Car Lite Rochester is a blog series that highlights the stories of Rochesterians living a car-lite lifestyle. The term “car lite” encompasses a variety of multimodal transportation lifestyles, featuring little dependence (but not NO dependence) on a car. It typically looks like sharing one car within a household or only using a car when absolutely necessary.
So, we hope you’ll continue to follow along. Maybe you will be inspired to join our bloggers in living a car-lite lifestyle!
Embracing Community: 20 Years Car Lite In Rochester
By Leverett “Coach” Copeland:
My family and I arrived in Rochester, NY in the fall of 2005 without the use of a vehicle. We would walk or take RTS to travel around the city and when we grocery shopped we used taxis. In the 20 years we have resided here in Rochester we only owned a vehicle for 2 years. As a whole we have been car lite most of our Rochester residence.
Having a more comprehensive transportation service like RTS has made it possible to travel to places outside my community and region. Although it is difficult when the weather is either very hot or very cold, because of no shelter or comforts, the transit system in Rochester is very reliable, consistent, and appreciated.
The main reason that we do not use a vehicle is that financially it creates an issue. We could afford the opportunity but with the creation of transportation services like Lyft or Uber, plus stores delivering groceries and food, we enjoy the car lite life. Being car lite helps me familiarize myself with my community and my neighbors. I have the opportunity to build better relationships and my social environment, which improves my health and well being.
Although there are some challenges, such as weather, being car lite has many more positive instances and rewards. Walking through my community rather than driving has me more attuned to my neighbors and businesses. I am able to advocate for the community with deeper insight and empathy. It also increases my ability to communicate and represent to those in power what the community desires and needs.
I’m grateful for the Complete Streets Makeover project that Reconnect Rochester did at Avenue D and Hollenbeck last year. It’s good that we worked to make the street safer from reckless driving but also came together to make it happen. I think the biggest thing is that the community feels acknowledged and something was done to meet a need. They have pride in the fact that someone cared enough to try and slow traffic down for their kids and beautify the intersection. We really need it. I think this is the beginning of turning Rochester around – where it’s not as violent but it’s more vibrant
Photo by De’Jon Washington
As for my future being car lite, I believe I will continue and do not see any reason to change. Having a vehicle is nice but for my mental and physical health, as well as community awareness, being car lite is how I will continue. I am able to serve on various committees and boards as well as volunteer and serve in many capacities and being car lite has not diminished my abilities or access.
At Reconnect, we’re inspired by the stories of people in our community, like Josie McClary, Jasmine Burley, and Karen Nozik who are passionate about living a car-lite or car-free lifestyle. If you want to support our work and make it easier for others to go Car-Lite please donate and sign up for Mobility Action Alerts to stay in the loop with opportunities of how to advocate for safer streets and transportation options.
Let us know if you want to share your mobility story! What’s in it for you? The intrinsic reward of knowing you’ve inspired others, and a free t-shirt from our online shop! Contact Chaz to submit your story.
Cody Donahue didn’t grow up with freedom of movement. His childhood stretched along a thin ribbon of rural highway in Oregon’s Willamette Valley — a Walmart, a decimated downtown, and three miles of empty road between home and anything else. “I didn’t have much transportation freedom in my youth,” he says. Bikes came late. Driving later. Independence arrived only in fragments.
He carried that mindset into adulthood: When work calls, a car is the simpler solution. He believed that for years” with “for years, the car was the only option to get around in rural Oregon.”
Then he moved abroad, first to France for study abroad and then to West Africa to work for a nonprofit.
In Dakar, he discovered a city humming without car dominance. People moved through dense streets by foot, bike, taxis, and informal buses called “Ndiaga Ndiayes”, an ecosystem built on proximity rather than horsepower. “Only the very rich had their own car. You could get anywhere by other means. It was a different way of moving,” he recalls.
That realization reshaped his sense of what mobility could be.
Today, as Co-Executive Director of Reconnect Rochester, Donahue channels that revelation into the city he now calls home. He chains errands, bikes to work, hops the 17 bus when the weather turns. Simplicity is the point. Connection is the ethos.
Rethinking the Urban Core
Ask Donahue what Rochester could look like without political or financial constraints, and he doesn’t leap into fantasy. He points to a real project already unfolding: the Inner Loop North redesign.
“We’re actually getting the opportunity to do this,” he says. “The project will replace a sunken, underutilized highway that disconnects neighborhoods with a neighborhood scale street grid. We’re not advocating to eliminate roads — but to create spaces where people can feel comfortable walking and biking with their families. ”
The plan envisions creating 22 acres of new development parcels in the heart of the city, with calm, tree-lined neighborhood streets, restored parks, integrated walking and cycling infrastructure, and connections to the future High Falls State Park. Each section of the 1.5 mile stretch can be somewhat different, but Donahue is excited about the possibility for mixed-use, dense development, and ground-floor businesses around our transit hubs. “We can build up around our Intermodal Station while also expanding its footprint to be the hub for intercity buses,” said Donahue of a project that has state funding and will run in parallel to the Inner Loop North redevelopment.
“This whole area is going to be a lot more vibrant and connected,” Donahue says. “The uncomfortable truth about the Inner Loop is that it was designed to bring people from the suburbs to work and then back home. It wasn’t built for city residents. This project corrects that.”
The state has already secured $100 million for construction. While timelines may shift, bidding is set for September 2027, construction begins in April 2028, and completion is projected for October 2030. Parcel development will follow over the subsequent years, reshaping not just infrastructure but the way people live and move in Rochester.
The Hidden Curriculum of Movement
“Reconnect Rochester now offers everything from ‘Getting Back on Your Bike’ workshops to school safety lessons, winter cycling training, commuter programs, and hands-on Smart Cycling classes,” Donahue says. As he scales that range — from fifth graders to downtown workers — patterns emerge.
“We’re really invested in bike education because kids should have it,” he says. “When they don’t, they develop unsafe habits and carry them into adulthood. That contributes to crashes.” Nearly half the time, the cyclist triggers the crash — not necessarily because they’re reckless, but because no one ever taught them the proper way to ride.
That lack of training intersects with a fragmented bike map.
“We have cycling infrastructure gaps we’re trying to close. The bike lane map looks like someone threw spaghetti at a wall,” he says. “Our Mind the Gap competition helps identify the highest priority connections for the city and the county to make for a comfortable bike network.”
Residents want comfort, predictability, and physical protection. That requires real design: barriers in the street, well-placed cycle tracks, infrastructure that doesn’t force riders onto sidewalks.
Culture plays a role too. Donahue and his team work with employers to add bike parking, secure racks through the city, or negotiate indoor, secure bike storage with landlords. A new downtown lunchtime learning series reaches commuters who may have never imagined biking to work. They hope to reach downtown companies with lunch and learns next year to show downtown workers just how fast and easy it is to bike to work in the Central Business District of Rochester. In May, Reconnect will again host bike to work day to reach new commuters.
Then, there is the matter of our snowy winters. “The world doesn’t shut down in the winter,” Donahue says. “I drive more, but I also take the bus more. Some fat tire bikes handle snow better. And we continue to push the city to clear main bike routes. The City has committed to studying enhanced winter maintenance, so we’re making progress.”
True cultural change, though, requires leadership.
“We’d like to see more of a culture of property owners taking responsibility for clearing sidewalks,” he says. “Madison, Wisconsin has a great approach. It’s just a different civic culture when it comes to tending to the snow.”
A Concerning Trend and an Urgent Response
The national context is grim. Pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have risen 75% since 2010. Locally, Monroe County averages 12 walking or biking deaths per year, and 2025 has already exceeded this average at 13 as of December.
“We must do better,” Donahue says. “These are preventable losses.”
To shift that trajectory, on-street demonstration projects matter. In 2025, Reconnect Rochester launched Downtown SmART Streets, inspired by Washington, D.C. ‘s Arts in the Right of Way program. Seasonal curb-extension murals function as both art and traffic-calming infrastructure, beautifying streets while protecting people.
The 25 MPH Shift and the Politics Around It
Rochester has embraced ambitious mobility goals, Vision Zero, safer arterials, expanded bike networks, but serious injuries and deaths continue to rise.
Donahue is clear about the most actionable fix: lower the citywide speed limit to 25 miles per hour.
A municipal lawyer working with Reconnect Rochester produced a comparative analysis: Boston and Seattle implemented the reduction; Providence did not. Even without added enforcement, the cities that lowered the limit saw reductions in speeds, crash rates, and fatalities. Albany is now seeing monthly declines as well.
“The bottom line is that these programs reduce fatalities,” Donahue says. “This is our guiding star. Slower speeds save people walking to the bus, cyclists, kids — everyone.”
He insists that driver accountability must be part of the solution.
“We can stop those who have no regard for people,” he says. New York State is considering legislation to require the worst repeat speeders to drive with speed governors — devices that physically prevent them from exceeding safe limits. “These policies work.”
And the stakes are bigger than traffic engineering. “We’ve backed ourselves into a societal corner where parents don’t feel comfortable letting their kids walk down the street.”
Where Expertise Lives: Complete Streets in Action
The Avenue D & Hollenbeck Complete Streets Makeover crystallized a principle Donahue now calls non-negotiable: lived experience is expertise.
“It was our fifth complete street makeover — what we call the quadfecta, one in each quadrant before returning to the Northeast,” he says. “We sourced nominations citywide. One thing we learned from the Arnett Boulevard project is that some roads are classified by the state to prioritize vehicular traffic. So our makeovers are now looking at the most local road you can get to reduce the restrictions on what we can do.”
The neighborhood’s R-Center staff had been clamoring for improvements. Their knowledge shaped the project’s design: temporary installations, seasonal centerline flex posts, and monitored interventions. “All summer and fall, not one post needed to be replaced due to damage,” Donahue notes. “We’re conducting a traffic study on speed and turning to evaluate the effectiveness. We plan on doing new installations in new locations over the next three years.”
Complementing these interventions is a design rendering prize, offering a professionally engineered visualization to a neighborhood free of charge. Monroe Avenue in Brighton received one in 2019, now actively used in state-level advocacy to enhance safety and create more vibrant public space.
Downtown, the SmART Streets initiative extends this philosophy: seasonal curb-extension murals at East Main and Gibbs, Broad and Fitzhugh, with more to come, reinforcing walkability through public art. The work demonstrates how neighborhood input and tactical design combine to reduce risk and foster a safer, more inviting urban environment.
Influence, Advocacy, and Evolving Beliefs
Donahue’s campaigns- Intermodal Station expansion, suburban walk audits-highlight a key lesson about New York transportation politics: advocacy matters.
“I would point to a common thread: resident voices,” he says. Promoting density and mixed-use development brings daily amenities closer to homes, reducing car dependence and improving safety.
“The NIMBY contingent is usually a vocal minority,” Donahue notes. “We’re trying to promote YIMBY: yes in my backyard. Call your local officials. Tell them you want sidewalks, bike lanes, transit, more mixed use neighborhood amenities.”
A recent candidate questionnaire across several towns showed majority support for safer streets. Those elected embraced these changes. “We want people showing up to public meetings,” Donahue says. “It makes a difference.”
Reflecting on his early advocacy, he admits a lesson learned: “Early in my career, I thought there was one right way to do things. But there isn’t. It’s important to realize we can reach the same conclusions through different methods. Live the experience of the people you’re making policies about. If you’re making bus policies, take the bus for a month. We become extremely fragmented in our lived experiences. It’s not obvious we’ll reach the same conclusion, but you have to identify your values and fight for them.”
A City Rewoven
Donahue’s path arcs from a rural upbringing to a global awakening to a Rochester in transition. Throughout, one conviction anchors him: every person deserves to move safely, freely, and with dignity.
He thinks of Dakar, where movement was communal. He thinks of Highway 20 in Oregon, where mobility required horsepower. And he looks at Rochester — slowly, collaboratively reimagining itself.
Rochester is being reweaved. Not just the roads. The relationships.
And for a city once carved apart to speed commuters, that may be the most transformative redesign of all.
There is so much going on in Monroe County’s bike community that we are publishing a separate post to discuss updates specific to the bicycle movement. Read below for some of the cycling developments we are excited about and consider supporting our work!
Concrete Barrier Protected Bike Lanes on West Main
Rochester bike riders have been vocal for decades: We want protected bike lanes! After a sorely needed road diet, seasonal concrete barriers were installed along stretches of West Main Street in 2025. They offer serious protection and are, hopefully, harbingers of more to come….
Thanks to a federal grant, demo protected bike lanes are in store for segments of Ford Street, State Street, St Paul and East Avenue in order to experiment with various barrier types. Also as part of this grant, Stantec will create a Bicycle Spine Network Rapid Implementation Plan and Active Transportation Winter Maintenance Plan for the City. Stay tuned for developments and public meetings in 2026.
Local cyclists know Monroe County is blessed with a multitude of trails beside bodies of water: the Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail, the Erie Canal Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway, and of course the Genesee Riverway Trail. The latter, however, has an uncomfortable one-mile gap north of downtown. This study, which is nearing completion, will recommend priority projects to not only fill this gap, but to someday extend the trail on both sides of the river from downtown to Lake Ontario!
#4
Our Bike Spine Tracker
Since 2016, Rochester has been a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community in the eyes of the League of American Bicyclists. Realistically, Rochester will “level up” to Silver only after we attain a minimum grid of all ages & abilities bike infrastructure leading to and through downtown from all four directions. We are so close! This year, we added a Bike Spine Tracker to our website to focus eyes on the 8 miles of investment needed to get us to that minimum grid. Let’s concentrate political will and focus investments to get the center right. More spines & mileage to shoot for and track afterwards.
#5
Keep Us Safe on State Roads Rally
If Monroe County is going to be more bikeable, the New York State Department of Transportation is going to have to change the way it designs and maintains the roads under its jurisdiction. To send NYSDOT a message (“Keep Us Safe On State Roads!”), area cyclists rallied at Parcel 5 in August. This is part of the pressure campaign to make the State’s Active Transportation Strategic Plan as good as it can be.
This plan, finalized and published in 2025, offers a vision for an accessible, off-road, and multi-use trail system connecting the campuses of the University of Rochester, RIT, and MCC. The Town of Brighton now has a list of priority projects to seek funding for.
#7
Penfield and Gates Active Transportation Plans
Any time a town gives serious thought to bicycling and walkability is a win. Both Penfield and Gates are moving forward with Active Transportation Plans of their own, joining the crowd of local municipalities who’ve created blueprints for action. Monroe County DOT and NYSDOT are more likely to make complete streets designs when it’s in alignment with community plans like these.
#8
Expanded Bike Education Program
In 2025, Reconnect Rochester underwrote the certification of a Spanish speaking LCI (League Cycling Instructor). We also kept instructors busy teaching balance classes at Rec Centers, along with Spanish safety classes for IBERO and Syrian classes for Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services. On top of that, Reconnect Rochester made our flagship on-bike Smart Cycling class free!
#9
Cyclist Crash Analysis
Many area riders know the basic ins and outs of bicycle safety. Even more don’t. Also unknown for a long time were specifics about the most common local crashes involving cyclists. After deep diving into the data for a couple years, in 2025 Reconnect Rochester published several articles on the most common crashes here and how to avoid being involved in them.
