I know it sounds like a good idea but maybe it should be done on a trial period. Right now we get large numbers of bike groups and tourists that come over the mountain on weekends and a percentage of them eat at cornwall restaurants. I just don't see the same volume using the bike and walkway. I hope I'm wrong, but I also hope that if it doesn't work we have the sense to end it sooner than later.

Great idea, can't wait!

Contact the Orange County Department of Tourism, involve the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. This can be really cool idea. Perhaps there could be a charity event tied into this. Raise funds for our Vets...

I am a more than avid cyclist from Cornwall On Hudson. Closing 218 does nothing to benefit cyclists. We ride on that road when it is open with little or no issue. This will benefit hikers/walkers only, and hurts our local businesses.
This is absolutely foolish.
Why don't we try closing the road for one day, for a specific event, and see how that goes? What happens when we close the road on a beautiful day in June, and instead of people coming out in droves to walk on 218, no one comes at all? Storm King Mountain offers miles of trails, with more available when you head into Black Rock. Do we really need to do that? Do people really want to walk on this road anyway?

Has anyone considered where all the traffic goes when Route 218 on Storm King is closed? Based on past closures, most drivers seem to use Mountain Road to reach the village. In the summertime, a significant amount of the Storm King traffic is motorcycles, which create loud, unpleasant sounds; groups of them are deafening. Are we about to lose our peaceful, quiet Sundays in our yards on Mountain Road?

While I can appreciate Ms Ruppert's concern regarding the traffic and noise shifting to Mountain Rd, as one who lives on Rt. 218 - I would sure like to share is some "peaceful quiet Sundays". Why are WE not entitled to a share of that?

However, I do not believe the Village will see anywhere near the number of hikers on Rt. 218 as the "bikers" of the motercycle variety, so I am not sure the Village businesses will like this idea. Much as I long for some peace & quiet and like the concept, I have to agree that most hikers will want to hike on the Mountain trails, and most bicyclists are already able to cycle it just fine. <sigh> Dreaming of a peaceful quiet Sundays.

Yes, we get a LARGE number of bike groups on this road, and almost all speed, at velocities WAY over the speed limit. I have been regularly calling the police during the summer, and while they have been kind enough to let me know to call any time the issue is WAY too frequent for them to be able to keep up with. I commend Trustee Argenio for considering people who would like to use the roadway as a historic route for a natural, peaceful purpose. Many cyclists DO use the road, but this will OPEN it to more cyclists, as well as pedestrian traffic, which DOES seem to be more frequent these days. It will be a safe, quite way to share the road, and the bike groups will have all day Saturday, Sunday morning, and Sunday evening to use it - Cant we share?

There are nearly always losers when groups get preferences like this. As a motorcyclist, I'm not a supporter of this idea, which, of course, is different from the Walkway, a dedicated pedestrian route.

But, in the end, the proof will be whether (a) it generates popular and sustained use, and (b) local businesses indeed see the bump from it. If not, maybe some targeted marketing to the natural clientele drawn to route 218 (cyclists, motorcyclists and auto clubs) might be more successful than trying to be another Walkway.

We already have lots of hiking trails which vehicles cannot use.

Here is the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Az8t8ESS4
It is also at ArgenioAndrew Channel on YouTube

Silly idea, and it's too bad this is one of the first things our new administration has "accomplished," other than dispensing with a police chief. (So what else is new?) Meanwhile, the infrastructure crumbles while a small group of enthusiasts applauds an idea that will profit very few people. Am I anti-hiking/biking? I'm too arthritic to do any myself, but my 15-years-younger wife bikes about 3,000 miles a year and probably hikes locally another 500. So maybe this "walkway on the Hudson" is for the casual enthusiast, the walker rather than the hiker, the pedaler not the biker, but I can't see how this small group will do more for the economy than the steady stream of scenic-road drivers and motorcyclists--love 'em or hate 'em, they still eat lunch in the Village--who have for many decades happily used that road.

How about a giant water slide from the overlook down to the river? That would bring the tourists and their money for sure.

When Mr. Argenio posted a letter to the website outlining everything he was attempting to do for the Village discussion veered to the Storm King Hike and Bike ... Mr. Wilkinson posed the question of why more major items were not being tackled first. I would like to state that I am appreciative that not only is SOMETHING being accomplished early on, but that Trustee Argenio is also attempting to follow through with campaign promises. I would LOVE to have issues like the DPW building addressed, but major issues take time. Cant we keep pressing for progress on major issues, and at least recognize the efforts needed for this small thing?

Yes. It would be awful to try something new. Obviously not enough children of the 60's around here.

The Village cannot close 218. It is a state highway that goes through the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, the Town of Cornwall and the Town of Highlands. Unless there is an emergency (accident, etc.), the state decides when or if to close it.
I am against closing 218. If 9W is closed, for any reason, 218 will serve as an alternate route.
Hikers and bicyclists should be banned from using 218 when it is open for traffic. It is extremely hazardous---for them and the motorists trying to avoid them!
I expect a whole lot of criticism for this statement, none of which I will respond to. However, before you respond, be kind enough to experience trying to drive around a pedestrian or bike rider on a road where you cannot see what is coming in the opposite direction. ---Al Mazzocca

Most who ride 218 are not your novice riders and can keep up at a reasonable speed its the vehicles responsibility not to pass when there is a blind spot that in itself is common sense.

Like so many have said lets give it a try for one day to see what happens. Perhaps we can partner with other river towns to do something similar. There is the Historic Towns of the Hudson River that may help. When the ships came up the river for the 400th Hudson Celebration there were many people atop 218 looking down, it was great. The incline rail seems to be have interest across the river, people want to enjoy the outdoors. Google the America's Great Outdoors Initiative Obama created.

I am a hiker, there are trails all over Storm King to delight hikers of any level. I am a motorcyclist, I love riding that road and Sunday is one of my few days off. While not a bad idea, it is certainly undesirable to me.