Bicycle trip spotlights Greenway

Rich DeSerra wants to introduce others to his favorite sections of the Genesee Valley Greenway. So, on Sunday, June 9, he is leading a bike ride, starting from Canawaugus Park in Scottsville at 9 a.m. The ride will consist of a round trip of about 16 miles.

The Genesee Valley Greenway is a former rail bed which provides a flat level surface for biking. As the trail is not paved, a mountain or hybrid bike is recommended. Riders of all abilities are welcome, but everyone must wear a helmet.

On the day of the ride, DeSerra will select whether to take the northern or southern route from Canawaugus Park. The northern route will follow the Greenway from Canawaugus Park to Ballantyne Road in Chili, passing a well preserved, c.1840 stone lock remaining from the corridor's former use as the Genesee Valley Canal. The southern route will follow the Greenway from Canawaugus Park to Route 5 in Caledonia, passing farm lands, woodlands, and a large wetland. Along both routes, riders will experience the tree canopy which has earned the Greenway the name "Tunnel of Green." There will also be the opportunity to enjoy the newly constructed, elevated cedar walkway, built to connect the Greenway at Canawaugus Park with Canal Street and Scottsville's Main Street.

DeSerra has been leading Greenway bike rides from Scottsville each June and August for several years for the Rochester Bicycling Club and Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway. He started cycling in Rochester during the early 1970s mainly using his bicycle for utilitarian purposes - commuting to work, shopping, visiting friends. Within a few years he enjoyed riding so much that he extended his cycling to year round. "I found it a great way to stay in top physical condition without having to 'workout'. I also saved lots of money by not using a car very often, so I was able to buy other 'toys,' " he said.

Participants are reminded that the bridge over Oatka Creek on Route 251 (River Road) at Canawaugus Park is closed to traffic for the summer while DOT crews replace the bridge. Detours are posted. Parking for the bike ride will be located at the Municipal Parking Lot on Scottsville's Main Street, behind the post office.

The Genesee Valley Greenway is a 90-mile natural and historic resource corridor open to the public year round for hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. It extends from Genesee Valley Park in Rochester to Hinsdale in Cattaraugus County, following the route of the former Genesee Valley Canal and Pennsylvania Railroad, Rochester Branch. Presently, 52 of the 90 miles of trail are now open for use.

The Genesee Valley Greenway is being developed by a partnership involving the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway. For more information, contact the Friends of the Greenway at www.fogog.org, call 658-2569, or email at fogvg@aol.com.