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9-5-2026 Buffalo by Bike: Canals, Warships, and a Sunset Ride

atravelerslog
Sep 5
2 min read

We biked around Buffalo, then parked our bikes and toured the Canalside area, looking at the old battleships, submarines, aircraft, and other World War 2 displays along the waterfront. After that we kept riding the Shoreline Trail over to the Outer Harbor area and finished the evening chasing the sunset by the water.


Buffalo is a fun, easily bikeable city. In addition to the great dedicated bike trails, there are bike lanes all over the city, the side streets have a lot of four-way stops, and the traffic feels light enough that we can actually look around instead of just survive the ride.

Ride facts

Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026

Location: Buffalo, New York

Ride distance: 13.86 miles

Time window: 4:55 to 9:03 pm

Route feel: city bike lanes, Canalside, the Buffalo waterfront, riverside paths, and sunset riding.

Photo log

There are a lot of bike lanes in Buffalo. The side streets are all 4 way stops.

There are a lot of bike lanes in Buffalo. The side streets are all 4 way stops.


This was our turn

This was our turn - interesting architecture everywhere.


lots of street art on the buildings

There are loads of murals on the buildings.


Buffalo is a highly bikable city. Not only do they have a lot of lanes, but the traffic is very low.

Buffalo is a highly bikeable city. Not only do they have a lot of lanes, but the traffic is very low.


Downtown Buffalo still shows off those older buildings and ornate details as you ride through the city.

Downtown Buffalo still shows off those older buildings and ornate details as you ride through the city.


The picture doesn't show it, but the building is very ornate. You can tell that Buffalo was built up in a different era and during that time the details were important.

The picture doesn't show it, but the building is very ornate. You can tell that Buffalo was built up in a different era, and during that time the details were important.


Another easy stretch through the city streets on the way toward the waterfront.

Another easy stretch through the city streets on the way toward the waterfront.


This is where the Canal started and now it is a park. They were having an event on this day.

This is where the Canal started and now it is a park. They were having an event on this day called 716 Celebrates: Stars, Stripes, and Signers.


This was a VIP area for the day's event

This was a VIP area for the day's event.


You can pay and tour the boats.

You can pay and tour the boats.


There were a lot of tour boats going up and down the river. This one was a floating tiki hut.

There were a lot of tour boats going up and down the river. This one was a floating tiki hut.


On the left is a 100+ year old fireboat that is still in active use.

On the left is a 100+ year old fireboat that is still in active use.


The odd shaped rigging caught our eye!

The odd shaped rigging caught our eye!


Here is a better shot of the fireboat

Here is a better shot of the fireboat


There were a lot of jets and helicopters arranged as art

There were a lot of jets and helicopters arranged as art.


Here is a picture of the replica canal boat. This is the start of the erie canal.

Here is a picture of the replica canal boat. This is the start of the Erie Canal.


Then we biked on a riverside path to catch the sunset.

Then we biked on a riverside path to catch the sunset.


Pictures never do the sunset justice. What I saw seemed different.

Pictures never do the sunset justice. What I saw seemed different.


A quiet sunset stop along the water before we kept riding.

A quiet sunset stop along the water before we kept riding.


The last color of the day over the river.

The last color of the day over the river.


Looking back across the water as the evening settled in.

Looking back across the water as the evening settled in.


The sunset kept changing colors over the water.

The sunset kept changing colors over the water.


Then the sunset was over so we biked on.

Then the sunset was over so we biked on.


A typical scene from the trail

A typical scene from the trail


They elevated their Interstate way above the city

They elevated their Interstate way above the city


Back on the waterfront trail with the old grain elevators in the distance.

Back on the waterfront trail with the old grain elevators in the distance.


After the ride

It was one of those rides where the city changed character a few times: downtown streets, canal history, old ships, river paths, and then a wide sunset over the water. Buffalo gave us a very full bike day.

 
 
 

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