Biking - and shrieking - along the Erie Canal

Author: Jack
Date: 5 September, 2008
Category: Road Stories

Imagine my surprise: while cycling through the Erie Canal park at Lock 32 a few days ago, I found a scene of destruction that stopped me in my tracks (i.e. single-track). State DOT crews were just finishing up the removal of a couple acres, more or less, of mature trees and understory next to the basin northwest of the park. A DOT supervisor told me the plan was to build a parking lot there to complement some changes in the trail itself – he said the steep concrete stairs that take you down to the continuation of the trail under the Clover St. bridge will be replaced by some kind of sub-Clover ramp.

Later I talked to a Pittsford town official who told me the project was connected to reconstruction (“re-destruction”?) of the intersection of Clover St. and Jefferson Rd. If you venture down Clover (Rt. 65) toward Mendon Ponds – one of the most popular bike roads hereabouts – you’ll see the scraped-earth policy being mercilessly implemented. I wondered if the project had been properly vetted and publicized; the Pittsford official assured me it had been, though his tone reinforced my feeling that when it comes to the DOT’s version of democratic process, you’ve got to watch your back.

I also contacted the DOT point person by email, but I haven’t got a response yet. A news story I retrieved said the state is relocating the vehicular entrance to the canal park a little bit north on Clover, opposite Framingham Lane. Undoubtedly, this new design will help avoid traffic “interactions” both on the shared trail/driveway and on Clover St. But I assume, too, that the intent is to increase parking spaces overall – something I oppose in principle.

To anyone who knows more about this project: please post a comment. I hope, too, that someone can provide some photos from ground level. We need all the facts. But I have to say, my first impressions of this business is that, as happens so often with DOT activities, a whole lot of trees may have given their lives in vain.

For a map/satellite view of the location (obviously, from before the project was begin), go to http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=new%20york%20state%20department%20transportation%20pittsford&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

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