Richard Fries, Executive Director of MassBike, will lead a discussion 11 August about cycling, urban development and revitalization, and attracting and retaining the millennial generation. Join in! The event will start with a reception at 5:30, continue with Richard’s presentation at 6:00, and wrap up with a question and answer session at 7:30, all at the Strong National Museum of Play. Find more information here, and email Shana at Full Moon Vista if you plan to attend.
Two great events on 13 August
Saturday, 13 August 2016 will be a great day to get involved in cycling! First, the Eastside YMCA Charity Ride will offer routes of 50, 20, and 10 miles starting from the Y at 8:00 am, 9:30, and 10:00, respectively. Post-ride festivities will continue until 1:00, and all proceeds benefit the YMCA. Register here. Second, the Rochester Twilight Criterium will bring top-ranked professional cyclists to a fast-paced race through downtown Rochester. The first of many amateur races starts at 3:15, the pros start at 6:25, and awards will be presented at 10:15 pm. Expect high-intensity racing, vendors, food trucks, and a big, electrified crowd. What a day!
New bike lanes on Crittenden Boulevard
There’s great news for the thousands of people who come and go from University of Rochester Medical Center every day: new bike lanes on Crittenden Boulevard! The bike lanes run the entire length of Crittenden in both directions, from Mt. Hope Avenue to Kendrick Road, and are separated from motor traffic by a painted margin.
Do you know of other improvements and upgrades to bike infrastructure around Rochester? Drop us a line.
On the radio: Bike plans in Rochester and at U of R
Good conversations about bike infrastructure, involving RCA members, have been on the radio twice this month.
First, Evan Dawson recently led a discussion of the Bicycle Master Plan of the City of Rochester on his show Connections on WXXI. RCA’s own Scott MacRae, Karen Lankeshofer, John Lam, and Theresa Bowick were all part of the conversation. You can listen here.
Second, Dan Lill recently led a discussion of bike infrastructure at the University of Rochester on his show Spokes and Folks on WAYO. Featured guests included Bruce Bashwiner, Associate Vice President of University Facilities and Services; Hugh Kierig, Director of Parking and Transportation; and RCA’s own Glenn Cerosaletti. Dan himself also sits on the RCA board and does great work with R Community Bikes. You can listen here.
Bike to School Day 2016 in ROC
Bike to School Day riders at Crane Elementary
In third grade, I started biking to school. I usually rode with my brother, up the hill that seemed so big at the time, winding through the neighborhood, crossing one busy street — with a crossing guard, of course. Along the way we passed other kids’ houses, and in time, many of those other kids became our football teammates and Boy Scout buddies and best friends. There was a bike lane, and a sidewalk paved between two houses, so that it felt like a secret passage when it led us across a small bridge and into the back of the schoolyard. We cyclists were not oddballs our outliers: the school had a long row of bike racks, and some days it was hard to find a spot. There must have been 50 or 100 students biking to that small elementary school everyday.
Thirty years later, I bike to work everyday. And I have biked or walked on my daily commute in nearly all of the intervening years. I still love it, still feel better at the end of my commute than at the beginning. I can still stop by the drugstore or the market along the way, I still bump into friends along the way, and I still build an intimate familiarity with my neighborhood and community by pedaling through it.
But I am a bit of an outlier as the guy who bikes to work everyday. And apparently times have changed for school kids, too, because my daughters’ school has only a couple of bikes on the rack. (My kids walk instead of biking, because we live across the street.) Why don’t kids bike to school as much as they did a generation ago? Crime rates have plummeted, and medical evidence of the fundamental importance of exercise in a healthy lifestyle has mounted. Witness the obesity epidemic.
Fortunately, some good folks around Rochester are working to get kids biking to school again. At least four local elementary schools participated in the national Bike to School Day event on 4 May: French Road Elementary School, Council Rock Primary School, Crane Elementary, and Francis Parker School No. 23. Indian Landing Elementary School will ride on 13 May. Each of the events got dozens of students and parents out for a ride on a sunny May morning, as you can see in the photos below. To allow students who live far from school to participate, most of the events included a group ride from a nearby community center. One ride went from the Rochester Museum and Science Center to School 23; another went from Midtown Athletic Club to Council Rock. Students and parents were welcomed to school with snacks, coffee, and a celebration of bike-enabled community.
Our deep gratitude goes out to all who supported Bike to School Day 2016. Each event was organized by teachers and/or parents, and supported by school administrators. The HealthiKids initiative funded snacks and racks. Schwinn provided ten bikes and helmets, which Council Rock won in a nationwide drawing — woohoo! The Rochester Police Department and Brighton Police Department provided escorts to ensure a safe ride. The Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety provided helmets and taught bike safety. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids provided helmets and information. The RMSC and Midtown Athletic Club generously shared their parking lots. PTOs and PTAs provided funding and moral support. Thanks to all who made Bike to School Day possible!