#10
Poster in Bike Shops
Reconnect Rochester is always trying to broaden our reach and get our resources into new hands. With that in mind, we made a poster drawing attention to our bike resources and dropped one off at every bike shop in Monroe County.
Reconnect Rochester’s organizational strength is made possible in great part by the continued support of Dr. Scott MacRae, a generous grant from the ESL Charitable Foundation’s Building Strong Neighborhoods initiative, and a growing base of supporting members — folks like you who share ownership for the mission and express that with your dollars.
Thank you to all the people and partners who helped us to champion mobility in 2025 — by coming out for a community bike ride or rally, showing up to public meeting, partnering with us on a project, or sharing the good word on social media! With your help we were able to accomplish a whole lot this year.
We’re super proud of the on-street projects undertaken this year that engaged the community in demonstrating how our streets can be made safer for everyone. Shout out to all our community partners and to project manager extraordinaire, Lourdes Sharp, for phenomenal work this year!
In 2025, our advocacy team worked alongside New Yorkers for Transportation Equity and VOCAL-NY, on the Get Around New York campaign that asks for accessible, reliable, affordable public transportation for all New Yorkers. We gathered rider voices and experiences through Voices of Transit interviews to share with lawmakers on Transit Equity Day in Albany, and hosted several town hall meetings with local RTS riders to strategize efforts that center and uplift transportation needs. We gathered local partners to sign on to a letter to Governor Hochul urging full funding. Unfortunately, our funding asks were not fully met, but we built a lot of power for the to fight for funding in the coming year, and avert a budget crisis that could lead to service cuts.
Locally, we spent time midyear weighing in on RTS OnDemand service plan proposal, spreading the word about the changes and gathering rider input. During the public input process, we expressed concern that proposed changes to an already struggling service will add further cost and hardship for riders. As the changes take effect, we continue to gather and bring rider voices and experiences to the decision makers at RTS about how the new service plan is affecting riders.
#3
Partnering on ROC Vision Zero
We spent much time this year being a strong partner with the City of Rochester on ROC Vision Zero, working together toward the bold goal to bring the number of traffic fatalities and severe injuries down to zero. We started out the year helping put together the Beacon’s Vision Zero Forum where we packed the house with “Reconnecters” to give encouragement & input. We’ve been highly engaged serving on the RVZ Task Force and its subcommittees, and in June, took a trip to Albany with Councilmember Gruber and others to learn lessons from their Vision Zero experiences. We’ve talked it up in the media, helped the public understand all the parts (like what does Bus Rapid Transit have to do with safe streets?), and informed the implementation of new bus arm cameras and other aspects of the RVZ plan.
We also spent time honoring lives lost, connecting with families, developing support networks, and gathering people with a World Day of Remembrance vigil and installation on Parcel 5. Connecting to the personal pain of crash victims motivates us to keep up the work to make our streets safer, to save lives and reduce the harm inflicted by road violence.
#4
Fighting Nationally & Celebrating Locally on Bike Infrastructure
In 2025, we sounded the alarm on the assault on bike infrastructure as we saw the gains and investments in recent years under threat, and action being taken at the national level that threatens the safety of people on bikes. Our advocacy team stayed in close contact with national advocacy groups about what’s happening and response strategies, gave local cyclists opportunities to take action, and in March, visited Capital Hill to share our concerns directly with federal legislators.
On the home front, we spent time tracking and urging progress, and celebrating wins as we continue to see slow and steady investment and progress throughout Monroe County. We cheered the first ever concrete barrier-protected bike lane on West Main Street as the City of Rochester continues to step up its commitment to bike safety. We unveiled a new Bike Spine Tracker tool, and had a 5th season of Mind the Gap public voting campaign to highlight critical gaps. In August, nearly 100 area cyclists came out for our Keep Us Safe on State Roads rally to send a strong message to NYSDOT that we need safer infrastructure on state controlled roads.
#5
Getting More People on Bikes and Riding Together
Community rides all summer long in partnership with the City of Rochester & Brighton Recreation, Light Up the Night rides, bike to work pitstops, bike history tours, and our annual ROC ‘n Roll ride – all get people on bikes and riding together! In May, we coordinated Rochester Bike Week and kicked it off with Mayor Evans and County Executive Bello who gave a rousing Bike Month Proclamation! We also worked to inspire and engage people online with @ROCCycling social media channels and a #ROCbyBike series where everyday bike riders share why they love to get around on two wheels.
#6
Keeping Cyclists Safe on the Road
In 2025, we continued our efforts to get people feeling comfortable and safe on the road through classroom and on-bike educational opportunities. This year, we were thrilled to sponsor Hulda Yau to become Rochester’s first Spanish-speaking certified bike educator, and partner with Ibero-American Action League to deliver bike education classes to Spanish speaking residents. We also struck up a new partnership with Rochester Refugee Resettlement to offer classes to Syrian residents in their own language. As part of our commitment to equity and inclusion, we removed the cost barrier by making our on-bike Smart Cycling classes free. We also keep our area’s pool of League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) busy teaching learn to balance and ride classes in City Rec Centers!
Through our quarterly engagement breakfasts, community group presentations, tabling at community events, lunch and learns, walking tours and a packed house Rochester Street Films event, we stayed busy all year spreading the good word and inviting folks from every corner of our community to get involved in our local mobility movement.
Our ROC edition of Week Without Driving in September was a new effort to encourage Monroe County residents to explore their mobility options beyond the car. We were thrilled with the collective impact we were able to have, with 44 participants logging 616 non-car trips and 1,970 non-driving miles!
And that’s not to mention engaging people in our advocacy work via weekly mobility action alerts, hosting a ROC neighborhood leaders conversation, convening a town & village advocate group, and producing a candidate questionnaire to inform your vote, to name a few.
The TIC is a 20-member group that exists to unite local efforts around equitable, systemic solutions to address our region’s transportation challenges, and Reconnect Rochester provides “backbone” support to the group.
#9
Bolstering Our Organizational Leadership
Strong leadership is an essential ingredient to any organization’s success. In January, Reconnect Rochester welcomed three incredible new members to our Board of Directors. Their diverse backgrounds and shared commitment to making a meaningful impact in our community will strengthen our efforts and broaden our reach.
To help ensure a bright future at Reconnect Rochester, the Board of Directors appointed Mary Staropoli and Cody Donahue as the organization’s Co-Executive Directors.In an announcement blog, we shared why we made the shift to a shared leadership model, what makes it work, and Mary and Cody’s respective areas of focus.
#10
Finding Our New Home!
After a lengthy search process, in September we packed up and moved our offices from The Hungerford (our home for the last 9 years), to a new home at the Harro East in downtown ROC! We can’t believe our luck in finding a place that fit all our needs that will serve as both an office space for our growing staff team, as well as a “community hub” to host events, meetings, classes and conversations. And we get to be part of all the exciting development downtown, including having a front row seat to the Inner Loop North development as it happens in the coming years!
Over 100 people came through our October Community Open House, and we’ve welcomed many more as we begin to make good use of the awesome space. A ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Evans and County Executive Bello in November made it official.
Whew! What a year. Reconnect Rochester’s organizational strength is made possible in great part by the continued support of Dr. Scott MacRae, a generous grant from the ESL Charitable Foundation’s Building Strong Neighborhoods initiative, and a growing base of supporting members — folks like you who share ownership for the mission and express that with your dollars.
The term “car lite” encompasses a variety of multimodal transportation lifestyles, featuring little dependence (but not NO dependence) on a car. It typically looks like sharing one car within a household or only using a car when absolutely necessary.
Simplicity and Saving – Two Motivations for Being Car-Lite
By Cody Donahue:
As the holiday season ramps up, I am probably with the majority of Americans when I say that I’d really like to save more money while still fully celebrating our holiday traditions. Over the years, the holidays seem to start earlier and earlier and the expectations of giving and getting keep inflating. As does cost: Bloomberg found that inflation and tariffs are driving up costs for just about every category of holiday giving. Sorry family, it’s socks for everyone!
While many of us are stressed and anxious about the gift and food budget, let’s throw the overwhelming cost of car ownership into the mix. For years, we have reported on the AAA’s cost of car ownership, but I just recently saw USA Today’s report that put car ownership in the perspective of “The American Dream.” To achieve the “American dream” of owning a new car, a dream shared by 72% of Americans, you’ll have to spend $900,346 over your lifetime in 2025, up from $811,440 a year ago. By comparison, a lifetime of homeownership costs $957,594, up from $929,955 in 2024.
Amazingly, car ownership roughly costs the same as raising two children and sending them to college. In a place like Rochester, it’s incredibly hard to have young kids and not drive one or sometimes two cars. And if you can’t afford cars, you probably have no other choice than to use the bus or rely on other people whether those are good options or not.
If you have kids, live in Greece, can’t get to a grocery store without hitting 390, and your place of work is in Henrietta, then car-free rankings and weeks without driving just probably feel out of reach.
Political talk in New York State will continue to emphasize “affordability” throughout the next state election cycle in 2026, and I for one would like to see “affordable” applied to transportation choices differently. Transportation choices that are created from state investments in all modes of transportation can pay off in numerous ways, but let’s start with money first: according to an RMI analysis, NY state could save households an average of $3,750 per year (fuel, maintenance, and depreciation) by putting money into programs that would reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 20% per-capita.
There are lots of ways to reduce VMT, including but not limited to investing in the bus system, adding safe and continuous bike lanes, sidewalks and making land use choices that place daily destinations in neighborhoods. $3,750 is a lot more than any rebate program any politician has talked about or implemented.
Beyond the monetary savings, affordable transportation choices would also create societal savings: by avoiding car crashes, 593 lives on average per year could be saved in the state. By increasing active lifestyles and avoiding bike/ped crashes, you could save 4,294 lives in NY state. Finally, 53 lives could be saved by reducing air pollution on average per year in New York State. Avoiding having to pay for something because it didn’t happen in the first place seems like a great approach to me.
Reconnect Rochester recently challenged folks to try going car-free or car-lite for a week, and we heard a lot of positive feedback if your lifestyle lined up to having a shorter commute (1 bus ride or 1 bike ride) or you lived in a place where getting to the store was as easy as walking. We also heard the feedback from folks for whom this doesn’t work as well – people who have young kids, people who live in one suburb and work in another suburb, people who have no grocery stores in their neighborhood, or people whose bus commute would exceed 45 min when they could drive the same distance alone in their car in 10 min.
A national storage unit company recently published a listicle about the best cities to be car-optional that ranked Rochester as 9th in the country, one place higher than Portland, OR! While I’d be really happy to believe that all of Rochester’s hard work has paid off and we’re a fantastic place to live car-free, I would caution that this is only true for certain people.
If you’re an able-bodied, city resident who enjoys the average 4.1 mile commute, you have a direct bus route, you are a practiced cyclist or you have the time to walk, this probably rings true. If you have kids, live in Greece, can’t get to a grocery store without hitting 390, and your place of work is in Henrietta, then car-free rankings and weeks without driving just probably feel out of reach. But that doesn’t mean those people don’t want more of their life to be car-optional. The point for me is that people should have more options, our policy choices should expand those options, and at the end of the day those options make household life more affordable.
Photo: John Paul Corona
Is there a way to make car-optional living more attractive for more residents? I recently re-read Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin and in it, he emphasizes that for those of us privileged to have choices, we can choose simpler ways of living that promote personal, community and global sustainability, while also saving money. For example:
While easier said than done in this housing market, choosing a place of work that is accessible by public transit or biking. As Mr. Money Mustache commented over a decade ago, car commuting costs a lot more than gas.
If the option is available, working remotely a few times a week to avoid the time and cost of commuting.
Chaining trips together so you get your groceries, pharmacy and other shopping done together or on the way home from work one day.
Choosing simple or free recreational activities within your local area that involve active lifestyles, greenspace, public libraries, and community building activities.
At Reconnect Rochester we love getting out into the community to talk about our work. This summer we gave presentations, tabled all over Monroe County, and held hundreds of conversations about mobility with supporters, skeptics, and everything in between. Among the skeptics there were a few topics that came up so often we thought it would be helpful to list them out in a blog post along with our perspective.
People on bicycles make everyone less safe.
When a cyclist is riding recklessly they are overwhelmingly just a danger to themselves. Yet 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.
RTS isn’t safe.
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 Misha Manjuran Oberoi wrote recently for the Democrat and Chronicle, “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.
What about people with disabilities? How are they supposed to get around without a car?
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.
Why can’t you help me get a protected bike lane on my street? It’s just one street!
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.
You need to control those Veo e-scooters and you need to get them out of the middle of the sidewalk.
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.
What’s the point of bike lanes if no one bikes in the winter?
No one is making you drive! Stop trying to make things harder for drivers just trying to get around.
It is worth noting that we are not anti-car. 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 mean 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.
You only care about bikes. What about us bus riders?
Reconnect Rochester is a multimodal advocacy organization – we have members who ride the bus every day. Transit is a big part of Reconnect’s history, including the ROC Transit Day celebration and a lot of advocacy around Reimagine RTS. We are involved in the city’s bus stop improvement project to improve amenities at hundreds of bus stops around the city. This summer we rallied RTS on-demand riders to push back on the service changes. Regrettably we were largely unsuccessful, but we will continue to advocate for better service and amenities for RTS riders at every opportunity.
A lot of transit advocacy is directed to the state and federal government so that they fund our system. On a state level our Voices of Transit program (email us at info@reconnectrochester.org if you want to participate!) tells the human stories of RTS riders to our legislators to encourage transit funding beyond car infrastructure. We are part of the New Yorkers for Transportation Equity statewide coalition, advocating for increased transit funding to improve RTS bus frequency and coverage.
We hope these answers shed light on any questions you may have about Reconnect Rochester and our work. We welcome community voice and dialogue and it’s important to us that we continue to push for change that benefits all of us! If you like what we do, we encourage you to subscribe to our email list, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Bluesky, attend one of our engagement breakfast events, and donate to support the cause!
Hello Reconnect Advocates! We’re entering December with a renewed energy to start planning our 2026 activities at Reconnect Rochester and reflecting on our 2025 work. We’ve heard from you that you’d like more frequent updates about the issues we asked you to advocate on. Below are some happenings from the summer and early fall around key issues that Reconnect is following:
Rochester Intermodal Station Phase II Project to add bus amenities
It’s been about 18 months since your advocacy led to Rochester being awarded $18 million in the state budget to build the bus station addition to the current train station. The project is somewhat complicated – Amtrak owns the facility, but NYSDOT built it originally and NYSDOT was given the funds. At the same time, the city is undertaking a massive Inner Loop North project across the street from the facility with a lot of changes planned to the road network. We have been in touch with Amtrak & NYSDOT to urge the kickoff of this project and to keep local stakeholders involved in the planning process so we can fully realize the vision of the intermodal station. In the meantime, we are also working with the bus companies to explore ways to improve the experience of waiting for the bus in Rochester. We successfully advocated for the city to install a simmie seat and we’re trying to get additional seating at the stop.
