Riverwalk name retired, folded into Shoreline Trail - also correcting some factual errors
← Older revision
Revision as of 23:14, 6 June 2016
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The Metro Rail runs along Main Street, far east of here. However, the West Side is easily accessible from the Amherst Street, Delavan-Canisius College, Utica, and Summer-Best Metro Rail Stations by way of NFTA Metro Buses #32, #26, #12, and #22, respectively. Those traveling to the West Side by both bus and subway are strongly advised to purchase a day pass for $5.00.
The Metro Rail runs along Main Street, far east of here. However, the West Side is easily accessible from the Amherst Street, Delavan-Canisius College, Utica, and Summer-Best Metro Rail Stations by way of NFTA Metro Buses #32, #26, #12, and #22, respectively. Those traveling to the West Side by both bus and subway are strongly advised to purchase a day pass for $5.00.
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[[File:RiverwalkRiversidePark.jpg|thumb|350px|The '''
Riverwalk
''' traverses Riverside Park, parallel to the shore of the Niagara River.]]
+
[[File:RiverwalkRiversidePark.jpg|thumb|350px|The '''
Shoreline Trail
''' traverses Riverside Park, parallel to the shore of the Niagara River.]]
===By bike===
===By bike===
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Buffalo has been making great strides in recent years in accommodating bicycling as a mode of transportation, with recognition from the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-Level "Bicycle-Friendly Community" to show for its efforts. The quality of bicycle infrastructure on the West Side is variable, but it's generally quite good by local standards and, as in the rest of the city, steadily improving. The Lower West Side is undoubtedly the most bicycle-friendly area in the district, populated largely by immigrants whose habituation to alternative modes of transportation, including bicycles, is imported from their home countries — as well as young, middle-class "urban pioneers" for whom carfreedom is a conscious choice.
Buffalo has been making great strides in recent years in accommodating bicycling as a mode of transportation, with recognition from the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-Level "Bicycle-Friendly Community" to show for its efforts. The quality of bicycle infrastructure on the West Side is variable, but it's generally quite good by local standards and, as in the rest of the city, steadily improving. The Lower West Side is undoubtedly the most bicycle-friendly area in the district, populated largely by immigrants whose habituation to alternative modes of transportation, including bicycles, is imported from their home countries — as well as young, middle-class "urban pioneers" for whom carfreedom is a conscious choice.
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Buffalo's oldest, largest, and best-known bike path is the '''
Riverwalk
''', a multi-use trail that connects
the
'''
Erie Basin Marina
''' downtown to
'''Nia-Wanda
Park'''
in Tonawanda via the West Side waterfront, for a total distance of 13.3 miles (21.4 km). The
Riverwalk
passes into the West Side near the posh '''Waterfront Village''' condos and closely hugs the shore of Lake Erie and the Niagara River for its length, with excellent views over the water and easy access to many waterfront attractions including '''LaSalle Park''', the '''Fontana Boathouse''', '''Broderick Park''', '''Unity Island Park''', and '''Riverside Park'''. Best of all, for the vast majority of its length, the
Riverwalk
follows its own off-street right-of-way with no traffic to contend with — the exception is a short, unsigned stretch of 0.4 miles (700 m) along Busti Avenue and Niagara Street between Hampshire and West Ferry Streets, but the roadway boasts wide shoulders and sidewalks that provide a modicum of safety for cyclists. The trail is paved with asphalt in its entirety, and a speed limit of 15 mph (24 km/h) is enforced.
+
Buffalo's oldest, largest, and best-known bike path is the '''
Shoreline Trail
''', a multi-use trail that connects '''
Canalside
''' downtown to
the
terminus of the Erie Canal
in Tonawanda via the West Side waterfront, for a total distance of 13.3 miles (21.4 km). The
Shoreline Trail
passes into the West Side near the posh '''Waterfront Village''' condos and closely hugs the shore of Lake Erie and the Niagara River for its length, with excellent views over the water and easy access to many waterfront attractions including '''LaSalle Park''', the '''Fontana Boathouse''', '''Broderick Park''', '''Unity Island Park''', and '''Riverside Park'''. Best of all, for the vast majority of its length, the
Shoreline Trail
follows its own off-street right-of-way with no traffic to contend with — the exception is a short, unsigned stretch of 0.4 miles (700 m) along Busti Avenue and Niagara Street between Hampshire and West Ferry Streets, but the roadway boasts wide shoulders and sidewalks that provide a modicum of safety for cyclists. The trail is paved with asphalt in its entirety, and a speed limit of 15 mph (24 km/h) is enforced.
−
As well as being a lovely trail in itself, the
Riverwalk
also serves as a central spine for Buffalo's larger network of bike paths. Branching off of it is the '''Scajaquada Creekside Trail''', also known as the '''Jesse Kriegel Bike Path'''. As its name indicates, the path follows the north shore of Scajaquada Creek opposite the expressway for a distance of 2.4 miles (3.8 km), with the attractions of Black Rock and Grant-Amherst within easy striking distance. Passing out of the West Side, the Scajaquada Creekside Trail enters '''Delaware Park''' and ends near the '''Buffalo History Museum'''. Near its northern terminus in Tonawanda, the
Riverwalk
also connects with the '''Erie Canalway Trail''', and also (via Ohio Street) the [[Buffalo/South Buffalo|Outer Harbor]]'s '''Industrial Heritage Trail'''.
