Comments on: Biking – and shrieking – along the Erie Canal http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/05/biking-and-shrieking-along-the-erie-canal/ Nothing To Lose But Our Chains! Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:38:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Richard DeSarra http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/05/biking-and-shrieking-along-the-erie-canal/comment-page-1/#comment-15222 Richard DeSarra Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:26:43 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1919#comment-15222 Jack, The DOT had a community presentation about two years ago in the Town of Pittsford. The Village of Pittsford did voice some concerns and offered some changes to the intersection configuration of Clover St. and Jefferon Rd. which were adopted. I few cyclists did voice some concerns about that intersection. I submitted my concern regarding cyclists access to the Canal Trail from Clover St. My suggestion was adopted. I did not hear or see any representation from any environmental group (e.g. Sierra Club, etc.) or any citizen voice any concerns regarding the new entrance and parking lot at that meeting. If I remember correctly the current parking area will be reclaimed for parkland. The trail would be realigned slightly but mainly following the current footprint. I am unsure if there are organizations monitoring any and all developments of public land. Do you have any insight? There will be new access for boating developed by the Town of Brighton and one by Anthony & Son Corp. at South Clinton Ave. within a year or two. You may use my home address to respond; rdscomm@rochester.rr.com. Jack,

The DOT had a community presentation about two years ago in the Town of Pittsford.

The Village of Pittsford did voice some concerns and offered some changes to the intersection configuration of Clover St. and Jefferon Rd. which were adopted.

I few cyclists did voice some concerns about that intersection.

I submitted my concern regarding cyclists access to the Canal Trail from Clover St. My suggestion was adopted.

I did not hear or see any representation from any environmental group (e.g. Sierra Club, etc.) or any citizen voice any concerns regarding the new entrance and parking lot at that meeting.

If I remember correctly the current parking area will be reclaimed for parkland. The trail would be realigned slightly but mainly following the current footprint.

I am unsure if there are organizations monitoring any and all developments of public land. Do you have any insight?

There will be new access for boating developed by the Town of Brighton and one by Anthony & Son Corp. at South Clinton Ave. within a year or two.

You may use my home address to respond; rdscomm@rochester.rr.com.

]]> By: Henry http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/05/biking-and-shrieking-along-the-erie-canal/comment-page-1/#comment-15214 Henry Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:36:31 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1919#comment-15214 My route to work passes Lock 32. I've never had any problem carrying my bike on the stairs. Neither have I ever seen the current parking lot full. Sounds like feeble excuses for destroying the trees. I wonder what they'll conjure up to justify similar scorched earth at Lock 33 a mile up the road, which also has concrete steps. On the canal run I've formed an interesting behavioural hypothesis - that the propensity of a cyclist to greet is inversely proportional to the amount of spandex worn. Henry My route to work passes Lock 32. I’ve never had any problem carrying my bike on the stairs. Neither have I ever seen the current parking lot full. Sounds like feeble excuses for destroying the trees.

I wonder what they’ll conjure up to justify similar scorched earth at Lock 33 a mile up the road, which also has concrete steps.

On the canal run I’ve formed an interesting behavioural hypothesis – that the propensity of a cyclist to greet is inversely proportional to the amount of spandex worn.

Henry

]]> By: Jack http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/05/biking-and-shrieking-along-the-erie-canal/comment-page-1/#comment-14487 Jack Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:56:56 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1919#comment-14487 Guess I'll be the first to comment... on my own piece! I just got an email from NYSDOT that says: "Yes, the work adjacent to the Canal Trail is part of NYSDOT's Clover/Jefferson intersection improvement project. The clearing that has occurred on the west end of the park is for the new park entrance road and parking area. Our design team closely coordinated this effort with NYS Parks and Recreation and Canal Corporation staff to minimize removal of existing vegetation to include only the area for the new roadway and parking. Once this new road is complete, work will begin to improve the Canal Trail as follows: The stairs near Clover Street will be removed, enabling cyclists to continue along the trail without the need to dismount; and a bridge (culvert) will be constructed over the trail to enable Canal Corp. employees to access the lock area." Students of rhetoric will notice the smooth talk about minimizing tree removal; yes, they took down no more than those trees and shrubs that lay within the area that would become the new parking lot and roadway. Which neatly sidesteps the question of whether the new lot/road was necessary at all, or if it's too large, etc. And also implies some stgrong self-praise for not cutting down things that are NOT part of the site plan! Now that's virtue! The plain fact, as bald as a good chunk of ground at Lock 32 is right now, is that the DOT continues to do what it does best: make the world safe for cars (with crumbs for bikes) and dangerous for foliage. Guess I’ll be the first to comment… on my own piece! I just got an email from NYSDOT that says: “Yes, the work adjacent to the Canal Trail is part of NYSDOT’s Clover/Jefferson intersection improvement project. The clearing that has occurred on the west end of the park is for the new park entrance road and parking area. Our design team closely coordinated this effort
with NYS Parks and Recreation and Canal Corporation staff to minimize removal of existing vegetation to include only the area for the new roadway and parking. Once this new road is complete, work will begin to
improve the Canal Trail as follows: The stairs near Clover Street will be removed, enabling cyclists to continue along the trail without the need to dismount; and a bridge (culvert) will be constructed over the trail to enable Canal Corp. employees to access the lock area.” Students of rhetoric will notice the smooth talk about minimizing tree removal; yes, they took down no more than those trees and shrubs that lay within the area that would become the new parking lot and roadway. Which neatly sidesteps the question of whether the new lot/road was necessary at all, or if it’s too large, etc. And also implies some stgrong self-praise for not cutting down things that are NOT part of the site plan! Now that’s virtue! The plain fact, as bald as a good chunk of ground at Lock 32 is right now, is that the DOT continues to do what it does best: make the world safe for cars (with crumbs for bikes) and dangerous for foliage.

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