Keep Us Safe on State Roads Campaign
You showed up to ride to Parcel 5 to call on New York State officials to keep us safe on state roads and since then we’ve been busy continuing this advocacy. For those of you who couldn’t attend, the NYS Department of Transportation sent this statement for us to read at the event, which unfortunately didn’t give them the opportunity to see the mass of cyclists who came out to push for safer state roads. Since the event, 311 people signed a letter calling on start officials to invest in safe state road infrastructure for people walking and biking and taking transit! Behind the scenes, we’ve continued to advocate for multimodal changes to Empire Boulevard, Monroe Avenue, West Henrietta Rd. and Lake Avenue. Brighton’s Town Supervisor highlighted the strong prospect that Monroe Avenue would get a road diet, and with the right lane configuration, we could even get 5’ bike lanes on both sides. We need to keep encouraging this kind of thinking for the future.
The broader effort around 25 MPH communities applies to all the suburban towns and villages that are eligible to lower their speed limits to 25 MPH on locally-controlled roads. GTC held a regional traffic safety summit during which we exposed local leaders to the 25 MPH local law and examples in our own region that have made the switch. If you live in a suburban town or village, reach out to your decision makers to tell them you support this!
Federal Headwinds – Transportation Reauthorization
Finally, federal headwinds have continued to be strong all year, but they’re about to heat up for transportation. The surface transportation bill is up for reauthorization and will have a huge impact on local projects. Genesee St, for example, was reconstructed this past year with funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the current transportation bill. Just over the past 3 weeks, we’ve heard reports from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that “walking and biking infrastructure” are not important federal priorities and there was a threat (later backtracked) to zero out public transportation funding. The Chair, Rep. Graves (R-Mo) gave an interview in which he said:
It’s going to be a traditional highway bill. That means building roads and bridges, laying asphalt, pouring concrete. We’re not going to be spending money on murals and train stations or bike paths or walking paths. We’re going to spend money on traditional infrastructure — that’s roads and bridges.
Street project meetings slowed down in the fall. Since August, we’ve submitted inputs on Seneca Ave, Broadway/S. Union, and N. Clinton. We previously submitted comments on Bull’s Head, which is getting finalized soon.
In 2023, 40,990 people died from car crashes in the U.S and more than 2.7 million people went to emergency rooms for injuries. Monroe County alone sees an average of 47 deaths and 5,000 injuries each year. To honor these lives, Reconnect Rochester hosted a local event for the World Day of Remembrance on Sunday, November 16th, 2025 where we called on leaders across Monroe County to set safe speeds on local streets.
Josie McClary is a safe streets advocate, a Reconnect Rochester Board Member, and someone with a personal connection to road violence. She wrote this eulogy to commemorate the event.
Today we come together to honor the lives lost and the families forever changed by road crashes. For many of us, this day is deeply personal.
For me, it’s about my beloved, Ryan Grantham Jr. His life was full of joy and promise- and losing him changed my life and my grandson’s life forever.
That loss became my reason to advocate. It’s my WHY!- I believe our streets should connect us, not endanger us.
Every name we say today represents a story, a future, and a community left to carry their memory. We owe it to them – and to one another- to turn our grief into purpose.
We can do this by designing safer streets, slowing down, and listening to those who have lived with this pain.
Safety should never be a privilege – it should be a promise.
So as we reflect, let’s also commit to act – to speak up, to slow down, and to keep pushing until every person in Rochester can walk, ride, or drive home safely.
To the survivors – your strength matters!
To the families – your love and advocacy matters!
And to those we have lost – your memory guides us forward!
May our reflections lead us to change.
May our voices lead to action
And may our city and county continue to rise – together – in honor of those we lost!
Reconnect Rochester felt it was time to answer a few frequently asked bike questions and put some disparate information in one place. Some of the rules for bicycle riders in New York are well-reasoned and straightforward; others are nonsensical. The good news: Laws can be and are updated regularly. Be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. 😉
First off, let’s get this misconception out of the way: There is no statewide ban on sidewalk riding.
From our analysis of crash reports, it’s evident that some law enforcement don’t know this.
As this State DOT FAQ lays out, municipalities can choose to ban sidewalk riding. New York City and Buffalo prohibit it. As do the villages of Brockport and Scottsville locally. As we previously explored, Rochester’s ban on sidewalk riding was taken away in 1958.
Riders in Monroe County, therefore, often have a choice:They can ride in the road following motorists’ rules, or if they don’t feel safe, they have the option of riding on the sidewalk where the law treats them more or less*** as pedestrians. Sidewalk-riding cyclists have to yield to pedestrians. In other words, pedestrians don’t have to get out of cyclists’ way on the sidewalk.
As we’ve stated before, in general: sidewalk-riding isn’t as safe as many assume and riding in the road, on the right side, isn’t as dangerous as many assume. But Reconnect Rochester has nuance: We’ll admit there are circumstances where the sidewalk is the safest place to ride.
Sidewalk riding downtown is discouraged. For many years, it was explicitly prohibited. But in 2019, the City Council updated the code. There’s wiggle room now: A cyclist can ride on downtown sidewalks if they feel imperiled (“if reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions” in the road).
It should be noted that in the City of Rochester, kids under the age of 13 can’t ride in the road unless accompanied by an adult. Experts tell us that peripheral vision and the ability to judge how fast an approaching vehicle will be in your space just isn’t developed in youngsters. So young riders must stick to the sidewalk when riding without an adult. Here are other tips for youngsters.
A sticky point that’s become a contentious issue with law enforcement: When cyclists ride in the roadway, we acknowledge they’re required to ride on the right side with the flow of traffic. Because New York State does not define sidewalks as part of the roadway, cyclists can technically ride in each direction on the sidewalk, just as pedestrians can walk each way on the sidewalk, when sidewalk-riding isn’t prohibited. (Though it’s far safer, bicyclists don’t have to ride on the sidewalk on the right side of the road in their direction of travel).
We’ve seen Police Reports where the Officer reprimands a cyclist for riding on the sidewalk on the left side of the road, even if there is no sidewalk on the right side. Cyclists do have the right, though riding on the left sidewalk opens them up to this common motorist mistake.
Just because riding on the sidewalk is allowed, doesn’t mean it’s beneficial [in every circumstance]. We only recommend it for brief, finite maneuvers when the cyclist can use it to their advantage.
When there’s a dedicated bike facility and it’s usable and unobstructed, it’s state law for the cyclist to use it (except to come out to prepare for a turn). A bicyclist could be ticketed, for example, for riding on Union Street itself rather than the raised cycle track running alongside Union Street.
When it “legalized” e-bikes in 2020, New York State blanketly banned e-bikes (and e-scooters) from sidewalks. But municipalities have the option of allowing them on sidewalks. Rochester was one of the first to do so.
There’s a whole book devoted to New York’s weird e-bike laws. Since it’s becoming an issue, we’ll point out that you have to be 16+up to ride an e-bike. Crashes involving riders younger than 16 are spiking up, which could have wider repercussions…
This comes as a surprise to many: Monroe County doesn’t allow bikes on trails or paths in County Parks with the exception of Tryon, Irondequoit Bay West, Genesee Valley Park, the Lehigh Valley Trail, and that short section of Highland Park South (Biekrich Park) where the Highland Crossing Trail is. However, folks can bike on any paved road in the park system that is open to cars.
The following Towns also don’t allow biking on footpaths and trails in their parks:
Brighton
Brockport
Ogden
Penfield
Riga
Webster
Our understanding is that trails throughout New York that are open to bicycles are not automatically open to e-bikes. The entity that has jurisdiction over the trail can choose to allow them. The only local trails that we know allow e-bikes are the Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails. City Trails such as the El Camino Trail are technically not yet open to e-bikes. If you come across any information that contradicts this or any more local trails that allow it, let us know.
New York State law permits cyclists to ride two abreast if sufficient space is available. But the following municipalities require riders to be single file at all times:
Brighton
Ogden
Penfield
Webster
Fairport
Finally, as many riders know, bicycle riding is prohibited on the Erie Canal towpath between the Main Street bridge and the State Street Bridge in the Village of Pittsford, and dismounting of bicycles on the towpath in that area is required.
As promised, we wanted to follow up our March blog examining the most common cyclist crash in Monroe County with further analysis. A huge component of safety is knowing what those common crash scenarios are and what we can do to significantly diminish the likelihood of our involvement in them. Though this article focuses more on road user behavior and errors, know up front that Reconnect Rochester spends most of our time focusing on better street design (engineering!) as the best solution.
Kobe Bryant used to say as he analyzed opponents’ games and habits, “If [something is] predictable, it’s preventable.” In his phenomenal book Killed By A Traffic Engineer, Wes Marshall argues that Kobe’s point also goes for traffic: Some of the errors motorists make are so predictable and, therefore, engineers can adjust road designs accordingly.
Because I know the mistakes Monroe County motorists often make and maintain awareness as I ride, there’s times my well-honed Spider-Sense goes off: “Ooo boy, if there was gonna be a crash, it would be precisely this scenario right here…” I slow down, don’t stress, and make sure everyone around me sees me to ensure my safety. We hope you can do the same. Let’s examine the other common crash scenarios in Monroe County involving bicyclists.
Yes, we know not all bike crashes are reported. Even if the info we receive isn’t everything, we’d still contend that what we receive gives us a pretty good glimpse at what’s transpiring out there. The findings are still instructive.
First off. A major takeaway:
Monroe County motorists make a lot of mistakes interacting with sidewalk riders. Riding in the street, following the rules, is safer than many think.
Most Common CYCLIST Error – running a red light/stop sign or biking through crosswalk during Don’t Walk phase
Reconnect Rochester annually champions the Idaho Stop in New York State. Passage would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs. Many intersection signals don’t detect cyclists’ presence and believe it or not, the statistics say the Idaho Stop is safer for cyclists.
BUT:
It’s not the law right now
The Idaho Stop is safe only when certain conditions are met, as this Santa Cruz advocate says well:
What can cyclists do?
Proceed through an intersection when it’s clear & you know you’re being yielded to. Don’t run red lights or stop signs. Don’t roll through a crosswalk during the Don’t Walk phase. Report traffic signals that don’t detect your presence to Monroe County DOT.
What can motorists do?
Stay alert. Make sure the way is clear in each direction before proceeding. Yield to anyone in the crosswalk.
2nd Most Common MOTORIST Error – turns into cyclistsgoing straight
Note: The Most Common MOTORIST Error was covered in our March blog post
You know Reconnect Rochester: we love bike lanes! The more physical protection and separation from motor vehicle traffic, the better. Bike lanes, without protected intersections however, still present a potential conflict point at intersections. Sometimes motorists coming up behind the cyclist make a right turn into them as the cyclist is proceeding straight. This is called a right hook. Other times, motorists coming from the opposite direction will take a left turn into the straightgoing cyclist. This is known as a left cross.
In both instances, motorists are required by law to yield to that straight traffic and can’t make the turn unless it can be made with safety. We’ll note that illegal motorist turns are more common with sidewalk riders than classic left crosses and right hooks with cyclists in the roadway.
What can cyclists do?
Approaching intersections, come out from the curb (when it’s clear and safe) to be more visible and to limit motorist’s most dangerous choices. “Taking/Controlling the Lane” can sometimes be the wisest thing to do. It’s also prudent to not barrel through intersections at top speed. Proceed with caution until you know the way is clear and you’re being yielded to.
I’m not a big John Forester fan, but I like this line from his book: “When you approach a red light on a bike-laned street, be especially considerate to move out of the bike lane to maintain sufficient room on your right for cars to turn right on red. That is both politeness on your part and self-preservation…”
What can motorists do?
Yield to straight going cyclists before turning right or left. As prescribed in the image above, make right turns close to the curb, yielding to traffic already in the bike lane or shoulder.
2nd Most Common CYCLIST Error – wrong way riding
When cyclists ride in the street, they’re required by law to ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic. As I’m sure you’ve seen, a lot of bicyclists here choose to ride on the left side against the flow of traffic. At first glance, it’s easy to see why: They’d much rather see traffic come at them than not see traffic coming behind them. However, it’s a ticketable offense and we’ve got the data to prove it’s one of the leading causes of crashes here. The laws of physics make this crash especially severe on the cyclist: If you’re biking on the left at 10mph and are hit head on by a car in the opposite direction going 30mph, that’s literally the equivalent of getting hit at 40mph.
Ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic. This takes getting used to, but you’re more safe, visible and predictable this way. To make it easier, stick to the lines on our ROC Easy Bike map.
What can motorists do?
Look both ways at intersections, driveways and parking lot exits and ensure the way is clear before turning. Stay alert.
3rd Most Common MOTORIST Error – unsafe passing
Every bicyclist’s greatest fear – riding on the right side of the road, doing everything you’re supposed to do, and getting hit from behind by a straightgoing motorist – is not that common; the other crash scenarios we’ve discussed here are much more common.
But getting hit from behind does happen. Chances are higher on arterials when there are no bike lanes present. Getting hit from behind by a straightgoing motorist while in a bike lane is quite rare.
We find it interesting that much of the time when a cyclist does get hit from behind, it either happens at night or in the suburbs. Dedicated bike infrastructure and street lighting are less prevalent outside the City. Speeds are higher there and sometimes there’s not even a shoulder to ride in. The more “road diets” County DOT and NYSDOT can do, the safer suburban cyclists will be.
What can cyclists do?
If riding at night, it’s the law for bicyclists to have a red light in the rear and a white light in the front (reflectors don’t suffice). Of course for their benefit, the cyclist can go beyond satisfying the law to wearing bright reflective material that makes them even more visible. Two stage left turns and riding along the easy bike network make this crash less likely. Advocate for protected bike infrastructure.
What can motorists do?
Slow down and maintain vigilance while driving. It’s New York State law to pass cyclists at a safe distance. In Monroe County, that safe passing distance is at least 3 feet.
3rd Most Common CYCLIST Error – failing to yield to cross traffic
When any vehicle operator comes out of a driveway/parking lot or comes to the end of a minor residential street up to a major street, they must stop (before entering the sidewalk/crosswalk area) whether there is a stop sign or not. They can only proceed straight across or turn onto that busier road when the way is clear and they can proceed with safety. A significant factor in crashes in Rochester is cyclists (and motorists, too, for that matter) coming to the end of a residential side street and proceeding across a major road without yielding to that cross traffic (which has the right of way) and waiting until the way is clear.
Granted, sometimes that cross traffic is busy and/or that cross traffic can be speeding. But they have the right of way. If it’s rush hour, it might be a good idea for the cyclist to head to the nearest signalized intersection via the sidewalk and press the “beg button” to help them cross or turn.
Of course, lower speed limits, speed/red light cameras, traffic calming and more crosswalks would make this crash less common and make it easier to get around by bike.
What can cyclists do?
Don’t cross until the way is clear. If traffic is busy, head to the nearest signalized intersection via the sidewalk and press the “beg button” to help you cross or turn.
What can motorists do?
Slow down. Stay alert.
In sum, when cyclists eliminate these common cyclist mistakes from their repertoire and ride in a way that significantly deters the common mistakes motorists make, their safety skyrockets! Consider taking our bike class in 2026 and get acquainted with our ROC Easy Bike map.
Do us a favor and spread this finding widely. If Monroe County could eliminate or lessen this crash scenario, we’d see a significant decrease in motorist/cyclist crashes.
