Riders from the Town of Colonie (2), New York City (1), Guilderland (2), Troy (1), and Edmonton (1) joined for the Daily Grind-to-Daily Grind Sponsored Ride. We met at the Albany Daily Grind Café and, after a weather “all clear,” we headed out to Troy using the BikeAlbanyMap.com .
Albany
After a photo stop at the Albany Riverfront Park we cruised north on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trails. After the preceding night’s heavy storm, we found the multiuse path littered with small branches, leaves, and, in a couple cases, large braches that blocked the trail. Since the weather was beautiful and the riders enthused, we smoothly overtook these impediments.
We used the serpentine path from the MHBHT at the Rt-378 Bridge to cross into South troy to explore Troy’s new bicycle infrastructure. Our ride coordinator mapped a nice route past the Burden Iron works to get us onto the main Uncle Sam Trail while avoiding the Mill St./High St. craziness.
Troy has outdone itself to welcome people on bicycles with buffered bicycle lanes, Protected Bicycle Lanes, cycle tracks, and (only as intra trail segment connectors) shared lanes. The Albany Bicycle Coalition is proud to announce that it has extended its BikeAlbanyMap to include the Uncle Sam Trail as well as rider-friendly routes into the Town of Colonie, Bethlehem, and Niskayuna.
We arrived at the Troy Daily Grind and enjoyed delicious food and coffee, gracious service, and a nice rider discount. After a relaxing time at the Daily Grind, some headed off to the famous Troy Farmers’ Marker while others enjoyed a sunny ride back to Albany.
Our riders were Pam, John, Cynthia, Herb, Mary Anne, Glenn, Shelly, Wendy (Five Borough Bike Club), Margaret, Lorenz, Maggie, and Mark.
Troy
We’ll look forward to this year’s Collar City Ramble to again enjoy Troy’s bicycle infrastructure.
As a frustrating closing note, we were again amazed that Albany County – after much prodding by the Albany Bicycle Coalition – has yet to attend to the root-damaged portions of the area’s premier multiuse path. People come from all over the USA and the world to ride the Erie Canalway Trail (Empire State Trail) – what must they think?
Take Action on the Bumps – Albany County Executive – Daniel P. McCoy, County_Executive@albanycountyny.gov , (518) 447-7040, Albany County Office Building, 112 State St., Rm. 1200, NY 12207.
Albany Bicycle Coalition 