+
As well as being a lovely trail in itself, the
Shoreline Trail
also serves as a central spine for Buffalo's larger network of bike paths. Branching off of it is the '''Scajaquada Creekside Trail''', also known as the '''Jesse Kriegel Bike Path'''. As its name indicates, the path follows the north shore of Scajaquada Creek opposite the expressway for a distance of 2.4 miles (3.8 km), with the attractions of Black Rock and Grant-Amherst within easy striking distance. Passing out of the West Side, the Scajaquada Creekside Trail enters '''Delaware Park''' and ends near the '''Buffalo History Museum'''. Near its northern terminus in Tonawanda, the
Shoreline Trail
also connects with the '''Erie Canalway Trail''', and also (via Ohio Street) the [[Buffalo/South Buffalo|Outer Harbor]]'s '''Industrial Heritage Trail'''.
−
As indicated above, in Prospect Hill and the Lower West Side especially, bike lanes and other accommodations have also been steadily added to the street grid. Among the streets which have been improved in this way is Richmond Avenue, with '''"sharrows"''' (pavement markings on roads too narrow to accommodate dedicated bike lanes, indicating that drivers should be aware of bicyclists on the road) in place between Forest Avenue and '''Colonial Circle''', and dedicated bike lanes from Colonial Circle south to '''Symphony Circle'''. There is also a dedicated bike lane on each side of Porter Avenue between Symphony Circle and Niagara Street, and a signed off-street bike path west of Niagara Street as far as '''LaSalle Park''', where it connects to the
Riverwalk
. Hudson Street boasts parallel bike lanes on each side between Plymouth and Busti Avenues, with sharrows in place east to Wadsworth Street and west to 4th Street; the latter connects to LaSalle Park via a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 190. As well, sharrows lead from Hudson Street to Symphony Circle by way of West Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, and are in place on Connecticut Street between Niagara Street and Richmond Avenue and on Wadsworth Street from Symphony Circle to Allen Street.
+
As indicated above, in Prospect Hill and the Lower West Side especially, bike lanes and other accommodations have also been steadily added to the street grid. Among the streets which have been improved in this way is Richmond Avenue, with '''"sharrows"''' (pavement markings on roads too narrow to accommodate dedicated bike lanes, indicating that drivers should be aware of bicyclists on the road) in place between Forest Avenue and '''Colonial Circle''', and dedicated bike lanes from Colonial Circle south to '''Symphony Circle'''. There is also a dedicated bike lane on each side of Porter Avenue between Symphony Circle and Niagara Street, and a signed off-street bike path west of Niagara Street as far as '''LaSalle Park''', where it connects to the
Shoreline Trail
. Hudson Street boasts parallel bike lanes on each side between Plymouth and Busti Avenues, with sharrows in place east to Wadsworth Street and west to 4th Street; the latter connects to LaSalle Park via a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 190. As well, sharrows lead from Hudson Street to Symphony Circle by way of West Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, and are in place on Connecticut Street between Niagara Street and Richmond Avenue and on Wadsworth Street from Symphony Circle to Allen Street.
Oddly enough, Niagara Street itself has no bicycle infrastructure, with the exception of a relatively short segment in Riverside, from Ontario Street north through Riverside Park to the city line, which features parallel bike lanes. However, construction of bike lanes or (more likely) the painting of sharrows have been proposed for the entire remainder of the street. Grant Street is another major artery that's conspicuously lacking in accommodations for cyclists.
Oddly enough, Niagara Street itself has no bicycle infrastructure, with the exception of a relatively short segment in Riverside, from Ontario Street north through Riverside Park to the city line, which features parallel bike lanes. However, construction of bike lanes or (more likely) the painting of sharrows have been proposed for the entire remainder of the street. Grant Street is another major artery that's conspicuously lacking in accommodations for cyclists.
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| content=Broderick Park is a small waterfront green space located at the southern tip of Unity Island. This spot is historically important as one of Western New York's major crossing points into Canada for fugitive slaves travelling the [[Underground Railroad]], as attested to by a prominent historical marker and the occasional historical reenactments that take place there. This was also the site from which the ferry service to Fort Erie, Ontario set off in the days before the '''Peace Bridge'''. Today, Broderick Park is a popular fishing spot where perch, yellow and northern pike, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and other species native to the Niagara River are reeled in, and is also a haven for picnickers, sunbathers, and bicyclists who pass through the park along the '''
Riverwalk
'''. Amenities include a picnic shelter, as well as a newly constructed amphitheater, gardens, and interpretive exhibits. Broderick Park is also the northern terminus of the '''Bird Island Pier''' (see below).
+
| content=Broderick Park is a small waterfront green space located at the southern tip of Unity Island. This spot is historically important as one of Western New York's major crossing points into Canada for fugitive slaves travelling the [[Underground Railroad]], as attested to by a prominent historical marker and the occasional historical reenactments that take place there. This was also the site from which the ferry service to Fort Erie, Ontario set off in the days before the '''Peace Bridge'''. Today, Broderick Park is a popular fishing spot where perch, yellow and northern pike, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and other species native to the Niagara River are reeled in, and is also a haven for picnickers, sunbathers, and bicyclists who pass through the park along the '''
Shoreline Trail
'''. Amenities include a picnic shelter, as well as a newly constructed amphitheater, gardens, and interpretive exhibits. Broderick Park is also the northern terminus of the '''Bird Island Pier''' (see below).
}}
}}