Reconnect Rochester surveyed all candidates for Monroe County Sheriff, Monroe County Legislature, Town Supervisor, and Town Board, to learn where they stand on issues related to transportation and mobility.
Questions were designed to give the candidates the opportunity to share their opinions, ideas and vision for a well-connected and accessible community. We contacted every campaign by email or mail to request a response. Reconnect Rochester also surveyed all candidates running for City of Rochester Mayor, Rochester City Council, and Rochester Commissioner of Schools in the City of Rochester.You can find the responses to the City of Rochester Candidate Questionnaire here: City of Rochester General Election Questionnaire
Click on the candidate names below to read their full, unedited responses. Candidates appear in the order presented on the Monroe County Board of Elections Certification of Candidates list. If you are interested to learn more about how we conduct our candidate questionnaire, feel free to take a look at our methodology dropdown below.
We hope this information will help you make an informed decision when you head to the polls! Early voting for the primary election starts Saturday, October 25th and runs through Sunday, November 2nd. Click here to find early voting sites!
To check if you are registered to vote, confirm your polling location the November 4th general election, and even see a preview of what your ballot will look like: click here.
Our Methodology & Process
Reconnect Rochester has run a campaign questionnaire for several years with the goal of informing our audience where candidates for elected office stand on issues related to transportation and mobility. In the past we have focused on elections in the City of Rochester, Monroe County Legislature, NY Senate & Assembly, and our Congressional District (NY-25). To match our commitment to all municipalities in Monroe County, we have expanded the questionnaire to cover town and village races.
For the general election, we surveyed 109 candidates from across Monroe County. To accomplish this, we first attempted to locate the email addresses and campaigns of the candidates. Candidates with functional campaign webpages and emails received our questionnaire digitally. The hyper local nature of some elections often made finding the email addresses of candidates difficult. Many candidates run campaigns from facebook pages and use their local Democratic or Republican party as their primary digital contact method. For these candidates, we emailed our questionnaire to their local political party and mailed a physical questionnaire to the address the candidate filed with the Monroe County Board of Elections. Candidates who did not have a clear digital contact method independently or through a local political party received the questionnaire twice at the address the candidate filed with the Monroe County Board of Elections. Regardless of the contact method, candidates received at least two communications explaining our questionnaire asking for responses. The majority of our outreaches were sent on the week of September 15th and the first week of October with a deadline of October 20th to give us time to upload the responses to this webpage.
Many elections are unopposed as the “real” election took place in the June Primary or the candidate ran unopposed. In the future, we plan to explore surveying more races in the Primary as we regularly do in City of Rochester races. If you have any questions about our candidate questionnaire, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for taking the time to see where your candidates stand and for voting.
1. What role will you play as a Monroe County Legislator in addressing our community’s transportation challenges? Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
As a Monroe County Legislator, I will advocate for a transportation system that is safe, reliable, accessible, and connects people to opportunity for all. My focus will be on improving public transit routes, investing in pedestrian and bike-friendly infrastructure, and ensuring our roads are designed with safety and equity in mind. Mobility is more than movement. It’s about access to jobs, education, and healthcare. I will work collaboratively with state, local, and regional partners to modernize our transportation network, expand affordable options, and build safer streets for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Monroe County residents can count on me to lead with vision, accountability, and a deep commitment to making our communities more connected, sustainable, and inclusive.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities – including the City of Rochester – are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach to dramatically reduce or eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. How would you work with the town DPW, County, and State DOTs to improve road safety in your district?
With over 25 years in law enforcement and 23 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, I’ve dedicated my life to protecting lives and promoting safety. As a Monroe County Legislator, I’ll apply that experience to advance **Vision Zero** and the **Safe System Approach**, working with town, county, and state partners to redesign roads, calm traffic, and protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, ensuring everyone gets home safely.
3. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
As a Monroe County Legislator, I will support innovative, inclusive development that connects people to opportunity. That means focusing on existing/new housing, jobs, and small business growth along existing transit corridors and traditional main streets, where infrastructure already supports access. I’ll advocate for mixed-use zoning, affordable housing near bus routes, and incentives for businesses that invest in walkable, transit-friendly areas. By aligning land use and transportation planning, we can strengthen local economies, reduce commutes, and build vibrant, connected communities for all residents.
4. While the Monroe County Legislature does not have control over RTS bus service, the county controls county roadways and a sizable budget. How would you work to expand bus amenities (benches, shelters, etc.) throughout your district to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience across Monroe County?
As a Monroe County Legislator, I will work collaboratively with RTS, local municipalities, and community organizations to improve the rider experience across our bus network. Using county resources and partnerships, I’ll advocate for expanding bus shelters, benches, lighting, and accessibility features, especially along high-use corridors. I’ll also seek innovative funding through grants and public-private partnerships to modernize stops with real-time arrival information and weather protection. By investing in comfort and accessibility, we can make public transit safer, more reliable, and more inviting for everyone.
1. What role will you play as a Monroe County Legislator in addressing our community’s transportation challenges? Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
As a Monroe County Legislator, I will be a strong advocate for safer, more accessible, and equitable transportation options. I believe that reliable public transit, safe streets, and walkable communities are essential to a thriving and inclusive county. Everyone, regardless of income, ability, or neighborhood, deserves access to the services and opportunities that transportation connects us to.
I will actively support and push for programs that improve mobility, expand transit access, and prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety. Investing in sustainable transportation not only benefits the environment but also strengthens our local economy and public health. Monroe County residents who care about building a connected, fair, and forward-thinking community can count on me to lead with urgency and purpose on these issues.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities – including the City of Rochester – are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach to dramatically reduce or eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. How would you work with the town DPW, County, and State DOTs to improve road safety in your district?
I will work collaboratively with town DPWs, the County, and NYS DOT to protect all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. I support adopting Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach to guide policy and infrastructure decisions. That means pushing for traffic calming, safer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, adding more sidewalks, and data-driven strategies to reduce crashes and save lives. Road safety is not negotiable, it should be a shared responsibility and a priority for all.
3. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
I believe revitalizing our main streets and transportation corridors starts with smart, community-driven development. That means repurposing vacant or underused buildings for housing, local businesses, and community services. This approach not only preserves the character of our neighborhoods but also brings life back to areas already connected by public transit.
I would support land use and economic policies that encourage mixed-use development along existing transit routes, and provide incentives for projects that align with community needs. Most importantly, residents must have a seat at the table. Development should reflect the voices of those who live there, not just the developers. By combining thoughtful, data-driven planning with meaningful public input, we can build vibrant and walkable communities where people can live, work, and thrive.
4. While the Monroe County Legislature does not have control over RTS bus service, the county controls county roadways and a sizable budget. How would you work to expand bus amenities (benches, shelters, etc.) throughout your district to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience across Monroe County?
I would advocate for dedicated funding to expand and maintain essential bus stop amenities like benches, shelters, lighting, and safe pedestrian access throughout my district. Riding the bus shouldn’t mean standing in the rain or snow without cover or walking across unsafe streets to reach a stop. I’ll work with community members, RTS, and local planners to identify high-need locations and ensure improvements are made equitably, with a focus on comfort, accessibility, safety, and dignity for all riders.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
To a certain extent, Brighton is walkable and bikeable, but not universally so. To a lesser extent, the bus is an option for mobility in Brighton. But on balance, our town was developed with the assumption that anyone living in, working in, or visiting Brighton would do so in their own car. That assumption is not inclusive or sustainable—two key values that Brightonians embrace. When our streets are safer and complete—that is, when they are structured to prioritize the safety of the most vulnerable users and accommodate more ways of getting around—we all benefit. More frequent bus service that goes where riders want and need to go; bike lanes and boulevards that make biking instead of driving safe and practical; sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to commercial corridors without gaps that make walking unpleasant; and trails that connect people and places—all of these ways of getting around Brighton are my top priority goals for our community. We’re making progress on all counts, but there’s still more to do in my next term on the town board.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
In my time as councilmember, I have:
• Secured funding for sidewalk construction along state and county roadways, prioritizing filling critical gaps in the network and making walking to school and local businesses safer and more pleasant
• Led the successful drafting and adoption of Brighton’s Complete Streets Policy that requires the town to integrate transit, pedestrian, and bike amenities into all street projects and encourages our county and state department of transportation partners to do the same when working on roadways within the town
• Successfully partnered with the Monroe County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to reconfigure Elmwood Avenue from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and bike lanes, resulting in reduced vehicle speeds, a more pleasant walking experience, and safer biking along this segment of New York State Bike Route #5
• Successfully partnered with MCDOT and the Town of Henrietta to reconfigure Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and bike lanes along most of the corridor, resulting in reduced vehicle speeds and safer biking especially for students, faculty, and staff of Monroe Community College who choose to ride to campus
• Expanded Brighton’s bike boulevard network by adding a connector from the city line at Highland Avenue and Oakdale through to the Winter Farmers Market on Westfall Road, with a segment that makes biking to the BCSD campus at 12 Corners safer for students within the school walk zone
• Secured the installment of protected, signalized left turns at Winton Road South and Westfall Road
• In collaboration with town engineering staff, successfully created a town crosswalk policy, and with citizen input, identified numerous locations for new crosswalks that include rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and successfully advocated with the Monroe County DOT to permit their installation
Going forward, we have two once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to collaborate with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) on significant improvements to our two primary commercial corridors in Brighton—Monroe Avenue and West Henrietta Road—as well as an opportunity to collaborate again with MCDOT on a similar project on South Clinton. NYSDOT and MCDOT will be resurfacing these roads in the next 2-7 years. The projects are currently in the design phase, and thanks to good relationships cultivated over the years with both key NYSDOT and MCDOT staff and advocacy organizations like Reconnect Rochester, as well as substantial citizen input into the town’s official guiding documents (especially the 2012 Bike/Walk Brighton Active Transportation Plan and the Envision Brighton 2028 Comprehensive Plan), I have already been at the table to not only provide the feedback on preliminary plans but also ensure that the community’s vision for these important commercial corridors in our town is communicated clearly to the project teams. It is an iterative process, and I am committed to not only being at the table on behalf of our town throughout the process but also ensuring that NYSDOT and MCDOT get substantial public input on the final design.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Thanks to a strong relationship with Senator Jeremy Cooney, chair of the Transportation Committee, I helped to secure both financial and advocacy support for filling sidewalk gaps in Brighton, particularly the critical and complicated gap on East Avenue connecting the recently installed sidewalk on the southeast side to the signalized crosswalk to get walkers—especially grade school students—across the street to Allens Creek School.
As chair of the Public Works Committee, I had maintained a sidewalk “wish list” of locations along county roads where Brightonians have long wanted sidewalks. When Monroe County announced the municipal sidewalk 50/50 funding program, we were able to quickly identify the top priority segments that would yield the greatest impact—locations like Westfall Road within the BCSD walk zone as well as connecting walkers to Buckland Park and the Auburn and Brickyard Trails, a stretch of Edgweood connecting walkers to Monroe Avenue, etc.—and town engineers submitted successful applications for funding eight critical segments throughout the town.
Additionally, we seek opportunities for private development in town to contribute to the expansion of our sidewalk and trail network when those projects come to fruition through incentive zoning. For example, we are at the ready with the recently adopted plan for building out the Multiversity Trail System to connect UR, RIT, and MCC via the Erie Canal Trail and the Lehigh Valley Trail. Based on that plan, an application for incentive zoning approval for a project in West Brighton includes a proposal for funding a significant portion of that project at no cost to Brighton taxpayers.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4A.
As a frequent bus rider myself, I know there is quite a range in the quality of the experience waiting for and getting off the bus in Brighton. Many of the stops, while relatively conveniently located, are poorly positioned, forcing riders to step on or off from a muddy tree lawn or stretch of roadway with no sidewalk at all. Some stops are mere poles with signs while others are fully-equipped shelters with informational signs and comfortable benches. The conditions at many stops make riding prohibitive for people who use mobility aids, parents pushing strollers, and folks who need the respite of a bench when waiting up to 30 minutes for the next bus to come by.
Knowing this, I keep bus amenities and rider comfort at the forefront when working with the state and county DOT on projects in town. On Monroe Avenue, for example, our feedback to NYSDOT identified each transit stop as optimal locations for protected crosswalks as well as ensuring that the stop location include a sidewalk extension to the curb for safer on- and off-boarding. Similarly, when the extensive Town Hall renovation and campus recreational amenities project wraps up within the next two years, I will be pursuing the installation of bus shelters on both sides of Elmwood Avenue, plus a protected crosswalk at Roby Drive to not only connect pedestrians coming from the south side of Elmwood Avenue to the inbound 97 bus stop but also making access to this high use community destination (library, police department, Town Hall, water features, and playground) safer for walkers and bus riders alike. (Related, I am focused on getting RTS to elevate route 97 service between 12 Corners and URMC from the very limited Commuter level to at least the more practical Crosstown/Suburban level of service, if not Local or Frequent service levels on this critical corridor that connects commercial areas, public amenities, and the largest employer in the region.)
4B.
