New York state government, when it turns around, usually moves with all the speed of a giant barge. So it was not only good, but unexpected, to see the state Canal Corp. do a quick 180 on its ill-conceived plan to reduce the hours of operation on the canal system.

The plan — making the hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., compared to the old 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. — was intended to save money. The Thruway Authority, which pays for canal operations, has an ambitious capital plan and has proposed toll increases to pay for it — an idea that has drawn strong opposition from drivers as well as politicians. The authority has also suggested spinning off the canal, which is a drain on its resources. The reduction in hours may have been an attempt to dramatize this fact, and to make people more seriously consider the prospect of a spin-off.

But the change would have been crazy in terms of policy. The state has been spending money in recent years fixing up the locks and creating new attractions, trying to turn the canal into a recreational asset that will spur tourism and economic development. The renaissance of Waterford, where a new harbor center has led to many canal-focused activities and a bustling downtown, shows this strategy can work. The goal should be to make the canal attractive to as many users — and different types of users — as possible.

Cutting the hours would have discouraged fishermen, who like to get out early in the morning, and serious boaters, who like to be out later in the evening, particularly when the sun is setting.

And it wasn’t just individuals who complained, but those who rely on the canal for their livelihood: cargo haulers and tour boat operators. Time is money for a shipper, especially when their barges are already moving at slow speeds; and the change would also have adversely affected those popular dinner cruises.

For all the pain the reduced hours would have caused, the savings would have been relatively minor: $1 million. At the same time, they would probably have reduced the amount of money taken in from tolls, which unfortunately but necessarily are being reintroduced after two years without them. Under the circumstances, keeping the hours the same is simply common sense.