Corning Riverfront Park – Movin’ Along

Work progresses on the revitalization of the Corning Riverfront Park (formerly “Preserve”) and the accompanying facilities for people on bicycles. Here are several photos to convey the magnitude of the project.

For an update from the Times Union, go here and for a review of the master plan for the area, here.

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Albany’s Own “Big Dig”

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Near the “Tidal Ponds”

 

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Check Out the Tank Bombs!

 

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Basic Infrastructure Work Progresses

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The New Protected Bicycle Lane – Quay St.

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Where the South End Bike Link Will Join the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail

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Filed under Bike Lanes, City Review, Corning Riverfront Park

Rail Trail Officially Open

Local dignitaries, reporters, the public, and some people on bicycles and skates assembled near the Stewart’s on Delaware Ave. Delmar to celebrate the official opening of the Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail.

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Brought to you by …

There’s a handsome “D&H” sign and some very nice gardening easily accessible from Hudson Ave.

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The “D&H” Lives On

Although it was nice to see the celebration of a long awaited event, the best part of the day was riding from the ceremony to the trailhead on S. Pearl St. If you haven’t ridden the trail yet, you should.

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This is just great!

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What’s not to love?

 

What’s Next?

  • There is a cooperative effort to pave the four miles of trail from Adams St. to Firefighters’ Park in Slingerlands to be completed this year. The Slingerlands-Voorheesville portion is scheduled for 2017.
  • At the other end of the trail in Albany, under city contract, Alta Planning + Design are conducting a feasibility/design study of this critical 1.3-mile connection between the S. Pearl trailhead and the Corning Riverfront Park/Albany waterfront.

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Filed under Activisim, Rail Trail

D&H Rail Trails are Not Just in Albany!

If you’re cruising north through Vermont and end up in Poultney, you’ll be pleased to find one segment of another D&H rail trail. If you also have your Brompton in the trunk, you can enjoy an arrow-straight ride starting in Poultney and running south to the NY border or north to Castleton, VT. There’s also a second (unconnected) segment running between West Rupert and West Pawlet. The section south of Poultney has a surface more suited to walking/jogging and mountain/fat tire biking. Thin-tire people will not be amused. In any case, the ride is pleasant and the scenery great.

History buffs will recall the D&H billed itself as the “bridge route” to connect northern Pennsylvania and Eastern NY to Canada and had its start hauling the “tank bombs” of yesteryear from the anthracite coalfields around Honesdale, PA.

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NY Bound

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That’s a Lotta Slate!

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Just a short time ago …

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Along the Trail

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Filed under Albany County Rail Trail, City Review, Comings and Goings

Mayor Sheehan Leads the Ride to Work

The Mayor invited people on bicycles to join her on National Ride to Work Day on Frdiay, May 20, 2016. Riders assembled on New Scotland Ave., rode to the new Bicycle Fixit Stations at the Bach Branch of the Albany Public Library, and then on to City Hall where the Mayor treated us all to bagels and beverages.

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Getting Ready to Ride

When we stopped at the Bicycle Fixit Station, Albany Public Library Executive Director Scott Jarzombek used the Dero Fixit stand to illustrate how the collection of cable-mounted tools and air pump could be used to keep the Mayor Sheehan’s bicycle in top shape. Other Fixit stands are located at Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch (148 Henry Johnson Blvd.) and the Delaware Branch (331 Delaware Ave.)

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These stands are GREAT!

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Need an escort?

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Filed under Bike Month, City Review, Support the Cause

“Fix it” at the Albany Public Library

On May 13, 2016, staff from the Albany Public Library, the Capital District Transportation Authority, Capital Roots, Capital Region Complete Streets, and the Albany Bicycle Coalition celebrated the installation of three Dero-brand Bicycle Fixit Stations at branches of the Albany Public Library. The photos tell the whole story:

  1. Mike of the Albany Public Library who installed all the stands. He appears here with his handiwork at the Arbor Hill Branch

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    Man of the Hour – Mike

  2. The first “customer” – Albany Police Department Police Officer re-attaches his toe clip.

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    This is GREAT!

  3. Executive directors Amy Klein of Capital Roots and Michael Franchini of Capital District Transportation Committee confer

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    Conference

  4. Riders at the stand at the New Scotland Ave. Branch

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    Delaware Ave.

  5. Riders at the stand at the Delaware Ave. BranchThe Albany Public Library and Albany Bicycle Coalition successfully applied to the Capital District Transportation Authority for funding under its Traffic Safety Ambassador Program. Each service area of the Albany Public Library now has a repair stand conveniently located near the front of each host branch.

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    New Scotland Ave.

A Press Conference was held at the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch (148 Henry Johnson Blvd.) followed by a group ride to the Bach Branch fixit station (455 New Scotland Ave.) and to the Delaware Branch fixit station (331 Delaware Ave.)

The Traffic Safety Ambassador Program made $20,000 in Federal funding available for capacity building projects designed to assist public, private, and non‐profit organizations in the Capital Region in providing bicycle and pedestrian safety education and training. This program works to achieve the following New Visions 2040 goals: 1. Improve bicycle and pedestrian safety by reducing the number of vehicle crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians and 2. Increase the number of bicycle and pedestrian trips (especially commuting trips) in the Capital Region.

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Filed under Activisim, Bike Tech