The Erie Canal Corridor has all the right ingredients to become an international bicycle touring destination: a premier off-road trail, peaceful country roads with wide shoulders, picturesque villages, impressive historic sites and museums, charming B&B’s and inns, ample campgrounds, and country stores and farm stands. With the Canalway Trail expanding across the state and the renown of the Erie Canal growing, more and more cyclists are choosing to take their vacation in Upstate New York.

Studies consistently show that bicycle and other outdoor tourists come from high-income households and will travel significant distances to regions offering a good mix of cycling, attractions, and services. To help local business people discover how to make the most of this emerging opportunity, Parks & Trails New York and the New York State Canal Corporation are holding free “Bicyclists Bring Business!” roundtables in communities along the Canalway Trail. The roundtables cover the demographics and needs of the bicycle tourist, tips on making communities and businesses more bicycle-friendly, the types of infrastructure needed to accommodate bicycles and bicyclists, and ways to market to outdoor recreationalists.

Roundtables held in Lockport, Palmyra, Canajoharie, and Waterford in 2006 and in Jordan and Utica in 2007 generated lots of excitement and ideas from the more than 140 local business people, tourism professionals, elected officials, and interested citizens.

Bicyclists Bring Business Roundtable Summaries

Seymour Library, Brockport, New York, May 6, 2008 - Participants presented the following ideas that could be implemented to further accommodate and build awareness of the importance of bicycle tourists.

1. Signs are needed to let cyclists know what is available in each community, especially as many towns are on the other side of the canal from the trail.
2. Communities need to know the Canal Corporation rules and regulations that apply to erecting signs along the trail.
3. More information is needed on places to camp.
4. Signage is needed to let trail users know the location of first aid and hospitals.
5. Emergency personnel need to know how to access the trail.
6. Mileage markers are needed to identify location and provide information on distance traveled.
7. The entire community should be knowledgeable about the trail so they can help visitors.
8. Local businesses should familiarize front line tourism people and other service people with their facilities.
9. Get Chambers of Commerce involved.
10. Medina received a grant to help educate businesses and service people to what the community offers. 
11. Provide information (maps) to get cyclists into the historic areas of downtown Rochester.

Services

1. Business owners should be familiar with the 25-30 miles of trail to the east and west of  their location to better serve visitors.
2. B&B owners should be familiar with the location of nearby golf courses.
3. Lockport needs a place for boat tie-ups close to amenities.
4. Business owners/ community members should create other bike tours (local loops) to local attractions, e.g. wineries.
5. Transport of luggage and cars is important to bicyclists – some B&B owners provide service, Mr. Dependable provides service as a business.
6. More camping sites are needed, especially for cross country cyclists.
7. More towns need welcome centers.
8. Provide security for bikes overnight and at bike racks in the commercial area (visitors may have security concerns even though the area may have little crime).
9. Develop themed loop trails.

Promotion

1. Coordinate with and include businesses on the old Erie as well as the Barge route.
2. Create a passport book for trail users to encourage visiting many communities.
3. Get a brass band to welcome the Cycling the Erie Canal (CTEC) riders – make it an event for the whole community the day the riders come through.
4. Change the Canalway Trail Celebration to the week of the CTEC ride so there are events taking place in each community when the riders go through.
5. Use the Ragbrai model.
6. Offer the CTEC ride multiple days and weeks, maybe throughout one month.
7. Create a place on the Parks & Trails New York website where Canalway Trail villages and towns can post their events.

Next Steps

1. Canal Corporation could supply a template for signs that meet their approval that communities could erect to let people know what services and businesses are available.
2. Canal Corporation could erect a generic sign on the trail that uses icons to describe the type of services available.
3. Get business owners and elected officials out on bikes to experience what it is like in their community for a cyclist.

Types of Customers – based on experience of business owners

1. cross country cyclists
2. international cyclists
3. boaters such as kayakers
4. golfing cyclists (yes, they carry their clubs on their bikes)

Issues

1. Camping is not allowed in Monroe County on public lands.
2. Bike shop owner – many accidents on trail, bike/bike and bike/pedestrian.
3. Stone dust surface may damage bikes if they are not cleaned after using the trail.  Pave trail where possible.
4. Separate walkers, skaters, and cyclists with lines painted on the trail like in FL.
5. Smooth large stones from the trail.
6. Illegal motorized vehicles are a problem.
7. Snowmobiles can be a problem in the winter.

Hotel Utica, Utica, New York, June 5, 2007 -

Participants presented the following ideas that could be implemented to further accommodate and build awareness of the importance of bicycle tourists on the Canalway Trail.

Information
1. There is no way to fully monitor the amount of trail use.
2. We would like to get information on the number of persons getting off at Thruway      exits
          a. Canal Corporation will look into getting these numbers
3. There is too little communication between tourism groups. More partnerships are      needed. It is fragmented now.
4. Include more links on websites

Services
1. Use local roads to connect to Sylvan Beach. It could be an appealing extra loop off     the Canalway Trail.
2. Utica has already marked a loop trail connecting city sites that links to the     Canalway Trail.

