In this bicycle travel series, host Pat Last name rides from Buffalo to Brooklyn along the Empire State Trail, meeting local characters, trying food, and exploring how New Yorkers are tackling climate challenges.

Rolling Thru airs Monday, May 25 – Friday, May 29 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

The Rochester episode (airing May 25) features a stop at Foodlink Farm, the Inner Loop, and Vision Zero. And, the soundtrack behind the Rochester segment is music by Rochester band Flower Kitty, featuring drummer Hannah Maier, host of Afternoons with Hannah Maier on THE ROUTE (FM 88.5). You can also watch the series on-demand here.

Episode titles and descriptions:
The Beauty of Bicycles in Buffalo 5/25 at 3 p.m.
Pat begins a bicycle journey from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. Riding with Slow Roll Buffalo and GoBike Buffalo, he explores the city’s cycling culture and history at the Pierce-Arrow Museum. At Niagara Falls State Park, the episode reflects on early conservation. In Lockport, the legacy of the Wheelmen leads to a conversation on modern bike advocacy before ending the day in Medina.

Rochester: Building a Cooler City on a Hotter Planet 5/25 at 3:30 p .m.
Pat rides from Medina to Rochester, exploring how past and future systems shape our lives. At the Medina Railroad Museum, he reflects on rail travel’s lost potential. At Foodlink Farm, local agriculture builds community resilience. In Rochester, the Inner Loop’s removal and Vision Zero efforts show how cities can be redesigned for safer, more sustainable living.

Santé: Wine and Democracy in the Finger Lakes 5/26 at 3 p.m.
Pat leaves the Empire State Trail for the Finger Lakes, exploring what makes communities truly inclusive. In Fairport, accessible design shows how streets can work for everyone. At Ganondagan, indigenous foodways reveal deep-rooted sustainability. From vineyard practices to the legacy of women’s suffrage in Seneca Falls, the episode connects care for land, people, and democracy.

Restoration and Renewal in Syracuse 5/26 at 3:30 p.m.
Pat rides into Syracuse, where past and future meet. At Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, restored wetlands support vital ecosystems. Over lunch, food reflects sustainable practices and culture. The revival of Onondaga Lake shows the power of environmental repair, while the Erie Canal’s legacy lives on through today’s streets and rides.

Additional episode descriptions to come.

Trolley Parks were born when trolley companies began adding picnic areas, playgrounds and carousels to the ends of lines to increase weekend ridership. In the early 1900s, there were more than 1,000 trolley parks, but today, only a dozen remain, including Rochester’s own Seabreeze Park.

Trolley Parks: Great Lakes airs Monday, May 11 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Trolley Park: Great Lakes reveals the rich histories of two iconic amusement parks located on the shores of the Great Lakes: Seabreeze Park welcoming guests since 1879 on the shores of Lake Ontario, and Waldameer Park on Lake Erie, which began as a picnic ground in 1896. Trolley Park: Great Lakes also tells the story of the family ownership of both parks—ownership that has spanned generations.

Trolley parks were the precursors to today’s amusement parks. Most were built by streetcar companies in the late 1800s to increase business by giving riders a
weekend destination at the “end of the line,” usually located at a park or lake. Initially, they included pavilions, dance halls and sports fields, with many
expanding to include Ferris wheels, carousels and swimming pools. These parks helped usher in the golden age of amusement parks. In the early 1900s there were more than a thousand trolley parks. Now only a few remain.

Joy is what multiple generations have experienced and continue to experience at Seabreeze and Waldameer Park. Our goal with this film is to remind viewers of that simple joy with the hope that they will spread that joy, especially to children, while also realizing that preserving memories of times past is equally essential as safeguarding these trolley parks into the future.

Trolley Parks: Great Lakes repeats 5/16 at 4 p.m. and 5/18 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Photo: Seabreeze Figure Eight/Courtesy of Seabreeze Park