When RTS was going through its reconfiguration process, Reimagine RTS, I attended nearly every public forum to advocate for 15 minute fixed-route service throughout Brighton with complete access to locations beyond the fixed routes by On Demand service. What Brighton got was 30-minute local service on six fixed routes (11, 12,13, 14, 17, and 41), extremely limited morning and evening service on one fixed route (97), and absolutely zero On Demand service, leaving giant accessibility gaps throughout town. At every opportunity, I continue to press for improvements to both fixed route and On Demand service by raising awareness in the community through such things as engaging in national active transportation campaigns such as the recent Week Without Driving (including a community panel discussion with non-drivers in Brighton) as well as engagement with RTS leadership and our delegation in Albany.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Brighton was developed as a car-first suburb in the 20th century. Current zoning code reflects that, particularly in relation to the minimum amount of parking required for commercial properties. We’ve zoned ourselves into a main street dominated by banks, medical offices, salons, and spas—all largely by appointment only. With so much space along our commercial corridors dedicated to car storage rather than to more densely built structures for a wider range of uses, the community loses out on desirable businesses like cafes and retail. By implementing the changes to our zoning code as recommended in the Envision Brighton 2028 Comprehensive Plan, especially eliminating or reducing parking minimums and letting business owners determine the necessary amount of parking, and reducing minimum setbacks to allow (or even require) construction of mixed-use buildings set closer to the sidewalk with parking pushed to the back, Monroe Avenue can evolve into the village-like setting that Brightonians want—a setting that is ultimately more accessible for everyone, whether on foot, by bike, bus, or car. Further, with greater density in the district, greater wealth is generated and retained in the community, thereby reducing the tax burden on homeowners in Brighton.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Brighton’s roads were designed for cars, not people, leaving gaps in sidewalks, very few crossings, and disconnected bike routes. I’ll advocate for complete streets that serve everyone. By supporting mixed-use development on commercial corridors, we can bring homes and shops closer together, reducing car dependence. I’ll collaborate with Reconnect Rochester, and our County and State partners to align projects with Brighton’s Complete Streets and Climate Action goals.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
Improving safety on our streets requires collaboration among the Town, County, and State. I support redesigning roads to prevent crashes. I’ll advocate for traffic calming, new crosswalks, and protected bike lanes. My goal is for zero fatalities and a Brighton where every resident, whether driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, feels safe on our streets.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Most recently I’ve been working with neighbors in east Brighton to advocate for a crosswalk at Penfield Road and Colonial Village, where families have repeatedly shared concerns about safely crossing to either take their kids to school or simply access the only local business in the neighborhood. I’ll continue pushing for projects like this while leveraging Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Program and state grants. Treating pedestrian accessibility as essential infrastructure improves safety, supports local businesses, and enhances quality of life for everyone in Brighton.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
I will work to build relationships with RTS and major employers to advocate for improved service to Brighton. Encouraging mixed-use development along commercial corridors near bus routes will bring jobs, housing, and services closer to transit, making public transportation a practical choice for more residents. This benefits employers by expanding the pool of employees who can reliably commute without a car. Improved transit also supports local businesses by increasing customer access. By reducing traffic and emissions, these changes create a healthier, more efficient community, strengthening Brighton’s economy and quality of life for all residents.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
By eliminating parking requirements and promoting mixed-use, walkable development along major commercial corridors, we can boost economic activity while reducing transportation barriers. Thoughtful planning along existing transportation corridors strengthens our economy, lowers emissions, and helps Brighton remain an inclusive, connected community where everyone can get to work, school, and services easily.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
In Greece, our top transportation concern is safety, especially for our children. School bus safety remains a priority, as does making sure families feel secure on our roads and sidewalks. While Greece doesn’t face the same transit challenges as some urban areas, we must ensure our infrastructure supports safe mobility for all residents. I will work to keep safety front and center, while partnering with county and state agencies to explore opportunities for improving walkability and access.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
Keeping residents safe on our roads is a shared responsibility. As Supervisor, I would work closely with Monroe County and NYSDOT to pursue traffic calming measures, better signage, and targeted enforcement around schools and high-traffic areas. I support a data-driven approach like Vision Zero, focusing on reducing fatalities and injuries, and I believe in working collaboratively so Greece can benefit from proven countywide and statewide safety initiatives.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Yes, I believe Greece should take advantage of Monroe County’s sidewalk funding program and other available grants to make critical infrastructure projects more affordable for our taxpayers. Sidewalks and bike-friendly connections are essential for safer, healthier neighborhoods. I will prioritize partnerships with the county and state to leverage outside funding, so Greece can enhance active transportation while being fiscally responsible.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4A: While the town cannot set bus routes, we can make sure the experience for riders is safe and dignified. That means maintaining sidewalks near bus stops, improving lighting, and exploring opportunities for more shelters. Supporting bus riders is part of supporting all residents, especially those who rely on public transit to get to work, school, or appointments.
4B: Listening to riders and communicating their needs directly to RGRTA will be key. My focus will be on making sure the service is responsive, dependable, and reaches the neighborhoods and corridors where it is most needed.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Greece is fortunate to have strong commercial corridors and historic main streets. As Supervisor, I will promote smart development that supports walkability and access to transit, particularly along Ridge Road and other established hubs. Encouraging businesses to locate in areas served by existing infrastructure not only reduces congestion but also supports residents who depend on walking, biking, and transit. By aligning growth with transportation access, we can strengthen both our economy and our community.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Greece is one of the largest towns in New York, and with that comes the challenge of managing several busy roads that serve thousands of residents and visitors every day. Our priority must be keeping both drivers and cyclists safe — and that means encouraging everyone to follow the rules of the road.
I support continued investment in sidewalks and pedestrian safety so our neighborhoods are more walkable and connected. Greece is fortunate to have a beautiful walking and biking route along the Parkway that links to the river, and I’d like to see more connections like that throughout town. By improving sidewalks, supporting safe cycling, and keeping our roads maintained, we can make Greece safer and more enjoyable for all residents — whether they drive, bike, or walk.
That’s why residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and quality-of-life improvements can count on me to be their advocate on the Town Board.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
Too many lives are lost on our roads, and Greece faces the same challenges with busy streets and growing traffic. I support the Safe System Approach because it focuses on safer roads, safer speeds, and protecting everyone who uses them. That means better sidewalks, safer intersections, and stronger connections to our existing trails. Just as important, we need to make sure drivers slow down and give space when there’s a disabled vehicle or emergency responders on the roadside. I’d also like to explore forming a committee here in Greece to analyze these issues locally and identify where improvements can make the biggest impact utilizing Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach. Working with the Town, County, and State DOT, we can put safety first — for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Active transportation is an important part of keeping Greece safe, connected, and family-friendly. We’ve already been utilizing Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Program, and it’s been a great partnership that shows how government can work for all residents. These matching funds help us stretch taxpayer dollars further while still making real improvements in neighborhoods.
I support continuing to take advantage of programs like this to expand and improve sidewalks, fill in gaps, and make our streets safer for walking and biking. When local, county, and state governments work together, we can deliver cost-effective projects that improve quality of life for everyone in Greece.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4A.
While we don’t control RTS directly, we do control town roads and sidewalks — and those play a big role in how comfortable and safe it is to ride the bus. I support continuing to invest in sidewalks and crosswalks near bus stops so riders have safe, accessible connections. We can also look at practical improvements like benches, shelters, and lighting in partnership with RTS where possible. For a town as large as Greece, better bus amenities mean more residents can rely on public transit safely and comfortably.
4B.
With RGRTA rolling out its expanded On Demand service, Greece needs to make sure our community is fully included and supported. I’ll advocate for strong coverage in our town so residents — especially seniors, workers, and students — have reliable access to jobs, medical appointments, and shopping. By working closely with RGRTA and listening to rider feedback here in Greece, I’ll push for service that meets our community’s needs and connects residents with opportunity.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
With 11% of Monroe County households lacking a car, we need smart growth that connects people to jobs and services without driving. I support encouraging development along existing transportation corridors and main streets where transit and sidewalks already exist, and I believe we should better educate residents about the transportation services available today. This strengthens local business districts, supports workers, and improves mobility for all.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Town residents who care about safe streets, better mobility or public transit should vote me for because I’ve delivered results on each. As chief of staff for the town of Pittsford, I helped create our 2019 Active Transportation Plan and since then, have acted on it. I’ve secured millions in grant funding to build new sidewalks, trails and repave deteriorating roads. I’ve worked with the Monroe County Sheriff’s department on targeted traffic enforcement. I’ve worked with Monroe County and NYS DOT on pedestrian safety improvements at crosswalks. I worked with Town Staff and Town Board to pass local legislation to lower the speed limit on all town roads to 25 MPH – the lowest NYS allows. I’ve been involved in the RTS Mobility program. I’ve secured funding for a new senior bus, so Pittsford seniors have a safer way to take day trips and run errands. I’ve secured money to install permanent speed radar signs which have proven to slow drivers down. I have worked with neighbors to install new stop signs, speed humps and signage to deal with speeding and reckless driving problems in neighborhoods. I’ve worked with the school district on safe routes to schools for children. I will bring this experience and knowledge to make Greece streets safer, more access to public transportation.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
The first step is identifying who has jurisdiction over the road in question. If the needed pedestrian safety improvements are on town roads, it’s usually faster and easier to make changes. If it’s a county road, you’ll need to work with the Monroe County Department of Transportation on solutions, who is usually very receptive. For state roads, you can request improvements from New York State, but be aware that NYS is often slow to approve changes – it requires persistence, time, and strong advocacy. Fortunately, the State Senator representing Greece currently chairs the NYS Transportation Committee, which can help move things forward.
Traffic and safety issues exist in every town, so maintaining open communication with officials from other municipalities can foster new ideas and collaborative approaches to improve conditions across the region.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
As a member of the Town Board, I would advocate for the Town of Greece to develop an Active Transportation Plan. Having a formal plan greatly increases opportunities for state and federal funding to implement meaningful infrastructure improvements.
In my current role, I’ve secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding to support projects identified through Pittsford’s ATP. I would also encourage Greece to take advantage of Monroe County’s matching sidewalk grant program, which has helped fund two projects I’ve led: the Tobey Road and Barker Road sidewalks. Construction on Barker Road is underway, and work on Tobey Road is set to begin this fall.
Additionally, I’ve been in talks with the Town of Perinton on a joint funding request to complete a sidewalk connection from Thornell Road to Bushnell’s Basin. These are the kinds of collaborative, forward-thinking projects I’d champion in Greece.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4A: RTS operates independently, so I have little direct control over amenities inside the buses. However, if a constituent raises concerns about cleanliness or safety, I would absolutely reach out to RTS and advocate for improvements. Where I can have more direct impact is at the local level – ensuring that bus stops are safe, clean, and accessible for all riders
4B:Identify where current needs are not being met, understand how proposed changes will impact riders, and work with RTS to find solutions that support those who rely on the service. I was especially encouraged by the advocacy from Greece residents pushing for better transportation options for veterans needing access to the VA. Bottom line is those who rely on public transportation should have easy access to it.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Land use planning must prioritize the needs of the people who will live or work in a given area. For example, affordable housing – especially for working-class residents and low-income seniors – should be located near public transportation and essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies, since many in these groups either don’t drive or rely heavily on transit. In the Town of Greece, the commercial corridor along West Ridge Road presents a significant opportunity. I would encourage repurposing vacant buildings in that area to create new housing and support local businesses.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Lately, our biggest issue is distracted and/or impatient drivers. We have implemented a program with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to try to address this, but there are far more bad drivers than sheriff deputies. With that said, we have been making a dent. We have also built miles of new sidewalks and multi-modal paths to try to get pedestrians and cyclists away from those problem motorists. And we have been working with RTS to install new covered bus stops and to bring sidewalks to them.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
The Town has built miles of new sidewalks and multi-modal paths to try to get pedestrians and cyclists away from problem motorists. Notable additions include the East River Road multi-modal path from Lehigh Station Road north to the RIT campus entrance, as well as the Hylan Road sidewalk from Jefferson Road to Marketplace Drive and then up Marketplace Drive to connect to the bus stops there. We are also in the process of creating bicycle routes through connecting side streets as a safer alternative for cyclists than the main roads.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
We were able to obtain $1.25-million in grant funding for new multi-modal paths. We just applied for an additional $850,000 for a new Riverwalk trail. We have created Transportation Development Districts, which tax new commercial development, to improve sidewalks in those commercial areas. And we work with MCDOT to coordinate activities with improvements to County roads, including participating in the Municipal Sidewalk Funding program from Monroe County.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
We are working with RTS to install new covered bus stops at locations where people wait for the bus. We are connecting businesses to those bus stops with new sidewalks, such as on Hylan Drive and Marketplace Drive.
This would not be the first time RTS has reduced service to Henrietta, including no longer providing direct bus service to the RIT campus. I advocated on behalf of our Town and RIT to get bus service back to RIT, or at least to a point where the riders can transfer to on-campus transportation. We have also been working with RTS to keep them informed of businesses and housing projects with significant ridership to make sure service remains or is even added to those locations. RTS adjusted a bus route to make sure it dropped off and picked up near the new T-Mobile call center in Town. As part of that, we built new connecting sidewalks to improve that experience.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
The Town applied for a BRICKS Grant and a Pro-Housing Infrastructure Grant to extend Fair Avenue from Calkins Road south and east to East Henrietta Road, opening that area up for new apartments. Included in that, if we are able to obtain the BRICKS Grant, would be two new affordable housing projects built around the Dome Arena, which the Town would acquire via the grant and make into a Community Center. This could add over 500 new units in the center of Town within walking distance to the Library, Rec Center, Town Hall, and Veterans Memorial Park, as well as to Wegmans, drug stores, restaurants, and other retail. In addition, it is on one of the main bus routes through Town.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
– First is the issue of high-speed traffic. I have long advocated for traffic calming measures. In my prior time on the board, I voted in favor of a Special Attention Detail to help address unsafe drivers with a special focus on school zones. In addition, I advocated for the purchase of speed zone signs that inform drivers what speed they are going. These modern signs, coupled with the flashing police color lights when people drive too fast can be fairly effective. We implemented “Speed Tables” in the area around the Sherman school and have been looking at more and creative ways to calm traffic. One higher tech method that I am very interested in is the use of red lights that adjust based on the speed of oncoming traffic. I am also interested in ALL way stops at certain dangerous cross walks, most notably in our shopping district areas.
– Sidewalks and shoulder improvements to allow for better bike and pedestrian safety. For the past several years, in my roles on Planning Boards at the Town and County level, I have advocated for more sidewalks. I will continue to advocate for including sidewalks wherever new construction goes in.
– Advocacy for improved RTS routes. At the moment, it can be very challenging to take a bus to where you need to go in Henrietta. This is an ongoing challenge because while I believe there is a need, the demand remains low. Without demand, the bus company continues to cut routes making the buses very unreliable. Since they are so unreliable, people will not take them. I believe there is room to partner with our colleges and businesses to create more reliable bus routes.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
I have long advocated for reducing speeds on all roads in residential areas in Henrietta. As we have grown and developed, our driving structure has not adapted. A road that was once rural, is now highly developed with many homes. NYS DOT has been slow to respond to our Town’s requests for increased safety measures including reduced speeds, traffic lights at dangerous pedestrian crossings and wider shoulders. I have worked with other municipalities to begin to form a united front when approaching the state. I will continue to work with Reconnect Rochester and other advocacy organizations to move the needle for safer streets.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Yes, where appropriate we utilize a range of funding and grants including Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Funding. The largest funders are developers. We insist on investing in sidewalks with each new development (or redevelopment) in the Town. This is a bipartisan issue and I have worked across the aisle.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
– We have utilized funding for new, enclosed bus stops and benches. Whenever applicable, I have always advocated for something that will help shield riders from the elements.
– I have been told by RTS that there is not a lot of demand for buses and they would like to continue to cut routes. I have been told by residents that there is a huge demand, but it is generally at apartment complexes. I have been advocating with developers to ask RTS for bus service to their apartment complexes. I will continue to advocate directly, but adding the voices of business members and investors I hope will influence RTS to continue services.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Currently we utilize multi-use overlay districts to incentivize growth in the denser areas while at the same time increasing our protections for farmland and open space. The combination of incentives for denser areas and the strictures on more rural development will, hopefully, encourage controlled growth.
Kristina J Owens
Political Party: Democratic
Candidate Email:
Website:
We did not receive a response from this candidate.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Lack of sidewalks and bike Lanes on Towne county and state roads that are main roads. Also RTS eliminated a lot of the bus stops that we used to have in Henrietta making it more difficult for residents etc to get to their employer.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
I would encourage State and county leaders to invest and add bike Lanes or sidewalks as well on their roadways. I would look for funding through grants to help them out with this issue that’s going on currently.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
I would definitely look into grant money. And overlook the budget tightly to see what funding we can provide as well.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
One thing is to make sure our sidewalks are clear and accessible during the winter months for residents to get to the bus stops. On town roads. Also to encourage RTS to bring back the bus stops that they have removed. Making it easier for residents to get to jobs without have to use another source of transportation because their bus only went so far.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Encourage development near RTS bus routes and transit hubs so that new jobs, housing, and services are accessible to residents without cars.
Use zoning and permitting to support mixed-use nodes (housing + retail + office) along major transportation corridors, rather than spreading development into areas with no transit.
