FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2006
“CYCLING THE ERIE CANAL” BIKE TOUR PEDALS INTO SYRACUSE
400-Mile Bike Tour Celebrates Halfway Point From Buffalo to Albany
The New York State Canal Corporation, in partnership with Parks and Trails NY (PTNY), today celebrated the arrival of more than 500 cyclists to the City of Syracuse as they make their way from Buffalo to Albany as part of the Eighth Annual “Cycling the Erie Canal” bike tour across New York State.
A reception and press conference was held for the cyclists at the Erie Canal Museum in downtown Syracuse. Attending the event were state and local officials, including Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello.
“Thanks to Governor Pataki’s continued support, the Canalway Trail provides a tremendous statewide system providing numerous recreational opportunities along this scenic and historical Corridor,” Director Mantello said. “The Canal Corporation is pleased to partner with Parks and Trails NY to sponsor the 8th Annual Cycling the Erie Canal Bike Tour. The event continues to grow each year as riders from all over the country come to experience the beauty and history of New York State via the Erie Canal and Canalway Trail. Once again, we welcome this year's participants and wish them all a safe and enjoyable journey.”
Parks and Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin said, “The eighth Cycling the Erie Canal tour promises to be the best ever. We have riders from 37 states plus several hundred volunteers in communities along the route ready to welcome riders and help them discover what makes the Erie Canal and Upstate New York so special.”
The Canal Corporation is sponsoring the event for the eighth year in a row. The 400-mile bicycle tour began on Sunday, July 9 in Buffalo, and will end on Sunday, July 16 in Albany, New York. About two-thirds of the 400-mile route is on the completed portion of the Canalway Trail. With more than 245 miles of trail along the Erie Canal already completed and plans underway to complete Trail sections on the other three branches of the State Canal System, the Canalway Trail will one day provide an uninterrupted 524-mile recreational trail that will be the longest multi-use trail in the United States.
The New York State Canalway Trail System is comprised of a network of more than 245 miles of existing multi-use, recreational trails across upstate New York. The 348-mile Erie Canalway Trail between the Hudson River and Lake Erie is now more than two-thirds complete thanks to a $35 million program announced by Governor George E. Pataki in 2002. Significant progress has been made toward this goal with over 75 miles of new and rehabilitated Trail added to system since 2003. In addition, over 74 miles of new and rehabilitated trail will be under construction in 2006.
During the bike trek, Cycling the Erie Canal participants will have the opportunity to partake in guided tours of the Canal, historic sites, museums, Erie Canal Village, Fort Stanwix National Monument, and Old Erie Canal State Park, as well as enjoy a boat tour through several locks.
Remaining schedule of the 2006 Cycling the Erie Canal Tour is as follows
(*Arrival/departure times are approximate and are subject to change without
notice.):
Wednesday, July 12 – Waterloo/Senca Falls - Syracuse
Overnight: Syracuse University South Campus
6:00am – 8:00am – Breakfast at Mynderse Academy
8:00am – 12:00pm – Morning Rest Stop, Port Byron Middle School
12:00pm – 5:00pm - Afternoon Rest Stop, Camillus, Sims Erie Canal Store/Museum
2:00pm – 3:00pm – Reception – Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. East, Syracuse, refreshments courtesy of Panera Bread
1:30pm – 9:00pm – Shuttle Service to Erie Canal Museum (until 5:00) and Armory Square
5:00pm – 7:00pm – Dinner at Goldstein Student Ctr.
6:30pm – 7:30pm – Talk by Sam Clements on Engineering the Erie Canal
7:30pm – 9:00pm – Music by Chris Farrar & Mike Doyle at Incomplete Bar
Thursday, July 13
Syracuse to Rome (50 Miles)
-Cyclists leave Syracuse and head for Chittenango (8 a.m.-noon).
-Riders spend a leisurely day riding along the Old Erie Canal State Park, visit
the Chittenango Canal Museum and dry docks, visit the Oneida Indian Nation’s
Shakowi Cultural Center, traverse the traditional portage route at the highest
part of the Canal and then enter the historic Mohawk Valley.
-Participants finish the day in Rome (throughout the afternoon). Riders tour the
Erie Canal Village and Fort Stanwix National Monument, a restored fort where
local battles shaped the outcome of the American Revolution
Friday, July 14
Rome to Canajoharie (65 Miles)
-Cyclists leave Rome and head for Town of Schuyler (8 a.m.-noon).
-Riders stop at Oriskany Battlefield, tour Utica’s Brewery or the
Munson-Williams--Proctor Museum of Art, explore the glacial potholes of Moss
Island in Little Falls, and tour Revolutionary War General Herkimer’s home.
-Participants finish the day in Canajoharie (3 p.m.); riders encouraged to enjoy
the historic Village of Canajoharie and world class art gallery.
Saturday, July 15
Canajoharie to Scotia (50 Miles)
-Cyclists leave Canajoharie and head for Fultonville (8 a.m.-noon).
-Riders enjoy the scenic Mohawk River, past the rock formations of “Big Nose”
and “Little Nose” through the Appalachian chain of mountains, stop at Schoharie
Crossing State Historic Site, as well as the Schoharie Aqueduct that once
carried the Canal across Schoharie Creek.
-Participants finish the day in Scotia (3 p.m.); riders enjoy day in historic
Scotia and toast fellow riders at a celebratory gala banquet.
Sunday, July 16
Schenectady to Albany (30 Miles)
-Cyclists leave Schenectady and head for Peebles Island (8 a.m.-noon).
-Riders follow the Mohawk River along the Mohawk-Hudson bike/hike trail through
Cohoes, stop in Waterford – where the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers converge- and
enjoy the Waterford Visitors Center, visit Peebles Island State Park.
-Participants finish the eight-day tour in Albany (12 p.m. - afternoon);
cyclists ride along the Hudson River on the bikeway and finish the tour in
downtown Albany, New York State’s 300-year-old Capital.
Some Cycling the Erie Canal Tour events are open to the public. For more information, contact PTNY at 518-434-1583 or visit www.ptny.org.
For more information about the New York State Canal System or Canalway Trail, please contact the Canal Corporation at 1-800-4CANAL-4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.