by Harvey Botzman
The League of American Bicyclists continues to cite Rochester for its success as a Bicycle Friendly City. In its most recent Fall, 2016, rankings, Rochester once again achieved a Bronze rating. More than 140 cities applied for this prestigious award this year. More than 404 cities throughout the USA have ranked for their bicycling infrastructure.
Of Rochester’s nearest municipal neighbors, Buffalo is ranked as an Honorable Mention city; Ithaca as a Bronze city; and Syracuse is unranked.
Being ranked as a Bicycle Friendly City has important tourism ramifications. Not only do leisure bicycle tourists traveling in the United States seek out cities ranked by the League to bicycle the infrastructure but also corporate location officials seek to site their offices, factories, and warehouses in cities with excellent bicycling infrastructure.
These corporate location officials continually cite bicycling infrastructure as an important accoutrement wanted by their employees. Their employees want to commute to and from the work place as part of their healthy living life style. This type of commuting is not limited only to the newest employees (the 20 & 30-year-old demographic) but also by employees in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s.
Members of the Rochester Cycling Alliance and the City of Rochester’s Environmental Services Department, will review the League’s comments in an effort to achieve Silver Bicycle Friendly City status.
The Rochester Cycling Alliance meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 P. M., usually in room 116, Wilmot Hall, University of Rochester, as listed on the RCA calendar. Free bike parking & automobile parking.