Timothy Ochs
Political Party: Republican & Conservative
Candidate Email:
Website:
We did not receive a response from this candidate.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Irondequoit is a vibrant community, but like many towns, we face transportation challenges that affect daily life — unsafe streets, limited public transit, and traffic congestion. As a Town Board member, I’m committed to safer, more accessible mobility for all. This includes:
Safer Streets: Advocating for traffic calming, crosswalks, and complete streets. This year, we added stop signs on Seneca Road and will be adding new crosswalk striping.
Better Transit: Partnering with RTS to expand bus service, especially for underserved residents.
Volunteer Transportation: I am spearheading a collaboration with the Irondequoit Recreation Department and Lifespan to launch a volunteer driver program.
Smart Infrastructure: Supporting projects that reduce congestion and promote walkability.
A town that’s easier and safer to get around is a stronger, more connected Irondequoit.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
As a member of the Irondequoit Town Board, I will make road safety a top priority by:
Advocating for a Vision Zero commitment : An achievable goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, grounded in data and equity.
Embracing the Safe System Approach: Recognizes our transportation system must be designed with safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, and post-crash care.
Working closely with the County and State DOTs : Identify and fund critical safety improvements, which could include redesigned intersections, better lighting, protected bike lanes, and traffic-calming measures in high-risk areas.
Supporting Safe Routes to School programs: Every child should be able to walk or bike safely.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Absolutely. One of my top priorities is making sure Irondequoit follows through on the active transportation goals already outlined in our planning documents, including safer sidewalks, bike infrastructure, and more connected neighborhoods.
Identify and prioritize projects from existing town plans that improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, especially near schools, parks, and major corridors.
Actively pursue matching funds from programs like Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Program and state/federal grants. These opportunities are critical to stretching our local dollars further and getting projects off the ground.
Work with town staff to ensure we’re grant ready with solid cost estimates, community input, and project designs that meet funding criteria.
Collaborate with County and State partners to align our goals with regional plans and ensure Irondequoit is a strong candidate for infrastructure investment.
Make active transportation a regular part of the budgeting process, not just a nice-to-have, but a core component of how we plan for growth, safety, and quality of life.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
A. As a Town Board member, I’ll work to:
Improve sidewalks and crosswalks to bus stops so riders don’t have to walk in the street or risk their safety.
Partner with RTS on upgrades like benches, shelters, lighting, and signage — especially at stops serving older adults, workers, and students.
Ensure ADA compliance and better access for people using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers. (We’ve already submitted a grant through the Genesee Transportation Council to support this.)
Build transit-friendly design into future road and development projects.
Listen to transit riders-their experiences should guide our decisions.
B. Here’s how I would advocate for improved RTS On Demand service in Irondequoit:
Listen and Gather Data: I’ll host community listening sessions to identify gaps in coverage, hours, and destinations and share the information with the RGRTA.
Improve Access and Rider Experience: I’ll push for safer, well-lit pickup spots, better signage, real-time tracking, and clear marketing so residents know how to use the service. I’ll also advocate for evening and weekend hours and stronger connections to fixed routes.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Here’s how I’d approach it:
Focus growth near transit. Support zoning updates for mixed-use, higher-density development along key corridors like East Ridge, Titus, and Hudson to connect jobs, housing, and services to RTS routes.
Revitalize walkable Main Steets: Improve sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike access in traditional business districts like Titus and Ridge to make them safer and more inviting for everyone.
Plan with equity in mind. Everyone deserves safe, affordable, and connected communities—whether or not they own a car.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Our town’s greatest transportation challenges are about connectivity and fairness. Many of our roads were designed decades ago, prioritizing cars while leaving pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users with fewer safe options. Sidewalk gaps, limited bus shelters, traffic safety concerns, and congestion in key corridors all make it harder for residents to move around efficiently and safely. Seniors, families with children, and those without cars are often the most impacted.
Why vote for me? As an Architect and Councilperson, I have a proven record of tackling issues like this by combining smart planning with community input. I believe safer streets, better mobility, and reliable public transit are not luxuries—they’re essential to a thriving community. I will push for investments in infrastructure that prioritize safety for all users, expand mobility choices, and partner with regional transit agencies to make service more responsive to Irondequoit residents’ needs.
Supporting me means supporting a town government that will innovate, empower residents, and help our community thrive—on safer streets, in stronger neighborhoods, and with a transportation system that works for everyone.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
Road safety is one of the most urgent public safety issues of our time. Nationally, motorist fatalities remain far higher than peer nations, and pedestrian deaths have surged 75% since 2010. Here in Monroe County, we lose an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians each year, with thousands more injured. These numbers aren’t just statistics—they represent friends, neighbors, and family members whose lives were cut short or forever changed.
That is why I support moving toward Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach—strategies that recognize human error is inevitable, but serious injuries and deaths are preventable.
To put this into action locally, I will: Work with fellow Town officials to update our local codes and capital plans to prioritize traffic calming, sidewalks, crosswalks, and safe bike infrastructure.
Partner with Monroe County DOT to bring Complete Streets principles to our arterial roads, ensuring designs serve all users, not just cars.
Advocate with NYS DOT for targeted safety improvements on State highways that run through our town—such as improved crossings, lower design speeds, and better lighting.
Engage residents directly so that safety improvements reflect real community needs, especially in neighborhoods where crashes have been concentrated.
By collaborating across all levels of government, we can make our streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users alike—and ensure that no family has to suffer a preventable loss on our roads.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
“Next term, I will make active transportation a top priority. Our planning documents already identify the missing sidewalks, safer crossings, and bike connections that our residents need. What we must do now is act.
In my next term, I will:
Pursue grants and matching funds like Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Program so that every local dollar goes further.
Align our capital budgets with safety, making sidewalks, bike facilities, and crosswalks central to every road project.
Tap State and Federal programs such as Complete Streets and TAP grants to accelerate improvements.
Require private development projects to contribute to building out the town’s active transportation network.
By taking these steps, I’ll ensure we’re not just planning for safer, more connected neighborhoods—we’re building them.”
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4A. While the Town doesn’t run RTS, we do control the sidewalks, crosswalks, and local roads that connect people to transit. Next term, I will push to improve bus stop amenities—like safer crossings, better lighting, benches, and sidewalk connections—so riders have a safer, more comfortable trip. We can also coordinate with RTS to identify the busiest stops in Irondequoit and make them more accessible to seniors, students, and those with mobility challenges.
4B. As of September 1, RGRTA is rolling out big changes to On Demand service across Monroe County. I will advocate to ensure Irondequoit residents benefit—by pushing for expanded coverage zones, shorter wait times, and fairer scheduling that actually meets demand. I’ll work with County officials, RGRTA, and community members to keep feedback flowing and make sure this service is reliable and equitable for our town.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
You are correct, about 11% of Monroe County households don’t own a car, and many more want real choices in how they get around. In Irondequoit, our town is already largely developed, which means the future lies in retrofitting our existing major corridors and traditional main streets.
Next term, I will:
Work closely with Monroe County and NYS DOT to improve state and county roads running through Irondequoit—adding safer sidewalks, crossings, lighting, and bike facilities while calming traffic.
Encourage reinvestment in existing centers like Titus Avenue, Hudson Avenue, and Ridge Road, to keep them vibrant and accessible for businesses and residents.
Ensure neighborhood benefits by advocating for traffic safety, reduced speeding, and better access to local services along these corridors.
Coordinate planning with RTS service so transit corridors become safer, stronger anchors for mobility and economic activity.
By collaborating with County and State partners, we can retrofit Irondequoit’s roads to be safer, more connected, and more vibrant—while respecting the character of our neighborhoods.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Mendon is a town with one of the largest geographic areas in Monroe County. The population is less than 10,000. We don’t really have transportation challenges other than being able to connect to the city from Mendon for anyone without a vehicle. There was a bus service back and forth at one time. I believe that service no longer exists. I am not sure that transportation in Mendon is a problem for our community. On a larger scale, I am perplexed that small countries in Europe, the size of one of our states, can provide amazing efficient and fast transport while the US cannot seem to get that done.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
I think we need a bike path that utilizes the Lehigh Valley Trail and connects it to make a complete circle from the village off Honeoye Falls to the Hamlet of Mendon. The proposed path should not be in the road. This path can be used for walking, exercising and bicycles. We do not experience many motorist fatalities here in Mendon but one is too many. Planning and safety programs would be welcome and a good thing for our town to offer. Learning about these resources you mention. is a good start as well as meeting with other town officials to learn what they have done in this area.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
I believe out town is taking advantage of the matching funds for sidewalks but many more are needed.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
N/A
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
I would need to know how many of that 11% is true for my town of Mendon. I would think that 9-10% of that 11 is in the city of Rochester. I would love to see a bus service to and from Mendon but there is a reason that RTS cut that service to Mendon. I am sure it is economics; not enough customers.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Mendon faces real transportation challenges, including road safety concerns, limited sidewalks and bike paths, and virtually no public transit options. High traffic volumes and speeding on state and county roads, especially at intersections with poor visibility, create hazards for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. In the Village and surrounding areas, aging sidewalks and tight turns leave little buffer for pedestrians, making it difficult for families to feel safe walking or biking. Outside of the Village and Hamlet, walkability is minimal, and residents in apartments or households without cars have few alternatives for daily mobility. RTS does not serve Mendon, leaving seniors, young people, and families with limited access to transit.
As a candidate for Town Board, I will make safer streets and better mobility a priority. I will advocate for targeted safety improvements, expand sidewalk and bike infrastructure, and explore partnerships with Monroe County, New York State, and transit providers to expand mobility options. I will also ensure new development is matched with thoughtful infrastructure planning so growth does not outpace community needs. Residents who want safer roads, connected neighborhoods, and equitable access to transportation should support my candidacy because I am committed to building a Mendon where everyone can move safely and confidently.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
Mendon is not immune to the national trend of rising pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. One example close to home is the intersection at Clover and Stoney Lonesome. It is in a difficult location with poor visibility, no traffic controls, and a history of accidents. Drivers are forced to make turns or cross a high speed state road with limited visibility from terrain and vegetation. This is exactly the type of situation where we need to step up safety measures.
More broadly, we can improve safety with expanded sidewalks, greater separation between pedestrians and traffic, and dedicated bike lanes where possible. As a Town Board member, I will work with our Board, Monroe County, and the New York State DOT to bring Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach to Mendon. That means slowing traffic in areas where people live and walk, improving crosswalks and lighting, adding protected bike lanes where feasible, and addressing the most dangerous curves and intersections. We must also ensure school zones and park crossings are clearly marked and consistently enforced. By working together across all levels of government, we can make Mendon’s roads safer for everyone.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Mendon’s comprehensive plan already highlights the need for safer roads and expanded sidewalk access. As a Town Board candidate, I believe we must take a proactive approach by identifying shovel ready projects and positioning Mendon to compete successfully for outside funding. That means not waiting for opportunities to come to us, but actively working with County, State, and Federal partners to secure the resources needed to move projects forward.
I strongly support pursuing programs such as Monroe County’s municipal sidewalk funding to leverage outside dollars and stretch every local tax dollar. This approach minimizes local spending while investing in safety and strengthening connections between neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and recreation areas. I am committed to ensuring Mendon never leaves available resources on the table.
I also believe we should set aside money for smaller improvements that bring immediate benefits. High visibility crosswalks, clear visual obstructors from intersections, fixing poor sight lines, and adding flashing beacons at trail and school crossings are relatively low cost but can save lives. Combined with pursuing larger funding opportunities such as federal Safe Streets for All grants and state transportation programs, this strategy allows us to deliver both quick wins now and the larger long term projects that will shape Mendon’s future.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
N/A
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
In Mendon, we do not have RTS bus service the way larger towns do. Residents are almost entirely dependent on cars, bikes, or walking. For those without a car, the limited alternatives like rideshare or taxis are costly and often unreliable. This lack of mobility limits access to jobs, shops, and essential services.
I support zoning and economic development that bring jobs, shops, and services back to our main streets and hamlet centers where people can reach them by foot or bike. Filling the empty storefronts in the Hamlet of Mendon should be a priority, and one way to achieve this is by creating partnerships with local organizations and hosting pop-up retail or farmers markets in vacant spaces. Temporary uses bring life back to main streets, attract foot traffic, and often lead to long-term tenants once businesses establish a local customer base.
I will also push for stronger connections to existing county transit corridors through safe bike and pedestrian routes to Honeoye Falls and Pittsford. These connections would allow residents without cars to access jobs, schools, and services, while supporting local businesses and ensuring Mendon grows in a balanced, accessible way.
Finally, I believe we should revisit earlier reports, such as the 2009 report to expand walking and biking options through the LeHigh valley Trail. Creating safe, car free corridors through population centers could increase accessibility, support economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for all residents.
Rebecca L Kreuzer
Political Party:Democratic
Candidate Email:
Website:
We did not receive a response from this candidate.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Penfield faces several significant transportation challenges. Chief among them is the safety of our roads and intersections.
Several roads pose particular concern, including Empire Boulevard, Route 441, Atlantic/Browncroft, Route 250, Five Mile Line, Jackson, Whalen, and Plank Roads. The intersection of Routes 441 and 250 is especially alarming, with a crash rate five to six times higher than the state average for similar intersections. These dangers affect drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Infrastructure upgrades such as safer crosswalks, filling sidewalk gaps, and prioritizing safe routes to schools are urgently needed.
Beyond safety, Penfield also faces pressing issues around public transit, connectivity, and electrification. Bus service is infrequent and often inconvenient, with long transfer times that disproportionately impact residents facing financial barriers. Sidewalk and trail gaps limit active transportation options like walking and cycling. Meanwhile, our electric grid and charging infrastructure must be upgraded to support electric vehicles, whether personal cars, school buses, or public fleets.
As Town Supervisor, I will bring a fresh approach to these challenges. I will work closely with County and State leaders to deliver solutions for Penfield residents. I will collaborate with RTS, RG&E, and other partners to improve service and infrastructure. Most importantly, I will listen to residents and address their concerns. I will listen to the Town staff and identify systemic barriers that may prevent us from securing the resources we need.
Penfield residents who care about transportation should vote for me because I will follow through on transportation issues with a new approach to government that collaborates with State representatives and with all stakeholders to solve the serious transportation challenges Penfield faces.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
At the Town level, I will propose and pass a Safety First resolution, affirming the principles of Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach. I will look to ensure that new development includes safe sidewalk connections, traffic calming, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities whenever feasible. I will work with Town staff to and prepare project designs for high-risk intersections in advance so that Penfield is ready to apply as soon as grant funding becomes available. I will also partner with neighboring towns to coordinate with County and State officials on shared safety concerns.
At the County level, I will focus on corridors of greatest concern, such as Atlantic Avenue and Five Mile Line Road. I will propose regular meetings with the County DOT to review safety data, set priorities, and implement solutions. In addition, I will work with Town staff to pursue grants that fund increased speed enforcement in Penfield by Sheriff’s deputies.
