Legislators in Albany and Gov. Paterson say they want to help upstate’s economy. If they did, there’s an easy way: finish the bike trail from Albany to Buffalo, including the section from Rotterdam Junction to Montgomery County — work that the state has committed to do but is now putting off.

Finishing that section, which involves paving and building a tunnel under some railroad tracks, would cost $6 million. Meanwhile, the state is increasing spending for snowmobile trails and giving away up to $95 million in incentives for Waterford-based Momentive to build a new plant and office building in East Greenbush and move 100 workers there, with Sen. Joe Bruno kicking in another $6.5 million.

If Momentive is economic development for the Capital Region and snowmobiles are for the North Country, so bicycles can be for the Mohawk Valley. The potential is evident this weekend, as some 500 riders finish an eight-day ride along the Erie Canal trail from Buffalo to Albany. And that’s in its current condition, with some sections having large gaps and others unpaved.

Especially now, with gas prices and environmental concerns getting more people interested in cycling, as well as activities and vacations closer to home, this is a golden opportunity.

In Europe, and some more enlightened parts of this country, a bicycle trail like this would have ice cream stands and restaurants and bed and breakfasts all along it. It would be marketed to cycling groups and others as a weekend and vacation destination. It would be recognized as a real asset.

Above all, it would be finished. Whether by curbing some corporate welfare or shifting pork-barrel spending, New York state can at least afford to do that.