On Riding to Rochester

I have been doing some research on the feasibility of riding to Rochester. It turns out that both Southern Ontario and Western New York state have an extensive network of bike trails, the problem comes when one tries to cross the border. Saddly the network breaks down at the border crossing. Aledgedly it is possible to cross at all three Niagara Bridges (Queenston/Lewiston, Rainbow and Peace) but the details are rather sketchy. So far I have found the following resources:

1. This is the website of the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transporation Council and if you click on the links to maps, you get a number of maps, including bike maps for Western NY state.
2. Since I am posting links on this, here is the Lake Shore bike trail, not that I follow it all that closely, but if anyone else wants to use my page as a starting reference, here it is.
3. Someone wrote a book about riding around Lake Ontario, they noted the following,

It always happens! A day or two after I receive the latest edition or revision of a book from the printer something important along the route changes! This time the change involves crossing the Niagara River and a slightly improved route east of Toronto.

1. Niagara River Bridges: As of late May, 2008, a bicyclist can use 3 bridges to cross the Niagara River. The Peace Bridge (Fort Erie, Ontario-Buffalo, New York); the Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls, NY-Niagara Falls, ON); and the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge (Queenston, ON-Lewiston, NY). Use the roadway rather than the walkway on the Rainbow Bridge, since the gate leading to the walkway tends to be difficult to negociate with a pannier loaded bicycle. The Peace Bridge may have very heavy motor vehicle traffic, especially during weekday rush hours, thus the walkway might be preferrable for crossing this bridge. The Queenston-Lewiston Bridge does not
have a walkway and the entrance to the roadway on the USA side might be a bit
obscured. I will try to visit cross three bridges before
winter.

2. Lewiston-Queenston Bridge: W. Z. & son as well as J. C. suggest the following techniques when using the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.

a. Crossing this bridge is tricky while it is under construction. (there is no side walk to use and the Canadian to US entrance is in an unusual location.)

b. Crossing US to Canada, Turn right off Military Rd onto Upper mountain rd and take first exit ramp, this takes one to the bridge. After crossing and going thru customs go to the right most toll both and pay toll, the toll attendant can direct you to the recreational trail. Basicly you back up from the toll booth and go over the curb
to the toll offices and walk around the offices into the parking lot out to the Niagara Parkway and recreational trail. (I have done this twice this year and the toll both operators were very helpful). [N. B.: Earlier editions of 'Round Lake Ontario... suggested using this technique.]

c. Crossing from Canada to the US is pretty tricky. You start on the North side of the bridge on the parkway.(this is where you exited from the parking lot coming the other direction. You will see a sign on the fence stating that bicyclists to the US must check in with the toll office. Enter the parking lot and work your way around to the back of the offices and walk the bike around to the main toll office and report to a attendant. There are several signs directing bicyclists. When I did this, they directed me to carefully cross behind the toll boths and through a opening in the curb and wait for a clearing in the traffic heading to the US and then cross this traffic and stay in the right most auto lane. Go through the customs booths (right most open auto booth). Take the first exit ramp (leads to Upper Mountain Road) then take the first exit ramp ( Rt 104 East). When I did this 3 weeks ago the customs officer said this was the first time that he had seen this done. (tho' I don't know if he was talking about my Greenspeed Trike or a bicyclist.)