Promotion
1. Brochure exchanges are very helpful for promoting area attractions.
2. Open mike sessions at local government meetings, such as Utica City Council, are
    often televised and another opportunity for promoting events.

Jordan-Elbridge Community Center, Jordan, New York, May 31, 2007

Discussion Summary
Participants asked questions and presented ideas that could be implemented to further accommodate and build awareness of the importance of bicycle tourists on the Canalway Trail.

Information
1. Signage is needed to assist trail users with getting across Syracuse.
     a. The route is outlined in Parks & Trails New York’s Cycling the Erie Canal          guidebook
      b. The City of Syracuse could erect signs – Parks & Trails will share with the City           their suggested route
2. Signs are needed on the Trail stating who is responsible for maintenance and who     to call if something needs attention (e.g. if a trail user notes a tree down)
3. Are there universal signage standards for all signs on the Canalway Trail?
      a. The Canal Corporation has signage guidelines but they only must apply to            lands they own. In sections where the Trail is owned by municipalities, then            their signage standards would apply there.
4. Brochure racks can be helpful for trail users and boaters. They work well in     Oswego.
5. Jordan is not on the new Canalway Trail maps issued by the Canal Corporation.

Services
1. How do you ensure the safety of trail users, especially if a person is alone?
      a. Ride with others
      b. Consider bike patrols
      c. Keep vegetation clear
      d. Involve law enforcement personnel
2. The Cato to Jordan spur trail needs cleaning. From Cato one can go to Lake     Ontario

Promotion
1. Jordan needs a welcome sign on the Trail. What needs to be done if a community     wants to erect a welcome sign along the Trail?
      a. For Jordan, one would need to secure permission from the Onondaga County           Parks Department.
2. Bicyclists and boaters carry GPS units. When listing amenities in guidebooks or      websites, include GPS coordinates so attractions, restaurants, places to stay can      be easily located on maps available from handheld devices.
3. There is a need to create places of interest
       a. An Art Trail is being created along the length of the Canalway Trail involving all            the communities and businesses that promote the arts. There will be a            brochure and website listing arts venues.
4. There should be an organized tour of a section of the Trail and Canal every      weekend for tourists and residents as a way to ensure sustained promotion
5. Hold an educational bike ride for tourism professionals that will help tourism      people experience the Canalway Trail so they will be better able to field questions      from the public.
6. It is important to find ways to get out people out to see the Canal and the Trail.
7. Weedsport, Camillus, and Jordan are beginning to work together to promote the     Trail and Canal.
8. It will take time for tourists to come. One may offer tours and no one comes, but it     is important to keep offering them as eventually they will.

Palmyra Inn, Palmyra, New York, May 15, 2006

Information
1. Install directional and services signage at each community –municipality would be     responsible for this with permission from the Canal Corporation
2. Develop a standard Canal Corp direction sign for the trail
3. Install mileage markers (planned by Canal Corporation once more miles are     complete)
4. Provide medical, ATM, police information at trail kiosks
5. Provide information on campgrounds and make more campgrounds available
6. Provide trail users with information on where cell phones do an do not work
7. Mid-Lakes marina could provide bike trip itineraries

Services
1. Develop a B&B shuttle/limousine service – This is evolving (suggestion to examine     the customer/luggage transport services provided by canoe/kayak rental services     for suggestions on how to do it)
2. Use Amtrak and canal boats for transport of one-way cycling tourists
3. Build canal docks to accommodate kayaks. Encourage more “tourist homes” in     addition to B&Bs
4. Promote cycling as a sport in schools
5. Provide public restrooms and bike racks – could be supported with community     donations

Promotion
1. Promote year round activities on the trail
2. Communities create bike loops using local roads to encourage cyclists to stay     longer
3. Attend village and town board meetings to present the bicycle tourism program to     alert elected officials of the potential of bicycle tourism
4. Create a tourism board or tourism director for each canal community
5. Develop “Cyclists Welcome” campaign and a corridor brand
6. Develop a promotional video for the Canalway Trail System – Canal Corporation
7. Provide State tourism officials with more information on bicycling; help local tourism     groups by providing bicycle tourism information
8. Create a web-based pilot of Cycling the Erie Canal guide – underway through     Parks & Trails New York
9. Develop a Canalway website
a. List all Canalway events
b. Provide an annual Canalway Trail calendar
c. Include regional tour information
10. League of American Bicyclists has a brochure on how to make communities bicycle      friendly

Next Steps
1. Parks & Trails New York will examine liability insurance for bike rental businesses.     If municipalities undertook the rentals would that address the insurance issues? –
2. Canal Corp will provide information on what signs are allowed along the trail and     how to obtain a permit

Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises, Lockport, New York, May 16, 2006

Information
1. Make highway Canalway logo sign larger so it can be more easily read
2. Develop an efficient process for Canal Corporation to allow businesses to have a     sign on the trail
3. Install services signs like on the Thruway – provided by the businesses and/or the     municipality
4. Canal Corporation could install generic services signs using universal symbols
5. Install one sign with a map for each municipality that would list/locate businesses
6. Install brochure racks on Canal Corporation signs

