Frustrating, environmentally harmful, debilitating and conducive to rude, obnoxious behavior. What else can you say about automobile traffic in Lake Tahoe? Not much, except this: Our public transportation doesn't seem to be helping much. It's graciously inexpensive, but doesn't seem to be very efficient, and that may be adding to the basin's clogged arteries. Last week, two Tribune editorial staff members set out to test the basin's public transportation. Their goal: To see if they could ride buses, shuttles or trolleys completely around the lake and clock how long it took. They only made it to Incline Village. Turns out, the basin's public transportation ends there.

They had two choices: Return the way they came via the lake's West Shore - a 5 1/2-hour trip - or call someone to pick them up in Incline. They called, but not before corralling a ride part of the way with a friendly stranger.

To be fair, though, prying Americans from their cars - even in environmentally conscious Lake Tahoe - is like persuading turtles to voluntarily shed their shells. That may not be so true in areas such as New York City, where subways and buses carry riders to just about every imaginable destination. The same holds true for many cities in Europe. They figured out the public transportation puzzle long ago. But we haven't. And we're paying the price, literally and figuratively. Filled up with gas on the South Shore lately? How about those $3-plus per gallon prices? Drive 15 miles or so to Gardnerville or about 27 to Carson City, and you'll find gas for as little as $2.63 a gallon. Talk about insult atop injury.

And the pollution? How much carbon dioxide's wafting into the air from the thousands of cars on our streets? True, many of them belong to tourists, but that only highlights the inadequacy of our public transportation. Tourists and locals, alike, should be able to hop on a bus, shuttle or trolley and get to any part of town in a reasonable amount of time and at relatively little cost.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But it's not, of course.

Government agencies are constantly scrambling to fund everything its citizens desire. And since most people in the area are affluent enough to own cars, it figures that public transportation - expensive and logistically challenging - routinely grabs the short straw.

Forward-thinking leaders should not allow that to happen. Imagine more and more cars on area highways in the next couple of decades, and smog may augment the fire-induced smoky haze we periodically see choking our hills.

On the horizon, though, are several opportunities to alleviate congestion: Think water ferry, for one. Public officials have floated the concept for years, believing a ferry an ideal way to link the South and North shores. Though realization of the estimated $14 million project is still several years away, it's heartening to hear public officials seriously consider the concept. It's long overdue.

- Reprinted from Tahoe Daily Tribune, Aug. 31