At the State level, I will prioritize advocacy for our most dangerous roadways such as Routes 441, 250, and 286. I will push for traffic calming studies, ensure Penfield projects are included in the State DOT Five Year Plan, and partner with NYSDOT to pursue grant funding through programs such as TAP and Safe Streets for All.
This multi-tiered strategy combines vision with action: strengthening partnerships, leading advocacy, and securing funding to make Penfield’s roads safer for everyone.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Penfield already takes advantage of Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk matching funds, and with me as Supervisor, we will seize every opportunity to utilize state, county, and federal matching funds.
The town has been working to fill sidewalk gaps and is to expand trails, including new multi-use trails at Shadow Pines. Just recently, Penfield concluded a community survey toward developing an Active Transportation Plan. As Supervisor, I will use this plan to prioritize projects, likely focusing on high-risk intersections, school routes without sidewalks or bike lanes, and key connectivity gaps.
To fund these improvements, I will explore every available tool: town budget allocations, bonds, public–private partnerships, and grant funding. I will coordinate closely with the Monroe County DOT to ensure Penfield projects are included in county road improvements, and with RTS to align public transit upgrades with local infrastructure.
I will also seek partnerships with our schools to improve safety for students and strengthen grant applications, bundling projects strategically to increase our competitiveness for outside funding.
With this approach, Penfield can build safer, smarter, and more connected transportation options for everyone.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4a. As Town Supervisor, I would ensure that Penfield seeks state and federal grants for shelters, signage, and sidewalks leading to bus stops. I would also investigate partnering with businesses and schools to co-fund improvements near commercial districts and school zones.
In addition to shelters, sidewalks, and signage, other priorities would be:
• Well-lit stops for safety and accessibility
• ADA-compliant ramps, curb cuts, and seating
• Trash and recycling bins, as well as bike racks
• Safe boarding areas that do not block traffic
• Strong sidewalk and bike lane connections
I would look into Park-and-Ride facilities where feasible
To help residents take full advantage of these improvements, I would promote the convenience, safety, and accessibility of our bus system in town communications to residents.
4b. I would take a structured approach to advocating for improved RGRTA on-demand services in Penfield.
First, I would gather data on current service usage and identify gaps. I would solicit public input with special attention to seniors, people with disabilities, students, and residents with lower incomes who most rely on these services.
With that information, I would propose and pass a Town Board resolution expressing Penfield’s support for enhanced on-demand service.
I would meet with RGRTA as needed to address Penfield’s specific needs and collaborate on targeted solutions, prioritizing the most critical connections first.
In addition, I would work with neighboring towns and county, state, and federal partners to demonstrate regional demand and secure outside funding. I to pursue available grant opportunities to support service improvements.
I would track outcomes and use that data to strengthen funding requests and communications with RGRTA. I would actively communicate results to the community through both traditional and social media, highlighting successes, keeping residents engaged, and continuing advocacy for expanded service.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Penfield’s existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets already benefit from strong infrastructure and high visibility. Yet too many storefronts and commercial spaces remain vacant. Revitalizing these areas offers far greater benefit, especially for residents without cars, than directing new businesses and housing into less accessible locations.
On the land use side, I would explore opportunities for smaller-scale mixed-use development in underperforming areas to create more vibrant, walkable centers. I would look to remove unnecessary barriers and consider or pursue incentives that support the reuse of vacant commercial space and encourage infill development, rather than expansion into open land. Design standards that emphasize pedestrian-friendly, attractive main streets would be central to this effort.
On the economic development side, I would seek to remove unnecessary hurdles for redevelopment projects that reduce vacancies or create jobs. I would pursue state and federal grants for corridor improvements, seek Pro-Housing Community designation to unlock additional funding opportunities, and build partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community organizations. Targeting business sectors that best fit specific locations would help maximize long-term success.
At the same time, I would continue to prioritize investments that make our traditional corridors true destinations: improved sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, and community events that bring people together. My dream would be restoring the Four Corners area as a traditional main street setting that is more convenient, walkable, and welcoming.
With thoughtful policy updates and strong partnerships, Penfield can grow jobs, revitalize its key corridors, strengthen the character of the town, and make it more connected and accessible.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Penfield is a community that leaned into the car-centric community of the 1970’s-1990’s and never evolved beyond that. Development continues to be non transit oriented and does not take into account pedestrian access. While the town does require sidewalks with new development many times they are sidewalks that lead to nowhere. Crosswalks are many times a dangerous endeavor across a half-dozen lanes of traffic and bike lanes do not exist. The town needs to evaluate it’s comprehensive (master) plan and look at those items above as those that are center to the quality of life of its residents.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
I would, in my current role as the Director of Development in the Town of Irondequoit I have relationships with many of the officials from NYS DOT to Monroe County as well as neighboring town’s. I think collaboration is important as these types of approaches are not in a vacuum and should include as much of our region as possible.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
I can only speak to my current role in Irondequoit, where we continue to work with our partners like Walk/Bike Irondequoit to develop bike lanes, bike routes and investigate options that include bike bridges and alternative paths for pedestrian/bikes that allow for safe passage and no vehicle conflicts.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
I will say that it is important to work with RGRTA on continuing to evolve the bus passenger experience as there are many residents who utilize this service. With more than one bus-route in Penfield we need to continue to advocate for our public transit users. The RGRTA on-demand service is also used by many residents and has given them greater access to the overall RTS network. We need to ensure that those residents are represented and work with/partner with RGRTA. I would also say that encouraging transit-oriented development should be a top priority. We have several opportunities along both Empire Blvd and Penfield Rd bus routes that are not being capitalized on.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
As mentioned above, transit oriented development is the key to evolving our town. Our area has not embraced this type of development in the same way that many other parts of our country have. Transit oriented development has massive benefits to both the community as well as the developers who invest in it. We have several opportunities in Penfield that I believe need to be looked into further.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
Traffic safety and connectivity in our community is a significant challenge in Penfield. The town is automobile focused. Many of the main roads in our community are not accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. in some neighborhoods, sidewalks may not exist at all or have gaps in coverage that significantly hinder use. Cycling in many parts of the town is also prohibitive due to narrow or no shoulders and/or adequate biking lanes. Finally, the town has limited bus lines and times for mass transit.
As a cyclist (who was once struck by a vehicle) I have had the opportunity speak with community members to gain ideas as to how to make roads and streets safer. As an attorney, I believe I can work with others to assess and create policies specific to the needs of Penfield, while looking at the issue from a holistic perspective so as to work with adjoining towns, the county and the state to create better infrastructure that accommodates pedestrians and cyclists. I also believe continued review an assessment of mass transit needs should be developed in our town as it grows.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
As a town that experiences these problems on a daily basis, it has been a key focus in our campaign. As the Safe System Approach provides, many of our roadways need to be thoroughly assed to determine how we can mitigate human mistakes that are often due to impatient drivers and flawed traffic designs. To encourage safer behaviors, and to facilitate safe travel by the most vulnerable users, we need to work with local law enforcement to obtain funding for traffic enforcement and prevention. I have had valuable conversations with local law enforcement to discuss ideas.
I have also had the opportunity to speak with state elected officials to discuss ways to work on speed limit concerns and ways to mitigate speed.
Most importantly, is the need to have community engagement to work on having our town take a serious look at options in traffic control that goes beyond traffic lights. Many people have solid ideas that conform with the Safe System approach. We need to work on execution of these ideas.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
While I have voiced my support for these projects to the town and other local elected officials, I am only able to do this as a citizen at this point. I am hopeful that I can increase my ability to do more by proactively working on such funding projects.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4. A- On August 7, 2025, the RGRTA Board of Commissioners approved updates to RTS On Demand Service that went into effect in September of this year. Unfortunately, Penfield was not included as town to be offered this service. Many of the routes in town are limited access by time and have no weather protection for users. While there is RTS Route 50 in town, buses are approximately 2 hours apart. Moreover, the buses do not provide good access to key town resources such as the library and recreation center.
I am hopeful to work with the community to assess needs and work towards improving the infrastructure of the routes. I believe we also need to determine how we can revisit RTS on-demand transportation opportunities in town.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
Improvement of mass transit (busing) locations and more frequent route times for the major employment corridors. More specifically, work on opportunities to connect residents of Rochester and nearby towns to more frequent buses with a focus on Empire Boulevard and route 441 east to 250. There is also a need for this in the Panorama trail and Linden Oaks areas.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
As someone who works on a college campus, I see a different way forward through a Strong Towns lens. Campuses often wait to see where students naturally walk before putting down permanent paths. Our town can take the same data-driven, people-first approach—working with local experts, state and federal partners, and our own neighbors to design streets and trails where people actually move.
Cars are not the enemy, but they don’t live here—people do. Many young families want to walk or bike. Many students I meet are choosing not to drive. My own adult child will never drive. We need to create more reliable public transportation options and meet residents where they are—go to the public, not just hold public hearings—to make those options real.
I’m also a runner and cyclist who wears a RoadID and has survived two serious crashes, including one on RAGBRAI. I know firsthand that safety is about design, not luck. With thoughtful planning, we can build streets and neighborhoods where everyone—on foot, bike, bus, or car—moves confidently and safely.
That is why residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and stronger public transit can count on me. I will prioritize people-centered design, practical investments, and true public engagement so Pittsford’s transportation network works for everyone.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
The rise in fatalities since 2010 reflects many factors, including digital distraction, but the core issue is how our streets are designed. We built roads for speed and convenience, not for the human reality that people make mistakes and are vulnerable when crashes occur.
I would champion a Safe System / Strong Towns approach with three priorities:
Design for Lower Speeds and Attention
Work with County and State DOTs to retrofit key corridors—narrower lanes, raised crosswalks, protected bike and walkways, and gateway treatments that cue drivers to slow down and look up.
Layered Safety and Shared Responsibility
Apply redundancy—better lighting, clearer sight lines, modern traffic calming—so one failure doesn’t mean tragedy. Coordinate town, county, and state actions so every layer reinforces the others.
Data-Informed, People-First Investments
Start where crashes and near-misses happen. Engage neighbors directly (pop-up demos, walk audits) to guide incremental fixes that add up to lasting change.
Cars aren’t the enemy, but people live here. Designing roads for people—supported by modern enforcement and real public engagement—will save lives.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
Pittsford’s Comprehensive Plan already maps key walking and biking connections. As a Town Board member, I will ensure those projects are built into our annual capital plan and budgeted so we can act when matching funds become available.
I strongly support using Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Fund, which covers up to 50 % of construction costs on county roads, and I’ll pursue state and federal matches such as New York State’s Complete Streets and Environmental Protection Fund programs, plus federal Transportation Alternatives (TAP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), and Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) grants.
I will also work to educate and engage residents on why these investments matter—why neighbors want safer, people-first streets, why drivers speed on wide, high-speed “stroads,” and how careful design slows traffic and saves money. This information should be easy to find, not scattered across multiple websites. I plan to share it through forums and my Town & Gown Substack so residents can follow every step.
By combining predictable local investment, matching funds, and open communication, Pittsford can build the active transportation network our plans envision—safely, economically, and with strong public support.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
4A. Improving Bus Amenities
Just because we are Pittsford does not mean we do not need RTS. My own son is an adult on the spectrum and will never drive. We are home to two universities, and many young adults are choosing not to drive. Local employers—including assisted living campuses—tell me employees can’t get to work because of transportation gaps.
The town doesn’t operate buses, but we control the public right-of-way where every bus stop lives. I will:
Provide safe, dignified access—crosswalks, curb extensions, year-round snow and ice maintenance, and good lighting.
Add comfort—shelters, benches, and real-time information—by working with RTS and property owners.
Fold these upgrades into capital plans and sidewalk projects, using county, state, and federal matching funds (Monroe County Sidewalk Fund, Complete Streets, TAP, SS4A) to stretch local dollars.
4B. Advocating for Better RTS On Demand
RTS On Demand is not adequate or reliable, even for a privileged, resourced family like ours. Holding “hearings” at Town Board meetings for riders who may never hear about them is counterintuitive and ineffective.
I will flip the process—go where riders actually are (universities, senior centers, job sites), gather real travel data, and share it with RTS so routes and hours reflect need.
My family is a foamer family: we vacation by train (most recently Rochester to Winnipeg), and my partner grew up in Montreal where transit was dependable enough to read on the bus. We know reliable public transit is possible—and Pittsford deserves nothing less.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
About 11 % of Monroe County households don’t own a car. Strengthening walkable, transit-ready main streets and transportation corridors is the smartest way to connect people to jobs and keep taxes and housing costs stable.
In Pittsford this means building on what already works. Our historic Village core and canal area already feature two-story, mixed-use buildings with apartments or offices above cafés and shops. Similar small-scale opportunities exist along Monroe Avenue, East Avenue, and in underused commercial plazas, where upper-story housing can be added without changing neighborhood character.
Research shows compact, mixed-use development generates far more tax revenue per acre and costs far less to maintain than car-dependent sprawl. By encouraging housing over shops in these existing centers, we keep services and jobs within walking distance, support local businesses, and make it easier for residents without cars—including students, seniors, and people with disabilities—to thrive.
I will pair incremental zoning updates and design standards with sidewalk, bike, and transit investments so new growth fits the look and feel of Pittsford while strengthening our tax base and creating real mobility choices.
1.What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?
East Rochester’s biggest transportation challenge is making sure our compact village works for everyone—drivers, walkers, seniors, children, and those who use the bus. I will focus on smart, practical improvements that keep our streets safe and accessible for all residents. Melissa and I share this vision of keeping East Rochester connected, safe, and strong.
2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?
Traffic fatalities are rising nationwide, and even one serious accident in East Rochester is too many. I believe in common-sense steps—slowing traffic near schools and parks, keeping sidewalks continuous and well-maintained, and creating safer crosswalks in high-traffic areas. I will work closely with county and state partners to make sure safety is always a priority. Melissa and I are united in making prevention and protection a top priority for families and seniors.
3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?
East Rochester is a small village with limited resources, and I believe we need to be fiscally responsible while still pursuing opportunities. I will seek county matching funds, state grants, and partnerships that bring investment into our community so taxpayers aren’t bearing the full cost. Melissa and I agree that stretching dollars through partnerships is the smartest way to keep ER safe without added burdens.
4. [Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] As of sept 1, RGRTA will be launching significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps would you take to advocate for improved service in your community?
While East Rochester doesn’t control the RTS bus system, we can improve the areas around bus stops—sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting. I support adding benches or shelters where possible and ensuring snow removal so residents can travel safely year-round. Melissa and I believe accessibility matters, and we are committed to making ER welcoming for all who call it home.
5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?
About 11% of Monroe County households don’t own a car, which means planning must include walkability and access to transit. I support development policies that strengthen our traditional main streets, encourage small business growth, and maintain East Rochester’s village character. Melissa and I are committed to growth that creates opportunity while protecting ER’s small-town feel.
We did not receive a response from this candidate.
Reconnect Rochester would like to thank all of the candidates (and their teams) for the time and effort they’ve dedicated to our community, and for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to working with them very soon.
Reconnect Rochester surveyed all candidates for City of Rochester Mayor, Rochester City Council, and Rochester Commissioner of Schools to learn where they stand on issues related to transportation and mobility.
