To the editor:

As a small business owner, a cyclist, and a resident of Saranac Lake, I am in favor of the Adirondack Rail Trail initiative. I support local businesses and recognize businesses are struggling to make sales. I also recognize the value of the recreation trail in Saranac Lake replacing the Scenic Railroad. My enthusiasm is built not just on owning a tandem bike business, but also on the value I see coming from the 34 mile trail.

Most of our customers come from over two hours away, from Vermont, downstate, other states, and Canada. They come back again and again to Saranac Lake, once they know of the Village and our recreational possibilities.

Many, many visitors ask for bike riding options that are not on our narrow roads. They look for where families can ride with smaller children, where folks who are not very athletically fit could go for a ride, or for a ride that would be peaceful and free of traffic noise. Unfortunately, those rides don’t exist in our area.

This recreational trail is key to family riding. The recreational trail will bring more “heads in beds” for Saranac Lake and benefit Saranac Lake as a “stay and play” location between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. The trail would increase the number of people who stay in Saranac Lake as the central point for starting their adventures. The trail would make Saranac Lake a hub for multi-day trips, where the family stays here and goes for hikes or rides to destinations and back. The recreational trail is perfect for that.

Here are similar trails, in small communities that are within a half days drive of a major population center (think Albany or Montreal). Their main streets have blossomed and their communities have revived with their recreational trails. Even if our trail is half or one-fourth these annual visits, the trails impact here would be very significant.

Rail Explorers USA rail bikes had 11,000 riders in four months. This is commendable. It also points to how desirable the recreational trail is for bikers and hikers. If you can get that number of people riding for $25 for 6 miles, at the rail bikes schedule, just imagine how many people would bike or hike the recreational trail for free, at all times, at their own speed. While the rail bikes are commendable, it is still not the best public use of the Corridor.

Please join me in supporting the transformation of this severely under-utilized rail bed into a world class rail trail that will attract tens of thousands of visitors, and with the resultant economic boost to our Tri-Lakes communities.

Lindy Ellis

Gear-To-Go Tandems

Saranac Lake