and Father’s days. Wait times normally remain below 10 minutes even on busy days, making reservations unnecessary. This pace allows them to serve tens of thousands of visitors every year.
TripAdvisor, Google and Yelp enthusiasm are matched by regional community members’ recognition, with Anderson’s featuring in Best Bike Rentals, Best Summer Activity and Best Customer Service awards by publications like Tahoe Daily Tribune and Best of Sierra Nevada Magazine. They’re also acknowledged as an environmentally friendly business for clearing trash with Keep Tahoe Blue’s team and monthly cleanups along the Baldwin Trail.
“We have truly loved the opportunity to serve visitors and locals alike over the last 46 years, and we are honored and geared to provide the best experience and the highlight of your vacation,” Sue says. Summer 2024 is an opportunity to put Anderson’s on the must-do list of vacation activity highlights in Lake Tahoe, whether it's your first time here or you're a third- or fourth-generation repeat visitor.
(530) 541-0500
645 Emerald Bay Road
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
About the Author Conor Villines
Conor Villines has an MA in journalism from the University of Arizona, has lived in the Reno-Tahoe area since 2016, and loves writing and sharing information about this region and its history.
