New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

bicycling

‘Greenway Trails For A Green Future’ Bills Introduced In State Legislature

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New York State CapitolOn Thursday, New York State Assemblymember Patricia Fahy (D-Albany) introduced a package of legislation known as the “Greenway Trails For A Green Future” aimed at modernizing New York’s greenway and multi-use trail system, while improving cyclist and pedestrian safety and growing the tourism and outdoor recreation industries.

Senator Pete Harckham (D-Peekskill) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Dutchess/Columbia) are also sponsoring a bill included in the package. [Read more…] about ‘Greenway Trails For A Green Future’ Bills Introduced In State Legislature

Boot Brushes Spreading At Adirondack Hiking Trails So Invasive Species Won’t

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Adirondacks Dix Mountain Range Boot Brush Station (courtesy Ausable River Association)Staff at the Ausable River Association (AsRA) have been building and installing hiking boot brush stations at trailheads in the Adirondacks to help keep terrestrial invasive species from spreading.

The new initiative builds on AsRA’s ongoing effort of preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species through placement of wader wash stations along the river during fishing season. [Read more…] about Boot Brushes Spreading At Adirondack Hiking Trails So Invasive Species Won’t

State Seeks Comments, Plans For Saranac Lake Railroad Depot Reuse

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Saranac Lake Union Depot (NYS Cultural Resource Information System photo provided by DEC).The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is calling for submissions of ideas and plans for use and public access to the historic Saranac Lake Union Depot building on the former New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division line in the village of Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks. [Read more…] about State Seeks Comments, Plans For Saranac Lake Railroad Depot Reuse

Get There Green: Sustainable Transportation Tips

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bicycling courtesy DECSmall changes in daily habits can make a big difference when it comes to our environment. Take transportation for example; using sustainable modes of transport can reduce emissions and save on fossil fuel usage. Looking to get started and help our environment? This year’s Get There Green event is taking place from September 17-24 and invites participants to use environmentally friendly modes of transportation. [Read more…] about Get There Green: Sustainable Transportation Tips

The Mohawk River’s Eagle Trail: Fort Hunter to Amsterdam

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Eagle Trail along the Mohawk RiverThe Eagle Trail is a project of the Friends of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter, in Montgomery County, NY.

Originally served for the transportation of heavy machinery and equipment for Lock 11 repairs, the Eagle Trail begins at the east end of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site at the Yankee Hill Lock and proceeds to the southside of the city of Amsterdam, a distance of about three miles. [Read more…] about The Mohawk River’s Eagle Trail: Fort Hunter to Amsterdam

Side Paths: New York State’s 1890s Bike Trail Network

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East Avenue sidepath (Monroe County Sidepaths, 1899) Sidepaths were constructed for bicycles in the 1890sAs the 1890s took New York State toward a new century, the use of the bicycle for recreation by both the young and old was sweeping the country. One reason for this growth was the development of a safer, easier-to-ride machine with a smaller front wheel than the earlier high-wheeled bicycles.

Other advances in the development of the bicycle at this time were pneumatic tires and a chain drive that further eliminated the need for the large front tire. [Read more…] about Side Paths: New York State’s 1890s Bike Trail Network

Lake George’s South Basin: The Unfinished Job of Land Protection

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Lake George South Basin (courtesy Lake George Land Conservancy)According to Mike Horn, the Lake George Land Conservancy’s executive director, the Wiawaka Uplands project is the next step in that organization’s multi-year effort to preserve the ecological integrity of Lake George’s south basin, the most densely populated and heavily used portion of the watershed. [Read more…] about Lake George’s South Basin: The Unfinished Job of Land Protection

Allegany State Park Bike-Hike Trail Expansion

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Allegany State ParkA new $6.8 million multi-use trail at Allegany State Park has been completed that provides an accessible alternative for bikers, hikers and campers to reach the park’s popular Quaker Lake beach area.
[Read more…] about Allegany State Park Bike-Hike Trail Expansion

Nearly 100 Miles of New Greenway Trails in NYS Since Opened Since 2021

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Greenway Trails ReportParks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) have announced the release of the New York State Greenway Trails Progress Report (August 2021-December 2022), which outlines the accomplishments made, the projects initiated, and the funding secured by state, local, and non-profit partners between August 2021 and December 2022. The report identifies 97.1 miles of new trails completed and 372.7 additional miles of trail in progress in that time frame. [Read more…] about Nearly 100 Miles of New Greenway Trails in NYS Since Opened Since 2021

Hudson Valley Greenway Map Goes Digital

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Greenway Trail System MapThe Hudson River Valley Greenway has launched an online, interactive Greenway Trail System Map to illustrate and highlight the network of designated Greenway trails throughout the Hudson Valley. The map includes nearly 1,000 miles of designated land trails and over 115 designated water trail sites along the 256-mile Hudson River Greenway Water Trail. [Read more…] about Hudson Valley Greenway Map Goes Digital