Cars are an effective tool for the right job but not every trip for every individual. Our work is focused on ensuring there are options for Monroe County residents beyond driving. Transportation options are a form of freedom. Freedom to choose the way you move through your day and shape the life you want to live. We deserve a transportation system with safe, connected bike routes, frequent bus service; AND roads that work for those who choose to drive.
Many people are not aware of the amount of subsidies that go into road construction and maintenance as well as gas prices; not to mention the amount of valuable public space we have ceded to storing private vehicles in the form of ample free parking. Our institutions do a lot to encourage driving and very little to encourage other modes of transportation despite the evidence that it’s cheaper to maintain road infrastructure and can improve congestion.
We are not necessarily trying to make things harder for drivers. We are pushing our leaders to consider options beyond the car when designing our communities going forward. The fact that many neighborhoods don’t have sidewalks, many roads don’t have bike lanes, and our buses only run once an hour on weekends make alternatives to driving very challenging for the 26% of city households and 12% of county households without access to a personal vehicle. When we make it easier to get around without a car, we can remove congestion, reduce collisions, and make travel easier for everyone including drivers.
When a cyclist is riding recklessly they are overwhelmingly a danger to themselves. The 47 deaths and more than 5,000 injuries that happen on our streets every year in Monroe County always involve cars. It is all of our responsibility to keep each other safe, but drivers have a bigger responsibility given their capacity to do harm to people and property. This is why we advocate for and implement complete streets designs on our roadways to slow down cars.
Bicycle education is a cornerstone of our work at Reconnect Rochester via our On Bike Smart Cycling Classes, Bike Education Programs, and Our Weekly Rides. Many school districts do not provide bike safety classes despite the state requirements. This leads to many kids who don’t learn the safe and legal way to ride. We aim to teach riders how to safely interact with traffic and be predictable in order to make all of us safer. A study found that nearly every road user will admit to breaking the law though with cyclists it is often to keep themselves safe while drivers will be more likely to break the law to save time.
There are millions of RTS bus trips every year in Monroe County. Less than a half percent of reported crimes take place on an RTS bus or at the Transit Center. As Democrat and Chronicle notes, “that’s fewer than the number of crimes reported at both schools, hospitals, bars and more.”
If risk factor is your main concern, you’re much more likely to be involved in one of the 14,000+ vehicle crashes that happen every year than you are to be in danger on the RTS buses. RTS is a great community resource and we encourage everyone to try to incorporate it into their lives when possible. The more of us who use RTS, the more it will be prioritized in transportation funding which will improve frequency and make it a more convenient option.
There are many disabilities that make biking or taking the bus challenging or even impossible. At the same time, many people have disabilities that prevent them from driving but still allow them to live independently. We want to ensure that anyone who cannot drive (or anyone who just doesn’t want to) is able to move freely throughout our community. Our board member, Steve Roll, shared a powerful story about this in a blog post. After a seizure left him unable to drive for six months, biking and public transit became essential tools for maintaining his independence.
Furthermore, we have encountered many people in wheelchairs who appreciate our focus on safe streets. Our current car-centric infrastructure that relegates pedestrians to cramped sidewalks with heaved segments and poorly placed curb cuts is challenging for anyone to navigate. It is especially difficult if you are vision impaired, use a walker or rollator, or are in a wheelchair. We actually had someone put one of our Bicycle License Plates on the back of his wheelchair so he could feel safer when he is somewhere without a sidewalk (which, sadly, is true for too many of our roads). And—disabled or not—parents pushing strollers encounter the very same struggles! When we design streets for pedestrians, everyone benefits.
We like to collaborate with Center for Disability Rights (CDR) and we often follow their lead – as they are the real experts in this area and they’ve been at it much longer than we have. Of course we’ll continue to advocate for improved accessibility across all new transportation projects in Monroe County, but if you have ideas for specific projects that you think we should engage in, please let us know!
There are several ways you can get involved:
- As we are an advocacy organization, the best way to help is by becoming an advocate! Sign up for our Mobility Action Alerts for weekly email updates on infrastructure projects in Monroe County. We will tell you the best way to advocate for safe streets in our community.
- Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified of future volunteer opportunities
- Attend one of our Engagement Breakfasts
- Attend our annual Street Films (typically in the fall)
- Make a donation so we can continue to make a difference.
- Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Bluesky and Twitter!
Many roads fall under different jurisdictions and require approval at the county or even state level to change. We encourage you to sign up for our Mobility Action Alerts to keep you informed on upcoming street projects and receive talking points to advocate for safe streets. We really need support at public meetings! This is where most of the changes happen.
Lastly, while protected bike lanes are great, there isn’t always space for them without drastic redesigns which aren’t always a viable option. Check out our ROC Easy Bike Map and utilize Rochester’s Bicycle Boulevard network when looking for low stress bike routes that minimize your interaction with cars.
We support expanding transportation options for everyone, and Veo is a great choice for short trips around the city. You can grab one, ride to your destination, park it, and move on with your day unencumbered. More mobility options mean more freedom. We showcase Veo to educate people on their mobility options but we aren’t affiliated with the company and have no ability to modify their system.
Unfortunately we agree there are too many unsafe behaviors on Veo e-scooters, we have been advocating to the city and Veo to require safety education in their onboarding.
We also advise users to follow Veo’s parking rules which means out of pedestrian walkways with the kickstand engaged. We have encouraged Veo to go to a model which prevents users from parking in the middle of the sidewalk.
Winter cycling is easier and more common than you may realize. Our Cycling Manager Jesse Peers wrote a great blog post about this. We encourage you to read it and watch our Winter Edition of Rochester Street Films to learn more!
We do! You’ll want to plan your trip in advance via the Transit App. Each ride on RTS costs $1, but if your trip requires a transfer you’ll want to buy yourself an “All Day Unlimited Pass”. Passes can be purchased at the RTS Transit Center or online. Learn more about how to ride RTS here.
Yes! We have our ROC Easy Bike Map, GTC’s comprehensive online map, and their pdf 2014 version which is better for rural/exurban areas. You also can find links to several Rochester bike maps here.
Issues with sidewalks, crosswalks or public pathways (such as maintenance or snow removal) should be directed to your town or city hall. If you are not getting a satisfactory response, let us know. We may be able to help.
Tell the Monroe County Community Traffic Safety Team here! Or nominate an intersection for a Complete Streets Makeover during the nomination period!
Please contact RTS and let them know which bus stop. They’re very good at responding to issues quickly. If the issue persists after time, let us know. We may be able to help.
While we do often work closely with the RTS team, we are not affiliated in any way. If you have questions pertaining to RTS bus service, please head over here.
Absolutely! We love doing general presentations or advocacy talks! Let us know what you’re thinking! We also have a number of bike education programs from our Cycling Coordinator Jesse Peers!