Sidewalks -- I think we have to do the same as for any other issue in a community: bug our elected officials. Letters to the editor, rants on email lists, phone calls to officials. I'm particularly unsympathetic to claims that times are tough. They always are, but things that the community values get done anyway. It's time to see to some of these neglected aspects of life.

Town of Ithaca and walking.

The Town has a bad shortage of walkways and sidewalks, especially on the many high-speed roads. It has a lovely transportation plan which specifies sidewalks on all the most important locations for them.... but it's just not implemented. I can't figure out what needs to be done to get it implemented. Any ideas?

Here's a link to the new DOT recommendations for bike and pedestrian accessibility. Thought I'd pass it along.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/policy_accom.htm

Maybe it's just rhetoric, but at least it's good rhetoric.

Looking to buy a bike. Doesn't have to be fancy or have gears. Will be used for one semester, so I can't afford to pay a lot. Something like this would work well:

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6011/cykel1.jpg

You can reach me at as937 {an at character} cornell {a single dot} edu.

Mike,
If you look on the Finger Lakes Cycling Club website (under "Maps"/"Sunday Rides"), you'll find details on the club's ride around Cayuga Lake. The description is for going clockwise (north on the west side, then back south along the east). The distance is less than 100 miles -- the minimum distance is around 92 miles. Those who make a full 100 out of it add extra miles, usually by going north a bit further before turning back south.

Time to complete the ride varies from 6 hours to 8 or more. It depends entirely on the individual case. If you're using a mountain bike and it has typical mtb knobby tires, it's bound to take you a while longer than people on road bikes take.

Hi,

I am looking at biking around Cayuga Lake on a mountain bike. I will most likely start on the East side of the lake - Rt. 34B, 90 - connect with Rts. 5/20 and then jump on Route 89 for the return to Ithaca on the West side of the lake. I've read on a couple of webpages that the ride is 100 miles long. For those of you who have done this, how long did it take to complete it? Anyone know of a good brand of bicycling gloves that will last a long time? Thanks

This may not be news, but it caught my eye - software to help users find bike routes through the city (NYC).

http://www.ridethecity.com/

Does anyone have suggestions for a route from Elmira to Watertown? We would like to stay at hotels and bike 60-80 miles per day. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Actually not much of a biker, but since coming 2 cornell ive been looking to start. can anyone tell me where to get a sturdy used bike, well kept chains, for a pretty tall guy (6ft1) Thanks!

I found a resource that actually uses distance and altitude to give climb distance and max grade for a route using a google maps interface:
http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?x=-76.47896&y=42.44028&z=15&t=m

According to this (The interface bases the grade on the start and end points you click, so if there are flat places or hills in the middle the results will be wrong- making shorter segments may minimize this):

The max grade of Buffalo St is 29% and it climbs 278 feet.

The max grade of University Ave (to Stewart Ave) is 23% and it climbs 206 feet.

The max grade of State St/Rt 79 to 366 to Campus Rd is 29% and it climbs 472 feet.

And the section of 366 in Varna I mentioned has a measly max grade of 18% and climbs about 82 feet.