Update: Indian Landing had a great ride on 13 May! Thanks go to Dr. Thomas Putnam, Penfield CSD Superintendent; Mrs. Bavis, Principal of Indian Landing; Monica Wallen and Linda Guiberson of the PTO, and Jeff Hopper. We’ve added photos below.
Want to organize Bike to School Day at your own school? Great! The national program provides lots of free materials for getting organized and for promoting the event. And those of us who have run events at other schools around Rochester would be happy to consult, too — send us an email. How about an ROC-wide Bike to School Day in 2017?! If you’re interested, contact us.
Bikes vs. Cars : 6:30pm, Wednesday at The Little
Bikes vs Cars premiers in Rochester this Wednesday kicking off a full line-up of events for Rochester Bike Week 2016. Starting as a Kickstarter project in September 2013, this much anticipated film tells of the modern bike revolution in cities across the world.
Reserve your seat with a donation in any amount (either online or at the door) and you’ll also be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift card for Abundance Food Co-op or Towner’s Bike Shop, OR a $20 gift card for Harts Local Grocers!
Western New York Bike Festival
The Western New York Bike Festival will take place 4 & 5 June at Dryer Road Park in Victor. At least 10 regional bike organizations — including RCA — will be there, as well as bike shops from the region, with bikes for test rides. The event is for “celebrating, uniting, and growing the cycling community”, and you can learn more on the event website.
Canalway Trail Detour at West Henrietta Road
Planning to ride the Canalway Trail? Bridge construction will block the trail at West Henrietta Road for most of 2016, so detour routes are in effect. Heading east, you’ll leave the canal at West Henrietta and ride Westfall Road, returning to the canal just before I-390. Heading west, you’ll leave the canal just past I-390 and ride Westfall Road, returning at Kendrick Road. Here’s a map. Don’t forget to leave a few extra minutes for your ride!
“Gridlock” Sam Schwartz coming to Rochester, February 24
Posted by: Mike Governale, president and co-founder of Reconnect Rochester
On Wednesday, February 24, Reconnect Rochester will bring Samuel Schwartz to Rochester. Sam is the former traffic commissioner for New York City and the man who literally invented the word “Gridlock.”
Gridlock Sam is one of the leading transportation experts in the United States today. He is currently a columnist at the New York Daily News. And his firm, Sam Schwartz Engineering, has recently produced a plan 
for the redesign of East Main Street here in Rochester…
Rochester's First Bike Boulevard
This fall the City of Rochester established the first of its planned bike boulevards, routes along city streets that connect cyclists to destinations in many neighborhoods while avoiding busy intersections and heavy automobile traffic. This boulevard starts at Monroe Ave. & Canterbury Rd., heading east on Canterbury and Harvard St. It crosses the throughway via the pedestrian bridge at School 1, then follows Hillside Ave. across Winton Rd. and south to Highland Ave. Traffic signals at Culver Rd. and Monroe Ave. have been upgraded to sense bikes. Check it out for yourself! A few photos are below.
Featured Cyclist: Robert Howland (and Eleanor)
Today we begin a series of posts featuring cyclists around Rochester, highlighting common interests and needs as well as the great diversity of ways cycling is a part of our community.
What are you riding?
It’s a Trek Soho-S single speed from R-Community bikes.
What’s a typical ride like for you?
I bike with my dog Eleanor Roosevelt, for exercise. We usually go about 5 miles around Goodman, Park Ave, and South Ave. I really like the High Falls area.
Why do you cycle?
Well, I started because my roommate rode all the time. He took me to R-Community bikes, and then I got my bike and started commuting to work. So it’s for exercise, for me, for my dog, for commuting. I like it. And she’s real good at it.
Anything we should know about the state of bike lanes, roads, or trails?
Yeah, I had an accident. I was right there waiting to turn left on Caroline and South Ave. I had blinking LEDs and everything, but the car just hit me, no brakes. I fell right back and hit my head. The windshield of the car was smashed, and the hood. But no broken bones, just road rash. And Eleanor was shook up but OK. No matter how safe you are or how many precautions you take there are still idiots on the road.
How do you envision the future of cycling in Rochester?
I love bicycling and I love Rochester. I see it getting a lot bigger. I just see it growing. Everyone enjoys it. Once you start doing it you realize it’s a valid form of transportation, and cheap, and fun. I like the river trail, along the Erie Canal, and the lanes going through the city. But I always wish there were more, and I don’t always feel safe in them. I’d feel a lot safer if there were concrete barriers for bike lanes.
Monroe County Millennials and alternative transportation
In a recent survey by Monroe County, young adults around Rochester listed bike lanes and walkable communities among the factors keeping them in the area. Moving forward, they asked for more bike lanes and a bike share program, pointing to easier non-automotive transit as a key enabler for living downtown. Those opinions are consistent with the findings of cities across the nation: bike infrastructure brings young professionals and jobs that can revitalize urban cores.
Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets
![Crosswalk [PHOTO: Renee Stetzer]](https://reconnectrochester.org/images/photos/Crosswalk-photo.jpg)
Posted by: board member Renee Stetzer, pedestrian safety advocate and blogger at RocVille.com
In January, DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx unveiled the Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative . The goal is to address “non-motorized safety issues and help communities create safer, better connected bicycling and walking networks.” He called it the most comprehensive and forward-thinking initiative the DOT has ever put together on bike and pedestrian issues. It aims to engage transportation specialists, safety experts, leadership and the public to make streets safer for a variety of transportation options. And it recognizes the vital role biking and walking play in a reliable multimodal transportation network…
Congress Introduces Safe Streets Act of 2015
![Pedestrian Sign Park Ave [PHOTO: Renee Stetzer]](https://reconnectrochester.org/images/photos/Sad-pedestrian-sign.jpg)
Posted by: board member Renee Stetzer, pedestrian safety advocate and blogger at RocVille.com
Congress introduced a bill this week that will help streets across the country become safer for all people, regardless of their mode of transportation. With bipartisan support, The Safe Streets Act of 2015, was introduced by Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and David Joyce (R-OH):
National Day of Advocacy Focuses on Transportation Infrastructure Funding
Story via: RTS
Today, RTS will join with the Genesee Transportation Council, and local leaders and transportation partners to participate in the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) nationwide Stand Up 4 Transportation Day.
RTS CEO Bill Carpenter will be joined by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, James D. Hoffman, Chairman of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors and Genesee Transportation Council, and representatives from the Rochester Cycling Alliance, Reconnect Rochester, and other organizations for a rally at the RTS Transit Center on Thursday, April 9 at 11 a.m…
Ride It: Art and Bicycles in Rochester
Posted by: Mike Governale, president and co-founder of Reconnect Rochester
Reconnect Rochester is proud to partner with Rochester Contemporary Art Center to bring you an exhibit focusing on bicycle history and culture in Rochester! Ride It: Art and Bicycles in Rochester will open on Friday, April 3…
Focus for a More Sustainable Long-Range Transportation Plan
Posted by: Bob Williams, VP of Advocacy
We are often asked at Reconnect Rochester questions regarding who is responsible for prioritizing transportation projects in our region and the process through which that is accomplished. The answer leads back to the 1962 National Highway Act which required all urbanized areas of greater than 50,000 population to form a Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, for the channeling of federal funding to both individual projects and transportation programs.
2014 the Safest Year to Be a Pedestrian in NYC Since 1910
![In June, the New York State legislature passed a bill to let NYC lower its default limit to 25mph. Lowering speed limits is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero plan. [PHOTO: Michael Tapp, Flickr]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/new-york-city-speed-limit-law-02.jpg)
Posted by: Renee Stetzer, pedestrian safety advocate and blogger at RocVille.com
This month marks the one year anniversary of New York City’s ambitious Vision Zero campaign , a plan to eliminate traffic fatalities by the year 2024.
As part of the effort , traffic calming and street design measures were implemented, bike lanes were expanded, speed cameras were installed in school zones, the citywide default speed limit was reduced to 25 mph, arterial slow zones were established, public education and awareness were ramped up and the NYPD significantly stepped up enforcement and ticketing for traffic violations. It’s an effort that requires all people, regardless of how they traverse those streets to rethink how they drive, walk and ride about their daily lives. It requires a shift in the culture of getting about in NYC, which is no easy task.
So, one year later, is the campaign making a difference?
City Council Approves Additional Red Light Camera Study
![Do Red Light Cameras Make Rochester Streets Safer? [PHOTO: Yousuf Fahimuddin]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-red-light-camera-03.jpg)
Posted by: Renee Stetzer, pedestrian safety advocate and blogger at RocVille.com
Last week, the City Council approved further study of Rochester’s red light camera program. This isn’t a brand new study, but an expansion of the study that was released in November. The results of that study indicated a reduction in the number of accidents at 22 intersections that have red light cameras. Two intersections had no changes in the collision rates before and after the cameras were installed. And 8 intersections had an increase in the number of collisions. Those 8 intersections are the subject of the expanded study, as well as whether the cameras could be tied into traffic signals to help reduce operation costs…
Parking Summit This Wednesday
Posted by: Mike Governale, president and co-founder of Reconnect Rochester
This Wednesday, 5:30 – 7:00pm at the Penthouse (1 East Avenue – 11th Floor) you are invited to attend a Downtown Parking Summit hosted by the City of Rochester. But this is not a meeting to discuss how we create more parking. We’ve tried that before, and it nearly killed our city.
Reconnect Rochester recognizes the importance of having an adequate supply of downtown parking. However, we believe parking should be one component to a much larger, diverse plan to improve access to downtown…