Tag Archives: City Review

by Lorenz M. Worden | September 26, 2016 · 3:59 pm

A Beautiful Day in Troy – Collar City Ramble

It was a fine day in sunny Troy for the annual “Collar City Ramble.” Lots of work really paid off to make the day a rewarding experience for those who came. The Ramble HQ was at the entrance to the world famous Troy Farmers Market at recently refurbished Riverfront Park on River Street. Adjacent to the Farmer Market and Ramble HQ was a big area for a children’s bicycle rodeo.

The Albany Bicycle contingent decided to split itself over the in two rides offered – a river level route to the Uncle Sam Trail and back and a climb-the-hill ride to RPI and then on to the Uncle Sam Trail. When we got to the northern end of the trail – after using Troy’s new bicycle lane on Middleburgh St. – we were treated to a grand circus performance in a sun-dappled clearing in the trail.

All in all a great day in Troy!

Photos

Ramble info
Juggler at the Uncle Sam Trail circus
Trapeze artist, juggler, and the Ring Master
Ramble HQ – Lots of good info
Ready to RIDE!
Fearless leaders – Brent and St. Andrew
Trapeze artists and appreciative riders
The Big Tunnel on the Uncle Sam Trail

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by Lorenz M. Worden | September 2, 2016 · 3:29 pm

Local Hospitality ~ 9th Annual Daily Grind Coffee Shops Ride, 8/13/16

Riders (and friends) Ed, Mark, Ken, Brent, Margaret, Theo, Wendy, Rob, Fr. Michael, Pam, John, and Lorenz had a wonderful ride from the Daily Grind in Albany to the Daily Grind in Troy for our 9th Annual Daily Grind Ride on Saturday, 8/13.

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The Daily Grind in Troy hosted us for a delicious lunch on the sidewalk patio where we enjoyed the fine weather and great company.

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Fr. Michael, Rector of St. Paul’s Church next store to the shop, joined our ride and graciously blessed us and our bicycles in the church garden. Afterward we were treated to an exclusive tour of the famous church interior designed by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in the 1890s and featuring a renowned collection of Tiffany Windows.

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by Lorenz M. Worden | August 27, 2016 · 1:06 pm

Collar City Ramble – Saturday, September 24 – 9 AM TO 2 PM

Collar City Ramble – Saturday, September 24 – 9 AM TO 2 PM

Get ready to Ramble – Join an exciting tour of Troy’s urban trails by foot, by bicycle, by water, or by GPS in an alternative Transportation Festival. The Collar City Ramble covers Troy in ways that anyone can enjoy. Explore the historical, the undeveloped, the water, and the Hidden Treasures in the urban area.

Go with a tour group or independently. Get materials from the Collar City Ramble booth at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market.

Ramble Booth

Event Duration (hours): 5 hours (depending on event)

Equipment Required: depends on the activity chosen

Sponsoring organization – Transport Troy – https//www.facebook.com/CollarCityRamble/

Contact Information – jimmer@nycap.rr.com, (518) 429-3909

For Updates – https://collarcityramble.com/ or Facebook

For those coming from Albany and near by ….

The Albany Bicycle Coalition team will meet at 9:00 AM in and ride from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Washington Park in Albany, NY to the meet-up point at Riverfront Park in Troy. On the way, we will pass through the Corning Riverfront Park on the Hudson River. In Troy, we will join with Transport Troy and other organizations and individuals for the Collar City Ramble. We will ride over the selected route within the city of Troy. The ride will be on paved city streets and paved bicycle/walking trails. It will include a ride on the Uncle Sam Trail and a stop at Knickerbocker Park. This causally paced ride is free and all are welcome. . Link here.

Troy Bike Rescue to the Rescue

They Are Here – Bicycle Lanes on Madison Ave.!

They Are Here – Bicycle Lanes on Madison Ave.!

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Finally – workers are today, Monday, 8/22/16, putting the finishing touches on the new road layout on Madison Ave. from Partridge St. to Allen St.

See more photos here – https://lorenzworden.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/august-22-2016-madison-ave/

Not surprisingly, when people in cars complete the new one-travel lane segment delimited by the center turn lane on one side and the bicycle lanes and parking lanes on the other, they continue in a “traffic-calmed” single file. How easy it was! Attention Naysayers! – Before the job is 100 percent completed, people have learned how to drive in it.

Moreover, what a dream to ride one’s bicycle.

Dimensions (unofficial – taken from centerline of stripes):

Parking Lane – 7’
Bicycle Lane/Parking Lane Stripe – 5”
Bicycle Lane – 6’
Bicycle Lane/Travel Lane Stripe – 6.5”
Travel Lane – 10’ 3”
Turn Lane – 10’

Credit for this success lies largely with Virginia Hammer, president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, whose diligence, persistence, initiative, and presence at many events guided this new era for the City of Albany into fruition. We need also recognize all those who attended meetings, carried banners and posters, wrote letters, and signed petitions to support the effort to calm Madison Ave. for the benefit of all.

Protected Bicycle Lanes in Albany?

Protected Bicycle Lanes in Albany?

You saw it here first – under construction (photo #1). Hopefully those “Jersey Barriers” are an indication of the final Quay St. configuration (looking north just north of the USS Slater).

#1 – PBL in Albany?

The Corning Riverfront Park Project will include the following according to the City of Albany:

Repaving and widening some areas of the multi-use path along the riverfront to accommodate two-way cycling as well as people walking.
Extending the multi-use path south to the Quay St. /Broadway intersection near the USS Slater (The Jose Perez Memorial Plaza) and north to Erie Blvd. (ed: Now if we can just build that South End Bikeway Link … )
Building a new two-way bicycle lane along the backside (west side) of the tidal ponds to bypass the amphitheater during events (photo #2 – tiptoe around the tidal pool looking south from near park HQ) .
#2 – Path for People on Bicycles West of the Main Park Area
Making the riverfront more accessible with new crosswalk signals at three intersections on Quay St. at Broadway, the Broadway Connector, and Water St.
Calming Quay Street to make it a “complete street.” Quay St. will go from two motor vehicle lanes to one to accommodate people on bicycles and people walking as well as motor vehicles (photo # 3 – Quay St. gets a shave – looking north from just past the pump station/former Aqua Duck HQ).
#3 – Quay St. Gives Up a Motor Vehicle Lane to People
Adding nearly 50 parking spots on Quay St. to make it easier for people in cars to visit the riverfront.
Enhancing lighting along the new multi-use paths and along Quay St.
Providing benches, bicycle racks, and trashcans (ed.: recycling too?) along the paths.
Providing informational kiosks to promote Albany events and activities.
Adding trees to the park so that there will be more trees than before the project began.

Moving on (after a visit to the Corning Riverfront Park) – photo #4 shows markings for the return of Conventional Bicycle Lanes on the repaved Clinton Ave. Maybe the bicycle lanes can at least begin continued beyond Lexington to the intersection of Clinton and Central Aves. per the original plan. As of 7/11, the lanes are re-marked from Ten Broeck to the western end of the re-paving project – you’ll notice the lane marking bicycles are now rider less. Hmmmmm…