Services
1. Inventory the resources that exist – each town should do their inventory and     submit the information to PTNY for the website
      • Laundromats
      • Bike shops
      • Churches
      • Restaurants, pubs
      • ATMs
      • Visitor centers
      • Cultural attractions, museums
      • Kid-friendly information
2. Hold educational seminars for local law enforcement agencies – police need     greater awareness of the trail and how they can help

Promotion
1. Undertake community education – involve the whole town
2. Increase web presence of the Canalway Trail – create a single source for     Canalway Trail information
      a. Add community events
      b. Add links to community websites
      c. List all the towns on the Trail
3. Use the Parks & Trails New York website as a clearinghouse for     roundtable/tourism promotion ideas

Waterford Harbor Visitor Center, Waterford, New York, October 23, 2006

Information
1. More signage needed between Schenectady and Troy
2. Better signage needed in the City of Schenectady- places that the signs direct     people to when they must go off the trail are not the best place to ride
3. Post the names and numbers of the tourism agencies on the trail at the entrance     to each county so people can call to get information
4. Erect signs on the trail that tell the trail user where they are, i.e. what town or     county
5. Erect signs that tell you how far it is to the next community
6. Use the Thruway model for services signs to let the trail user know what services     are available in a community
7. Install more kiosks with interpretive signs
8. Open the Canal Coroporation grant process to fund signs – Lakes to Locks     Passage and Hudson River Valley Greenway do signage grants
9. Have a sign standard – someone must comply with the standard to get funding
10. Scouts could help with making and putting up signage

Services
1. Educate lock tenders so they know how and where to direct bicyclists and boaters     to attractions and services
2. Establish Trail Ambassadors like on the C&O Canal – persons who are easily     identified and who can give information and assistance to trail users (could be     college student summer job)
3. Package existing services so they are bike friendly
4. Lodging owners should be better informed about what attractions exist beyond     their community so they can advise bicyclists on what to see and do in their next     day’s travel
5. There should be one agency that coordinates everything all along the trail
6. Consider developing loop trails
7. Montgomery County lacks bike shops and repair shops; closest is in Glenville     across the river
8. Montgomery County has few facilities – few cafes and Laundromats
9. Install water faucets on the trail

Promotion
1. There needs to be a Canalway Trail website
2. Canals New York is marketing the entire canal in New York
3. Parks & Trails New York intends to put its guidebook on line but funding is needed
4. Educate the I Love New York call site - I Love New York has very little on the     Canalway Trail – their information comes from the tourist promotion agencies; How     many calls to the 1-800 number are looking for cycling information?
5. Information form that businesses/attractions now submit to I Love New York does     have a box to check to say whether the attraction is within .5 mile of the Erie     Canal
6. Hotels need to think more about their relationship to the trail
7. Schenectady does not spend much on promoting the trail because businesses do     not see much income from it
8. Promote the Erie Canalway Trail System rather than just the Canalway Trail
9. Need to keep statistics on user numbers – maybe could capture information on     users if they are asked to sign in at businesses
10. Economic impact studies are needed - Could get help from community college       hospitality and tourism programs
11. Prepare one-page flier for elected officials and businesses to show them how       bicyclists bring business
12. Look at the Wisconsin tourism website       http://www.travelwisconsin.com/thingstodo/biking_index.htm
13. Parks & Trails New York should provide businesses and tourist promotion       agencies with information on:
        • Where to send press releases
        • Where and how to market to bike magazines (suggestion to pool funds for a            group ad in a magazine like Adventure Cyclist)

Information
1. More signage is needed on the trail to direct people to the communities and their     services
2. Recruit clubs and organizations to erect some signage
3. People who want to put signs up on the trail or contribute in other ways need to     have information from the Canal Corporation or others on how to do it
4. Bicyclists Bring Business power point on line

Services
1. Lodging is needed in Montgomery County
2. Bicyclists are health conscious, they want healthy sustaining food
3. Bicyclists want to be sure their bikes are protected where they stay overnight
5. Need more accommodations for day trippers and more welcoming places – e.g.     showers
6. Need more paved trail in Montgomery County to increase the trail’s accessibility
7. State parks nearby can be an option for showers
8. YMCAs or local gyms and health clubs may be able to provide showers for trail     users
9. Amtrak should make more stops at communities along the trail
10. Are there enough beds along the trail?
11. Have a mobile bike repair unit during Cycling the Erie Canal (CTEC)

Promotion
1. What do CTEC riders know about the area before they come? – Their names are     sent to the tourist promotion agencies and they send out information. Each night     the riders receive information on where they will be going the next day.
2. Tourist Board should organize an elected officials ride so elected officials can     discover what may need to be done to improve access, information, and services     for trail users
3. New York State is not promoting itself as a bicycle destination
4. Get legislators to promote New York State and its biking opportunities
5. Investigate cooperative advertising of the Canalway Trail
6. Montgomery County has a lot of miles; need to plan events throughout the year     along the trail

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Parks & Trails New York is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as defined by the IRS.