nisqualee

I want to ride the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany, NY. But I can't figure out where I can safely park my car in Buffalo for about nine days.

My return trip from Albany to Buffalo will probably be on a Greyhound bus. I would consider taking Amtrak but it (the train with the baggage option) gets into Buffalo at about midnight.

The airport would work for parking, however it's not very close to the lake, or to the Greyhound station.

Does anyone have suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

ken cummings

How about using a car shuttle service to take your car to Albany and have it waiting for you? If not find one of the secure storage lots where people keep their RVs between vacations and pay for storage there. Contact the tourism agency for Buffalo.

Herb

I just did a similar tour from Bufffalo to Albany. I left my car in Albany at the Holiday Inn. I took the train to Buffalo, I booked a room for the end of the trip,and asked the management if I could park the car for the duration. that worked for me. Try a chain hotel, they may work with you.
Herb

RCordone

The airport and the Amtrak station is close together in Buffalo and riding from the airport to the bike trail is pretty easy. The train( Lakeshore Limited) with the baggage car leaves Albany at 6pm? You can put your bike on the train and when you get to Buffalo it should not be more than a $10 Cab ride to retrieve your car and then comeback to the station to claim your bike.

I used to live in Albany. Greyhound in Albany is a hassle and they won't have bike boxes nor will they let your bike ride on the bus un-boxed. If you do take the bus there is a good bike shop about a mile from the Albany bus station that might be able to help you with a box. DownTube Bike shop, 466 Madison Ave (518) 434-1711

VT_Speed_TR

I'm planning to do somewhat the reverse and a much shorter tour (3 days - Rome - Albany). My plan is to take the train from Albany to Rome and carry my bike (a folder) onto the train. Does anyone know if there is long term parking at the train station in Albany, actual Rensselaer? Or near by to the station?

Brian

Podolak

What does your route look like? I have been wanting to do this myself. I live in Syracuse and I know we really messed up our portion of the Canal.

nisqualee

I now have a doable plan to ride the Erie Canal. Drive to Buffalo and park downtown at the Augspurger Ramp garage, which has security, and is $6 per day:
https://www.bcarparking.com/facilities.php

Ride to Albany and return on a Greyhound bus. The Greyhound station is not far from the garage.

I got the book "Cycling The Erie Canal" by Parks & Trail New York. It really is worth the money. Lots of good information.

I also got the free map of New York bike route 5, which parallels the Erie Canal.

I received a Body Bag from New Zealand. This will be necessary for Greyhound because their boxes are too small to fit my bike without removing everything, i.e. the seat, racks, wheels, handlebar, and pedals:
https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/products-BAG.htm

Some links of interest:
https://www.ptny.org/canaltour/
https://www.nycanal.com/recreation/hikebikemain.html
https://www.nyscanals.gov/maps/index.html
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/p...-bureau/biking

axolotl

I was once contacted by a group of cyclists who found my name & town on the warmshowers.org list. They weren't looking for a place to sleep; rather, just a place to park their van for a week. I said sure, no problem. My suggestion would be to contact folks on the warmshowers list who live in a place which would be convenient for your tour.

Bobfisherhazmat

I just completed the Buffalo to Albany bike ride and I parked my car at the parking lot that the recreational boaters use at the end of the Riverside Walk trail (it is near the Navy boat display). Parking is free and there is an abundance of other things (boats and other nice cars) parked in the lot that would be more liable to be broken into than my car. I checked at two parking garages/lots near the Exchange St. Amtrak station and both attendants recommended NOT parking in their lots due to vandals.After paking in the lot for boaters for a week I returned to a safe and sound car.The ride was awesome, but the PTNY book sucked! I followed the pink highway route markings on the highway that was left from the Cycling the Erie Canal bike ride in mid-July. It was a godsend!

jobtraklite

Regarding the midnight arrival of the Lake Shore Limited (the train with baggage service) into Buffalo - Depew, you could check your bike on the LSL but ride one of the other Albany - Buffalo trains. You would have to either check your bike the day before in Albany or pick it up the next day in Buffalo. There is no requirement that your bike ride the same train as you.

Regarding the bus, as I've mentioned elsewhere, there is a forum (I won't mention the name), whose members would refer to this a going down to the pound and riding the dirty dog.

jobtraklite

Here is a link to people's experiance with parking at Amtrak's Buffalo-Depew station.

xyzzy834

I parked at the Buffalo Airport long term parking lot for 11 days while I rode around Lake Ontario. I think it cost me about $45/week to park there.

The airport shuttles are constantly circulating through the lot. I didn't worry much about vandalism. Everything was fine when I returned.