Topics

1

Routes / Canal Trail, Rochester NY

« on: June 15, 2011, 08:04:47 pm »

The Northern Tier uses the Erie Canal Trailway from Lockport NY eastward to Palmyra NY.  The section from western Rochester to Pittsford is paved, and suffers from an ongoing problem that comes and goes: tree roots causing sharp bumps in the pavement/tarmac.  Unlike a rail trail, canal trails are not lined with deep ditches and built on soil that was polluted for decades with coals from steam locomotive fireboxes; they are on good dirt with minimal drainage and lots of water nearby.  Thus, the trees actively grow roots and cause upheavals in the pavement.  (This is not a problem on the unpaved parts.)

When the pavement gets too bumpy the Canal Corporation scares up some money and repaves it.  This alternates as sections get bumpy.  Right now, one section has gotten bumpy enough that you need to exercise caution: between Kendrick Road and East Henrietta Road.  I would still recommend using the canal trail, but watch your speed and avoid the bumps if you can.

The road alternative over this part of the trail, NY Bike 5, is a horrible route.  It uses Elmwood Avenue and Monroe Avenue, both of which have no bike lane and four lanes of medium-to-heavy traffic.  Drivers on western Elmwood, around Strong Hospital, seem to always be impatient and intolerant of bikes.  So stay on the trail, but stay on your toes.

2

Corridor Plan Updates & Routing Within Corridors / Alternate routes?

« on: November 02, 2009, 11:33:24 am »

Hello,

My name is Dale Oswald and I live near Rochester, NY.  I'm an active tourist, solo and with my wife, singles and tandem.  I have the good fortune to live within a mile of the Northern Tier, and regularly host travelling cyclists.

My specific question is: Does the proposed route selection process make provision for alternate routes?  A good example of a use for this would be to provide on- and off-road routes.  Consider our the Erie Canalway trail, the route of the Northern Tier hereabouts.  It has long sections that are nicely improved but unpaved, and NY Bike 5 parallels it for a long distance.  Riders might prefer untrafficed, slower, more scenic trail - or good roads that are faster and perhaps a bit less scenic.   They might elect the unpaved if it's dry and the paved if it's raining.

Do the various agencies have the discretion to create alternante routes through a specific corridor?

Thanks,
Dale

3

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Adirondak Park Loop, Map 3 - 2009

« on: September 08, 2009, 09:44:51 am »

Grist Mill Rd., near Stony Creek, NY is closed for construction and is impassible (Sept 09).  The marked detour adds about 4 miles to the route.

The bridge is being replaced.  I could find no projected completion date on the web.  At this time, the old bridge is removed and the new one is being prepared for concrete pour (rebar in place).  I would guess it will reopen sometime during 2010.

4

Connecting ACA Routes / Minnesota Beeline

« on: May 28, 2007, 08:17:37 pm »

In 2005, we rode from Fargo ND to Winona MN via the trails that parallel I-94.  We chose to do this rather than using the AC Northern Tier for 1) more trail mileage and 2) to visit Minneapolis.  Our route was:
- CR54 to Fergus Falls
- Central Lakes and Lake Wobegon Trails to St. Cloud
- County roads and suburban trails to Minneapolis
- Streets and trails through Minneapolis
- County and state highways to Cannon Falls
- Cannon Valley Trail to Red Wing
- Highways to Winona

We liked this routing.  Have any of you used it?

AC's routing via the southern option is about 440 miles.  We didn't take the shortest route possible so we rode 460.  We enjoyed the trails and a day off in the city.  There is a decent network of trails and good bike maps for getting through Minneapolis.

5

Classifieds / Looking for 19" Terry Trixie

« on: July 25, 2005, 12:26:16 pm »

Any leads?  We need low stepover for a 5'2" with back problems (need low stepover height).