Questions were designed to give the candidates the opportunity to share their opinions, ideas and vision for a well-connected and accessible community. We contacted every campaign by email or mail to request a response. Reconnect Rochester also surveyed all candidates running for Monroe County Legislature, County Sheriff, Town Supervisor, and Town Board for every town in Monroe County. You can find the countywide questionnaire here: Countywide Questionnaire Link
Click on the candidate names below to read their full, unedited responses. Candidates appear in the order presented on the Monroe County Board of Elections Certification of Candidates list.
The majority of candidates responded to our questionnaire during the June Primary. We surveyed candidates who did not respond to our request in June as well as those who have since joined the ballot. You will find the combined answers below.
We hope this information will help you make an informed decision when you head to the polls! Early voting for the primary election starts Saturday, October 25th and runs through Sunday, November 2nd. Click here to find early voting sites!
To check if you are registered to vote, confirm your polling location the November 4th general election, and even see a preview of what your ballot will look like: click here.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
I have launched the city’s first ever vision zero program and which includes a plan for safer streets better mobility and better public transit. I have secured funding to complete our bicycle spine network and we are working to build a multi modal station in Rochester.
2. What role do you see Mayor playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
The Mayor has to be front in center on this topic connecting and conveying organizations like Reconnect Rochester, Government officials, regional transit and stakeholders that can help address these issues. This is what I have done during my first term.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
I have already started advancing vision zero as Mayor, I appointed a Vision Zero Taskforce and all of our legislation takes vision zero in consideration. We will ensure that our work is guided by the three E’s Engineering, Education and Enforcement as we look to advance our Vision Zero Plan.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Yes
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
We must continue to advocated and incentivize businesses that locate in neighborhoods in the city of Rochester. I always advocate for jobs to be where they are accessible to our community.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
I implemented these policies as Mayor and will continue them in a 2nd term. The public has been very supportive and pleased with these amenities.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
I am an active cyclist who lives in the city of Rochester. My 20 years of cycling experience in the City of Rochester informs my answers. I ride on the streets of Rochester, not the sidewalks, weekly and have experienced some very obvious shortcomings. Worn out bike lane markings. Bike paths that abruptly end into non marked traffic intersections. These are dangerous. Weaving bike lanes in and out of streets is the most dangerous part of trying to use the created bike paths. (East Main St. and Culver intersection). My actions to address multiple transportation methods would be to improve our separated bike path system. We have the advantage of canal path (East/West), riverway trail (North/South) El Camino Trail. Improve these corridors. For in street, which most cyclists use, make sure they are well marked. Overall, I am impressed with City Of Rochester Drivers they generally do a better job respecting cyclists and Residents have a positive response. Final thing I would do is better education of community on the place a cyclist has on the road. A cyclist is a moving vehicle which has it’s space on the road. This recognition is most important to elevate in our community. Since we rent e-scooters and e-bikes which do not follow any kind of moving vehicle rules. Emphasizing the need for better education to rider as well.
2. What role do you see Mayor playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
The Transportation challenges that I see facing city residents is at will transportation to jobs and shopping. Some things that have improved transportation needs of the city are Gig businesses. (Uber, Lyft, instacart, Amazon) these services give jobs and more granular services to those in need of transportation. These services need to be encouraged by keeping them safe as they provide services.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
A cyclist is a moving vehicle which has it’s space on the road. This recognition is most important to elevate in our community. Since we rent e-scooters and e-bikes which do not follow any kind of moving vehicle rules this emphasizes the need for better education to rider as well. Many times I see cyclist and one wheelers flying through our streets dressed in dark clothing with no headlights or taillights. So we need to enforce proper visibility on cyclists as well as rental scooters. Making proper space and markings on our streets for alternate transportation is something I would encourage.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
I am aware of specific local funding to support modest improvements. I would support and encourage those parties to expand the local funding efforts.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
Safety is the most important thing to emphasize for our city. The city population itself doesn’t bring enough buying power to support businesses in the City core. Soft on crime policy scares away customers. I would organize our law enforcement to actively police our streets. Menacing crime also gives Rochester a bad reputation. We cannot afford this reputation. Entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged in any area of the city. Having a business friendly attitude top down in the city administration is of utmost importance. More businesses in the city means expanded job opportunity for our city communities. As far as keeping or expanding business in the core of our city is up to the building owners and their efforts to attract business back downtown. Rochester’s downtown is a dynamic space on the eastside of the river. Expanding this to the west side would be the next step. I will not jeopardize Rochester residents affordable housing by prolonging tax abatements to core downtown properties. This has only meant an increase of residents property taxes to make up the shortfall. Tourism is another area that needs to be emphasized.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
The Transit Center was a big improvement and example of making bus service fit with the traffic flow of the city. I welcome improvements to the bus stops to make them more protective from the weather. This however would need monitoring to keep homeless from taking up residence. Perhaps a Digital readout system that live tracks Bus line status.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
Rochester City residents deserve safer, more affordable and accessible public transit. This includes a system that accommodates resident schedules and one that is easily accessible by location.
I am committed to working with all neighbors and transportation advocates to ensure that Rochester adequately funds reliable, affordable, and accessible public transit including bus lanes and bike paths. As someone who thinks outside of the box, I support funding studies to evaluate other modes of public transit such as trolleys or subways, both of which Rochester has had in the past may be feasible solutions to address Rochester’s transportation challenges. Ultimately, I am here to partner with impacted communities to address our transportation challenges.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council members key role is advancing policies and allocating resources to enact the will of the community. Through that lens, City Council must prioritize investments in safer streets through road design that protects bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers, and traffic safety education.
Additionally, City Council must partner with RTS to ensure that residents in under-resourced communities have access to quality, affordable, reliable transportation.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
Traffic-related deaths and injuries are not an inevitability, but are tied to public policy and planning. To end traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries, I’ll support and work collaboratively with community organizations, the Department of Environmental Services and key stake holders to prioritize and fund the redesign dangerous roads .I additionally will support reducing speed limits, expanding pedestrian & bike pathways, and improving access to public transit, including constructing a Bus Rapid Transit corridor from the Inner Loop to West Ridge Road.
Additionally, it’s essential that resources are invested in hiring adequate staff to oversee and implement initiatives that keep bicyclists and pedestrians safe.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
I support a quick build program here in Rochester to augment bike paths and improve safety, particularly in low income neighborhoods, as biking tends to be the most affordable means of transportation. Given the dangerous and tumultuous political climate at the federal level, it is imperative we leverage local and state resources to improve access to transportation. Rochester’s projected annual city budget is approximately 680 million dollars; we have the resources to ensure our residents have more reliable, affordable, access to transportation.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
According to the City of Rochester Transportation Plan, a quarter of Rochester residents do not have access to a car. Amidst the rising cost of living, more residents in Rochester and across the country are turning towards alternative, more affordable means of transportation. We can reduce our dependence on cars by supporting inclusive high density zoning where grocery stores, medical facilities, day care providers, restaurants, parks, and recreation centers are integrated into neighborhoods and within walking distance of residents. In particular, we should evaluate high density zoning in areas already accessible via public transit. I also support zoning policies mandating outdoor and indoor spaces for bicycle parking.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
Improving bus stop amenities can increase participation, enjoyment, and comfort in bus travel. In making improvements, the voices of community members who primarily utilize RTS bus service, should shape improvements. I support the following measures to enhance local bus stops:
Installing additional shelter, seating and lighting
Ending the removal of existing, functional bus shelters
Creating green space around bus stops
Improving cross-walks in close proximity to bus stops
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
I fully support the implementation of Roc Vision Zero in the city of Rochester and have invested in significant infrastructure projects that support improving pedestrian and cyclist safety. Dating back to my time before joining City Council, I led a complete streets makeover project on North Clinton Avenue. In my role at Ibero, I was a part of the education and advocacy efforts to pass a complete streets policy locally and also supported adding bus cube infrastructure in NE Rochester in collaboration with Reconnect. As a councilmember, I have engaged in adding new biking infrastructure to include our first protected bike lanes along main street, amongst many other projects identified in our Active Transportation plan. I will continue to support and develop new opportunities to improve safe streets for all with the mission of saving lives.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
First and foremost, council can evaluate and push back on public infrastructure projects that do not meet the needs of residents. We have heard loud and clear that biking and pedestrian safety infrastructure are critically important to residents in the city, and thankfully we have a city team that believes in enhancing our infrastructure. I also believe the council can work in collaboration with RGRTA to continually improve our bus routes and public transit. The struggle to reach job opportunities in a timely manner is ongoing for Rochester residents, and while the service RTS provides is great, continually monitoring how those routes are run is critical to meet the needs of my constituents.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
First, it has to appear in our strategy and be a part of our architectural & engineering team’s DNA. Every year in budget season, Council is given the opportunity to review the city budget. This year, the Roc Vision Zero strategy is engrained in the department of environmental services’ strategies. I believe I will be able to help enhance the Vision Zero initiative by funding projects that put pedestrians and not cars first. I also believe we need to revisit community conversations around automated enforcement.
The red light camera program was extremely unpopular and I do not believe that is a viable solution. However, I believe we need to look at the speeding issue in our community again as other cities have figured out how to make automated enforcement equitable, at a minimum this should be evaluated. Lowering the speed limit on residential streets can be an impactful way to set a new speed standard in our city and we should consider all options. If you are struck by a vehicle, a difference of 5 mph in speed could be the difference between life or death. A robust prevention strategy is how we ultimately reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
I am certainly open to understanding the mechanics of how this could functionally work. We are often met with prioritization challenges in our capital improvement plan and would have to work through how a local quick build program could function. As an example, this year the city had to close a $97.5M budget gap in the proposed budget, which delayed a few capital projects. With that being our reality, I would work with Reconnect and others in the community to get a deeper understanding of how the city might expedite infrastructure improvements. Our city has an excellent bond rating, which will aid in advancing projects locally at a lower cost to our residents but I do believe the mechanics of this question need to be explored thoroughly.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
I believe in transit oriented development. I think the more we can do to help people move around our city, the better it will be for economic development. We are in a unique time, ripe with opportunity for downtown Rochester. We have expanded the number of people who reside in our center city and those individuals need amenities and they have buying power. Many of our infrastructure projects on Main street focus on all modes of transportation and having our transit center downtown close to Main provides the right infrastructure connections.
We can do more to increase the growth and development of housing, which in turn has an impact on transportation. I am interested in reducing parking requirements for development as I believe we have more parking spaces than we truly need. The city was built for 330,000 people and we currently hover around 210,000. I believe our zoning plan can help us repurpose land, improve street amenities and setbacks, and create opportunity for walkable neighborhoods.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
I have been a champion for this issue and am excited to see new amenities being piloted across the city. I will continue to push that these amenities are updated in new projects, and support the city administration in finding additional dollars to expand on them. I also am a firm believer that neighborhoods deserve bus shelters, equitably. I understand that these shelters may present some challenges with vandalism (i.e. breaking the glass), but I would like to work with Reconnect and other partners to evaluate what other cities are doing to provide residents shelter while waiting for the bus.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
Rochester residents deserve safe, accessible, and reliable transportation—regardless of income, ability, or where they live. As someone who has led neighborhood revitalization efforts in Beechwood and EMMA, I understand how transportation access directly impacts economic mobility, health, and opportunity. I will prioritize infrastructure that centers people over cars, including safer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and more connected transit routes. I’ll also advocate for investments that close equity gaps—so transportation works for everyone, not just those with a car.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council sets the tone and the budget for what kind of city we want to be. Council can push for more equitable investments in infrastructure, ensure community voices are centered in planning, and hold departments accountable for implementation. We can also work closely with RTS and other partners to advocate for policies that connect people to opportunity—especially those without access to a car. I’ll use my platform to keep transportation equity at the forefront of every policy conversation.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
I support Vision Zero because I believe no one should lose their life simply trying to cross the street or ride their bike. As a City Councilmember, I will prioritize funding for design-based solutions that make our streets safer—especially in neighborhoods that have experienced the greatest harm. Many traffic injuries and deaths are preventable, and we can address them through smart infrastructure: enhanced speed bumps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, protected bike lanes, and safer intersections.
I’ll also push for greater community input in the implementation of Vision Zero strategies, making sure residents are involved in shaping solutions for their neighborhoods. And I’ll advocate for stronger data tracking and public education campaigns to change behavior and save lives. Vision Zero must be more than a policy—it has to be a commitment backed by action and investment.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Yes, I would strongly support a quick build program in Rochester. We need solutions that are fast, flexible, and responsive to real safety concerns—not projects that take years while lives remain at risk. Quick build strategies allow us to make meaningful, cost-effective improvements using local funds, while demonstrating our commitment to safer streets right now.
Through my work with Connected Communities, I’ve partnered with Reconnect Rochester on Complete Streets Makeover projects—temporary street redesigns that show what’s possible when we prioritize safety, accessibility, and community input. I’ve seen firsthand how these efforts can spark long-term change and shift the way residents and policymakers think about public space. As a Councilmember, I would advocate for piloting quick builds in high-need areas and scaling these efforts citywide.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
We need to align land use with transit access and walkability. I support zoning that encourages mixed-use development and higher density along major transit corridors, making it easier for residents to live near jobs, services, and daily necessities. I also support policies that incentivize employers to locate in the city core—particularly in neighborhoods that have historically been excluded from economic investment.
Additionally, I would prioritize workforce development partnerships that connect residents to jobs accessible by foot, bike, or bus—not just by car. Through my work at Connected Communities, we’ve focused on treating neighborhoods as economic ecosystems—places where people can live, work, and play. I believe the City can and should play a stronger role in shaping land use and development policies that create equitable access to opportunity and build wealth within our communities.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
To make riding the bus more comfortable and accessible, I would advocate for continued investment in infrastructure upgrades—especially in high-ridership and historically underserved areas. That includes adding shelters, benches, improved lighting, trash receptacles, and real-time arrival displays. Design matters, and these upgrades ensure riders feel safe, informed, and respected while waiting.
I also support transit-priority measures—like dedicated lanes and traffic calming—that improve speed and reliability. As RTS On Demand grows, we need to invest in the infrastructure that supports it: including increasing driver availability to meet community needs.
Equally important is improving the safety, experience, and dignity of both riders and drivers, especially at the Transit Center. We must ensure this critical hub is clean, well-staffed, and designed as a welcoming, safe public space for all who pass through it—day and night.
Community input should continue to guide these improvements. By listening to riders, we can build a system that works better for everyone.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
When I think about safer streets and better mobility, I think about the folks I see every day in our neighborhoods—kids walking to school, seniors waiting at bus stops, parents juggling strollers and groceries. I’ve lived these experiences, and I know how hard it can be to get around when the sidewalks are broken or the bus is late.
I’ll fight for safer streets by pushing for better crosswalks, more sidewalks, traffic-calming measures, and street lighting—things that keep everyone safe whether they’re walking, biking, driving, or rolling. I want kids to get to school safely and seniors to walk home without worry.
I’ll work to improve public transit so buses run more frequently, on time, and get people where they need to go. We need a system that connects folks to jobs, school, and healthcare—without long waits or confusing routes.
I also believe in complete streets—roads designed for everyone, not just cars. That means more sidewalks, bike lanes, and accessibility for folks with disabilities.
I know transportation is more than getting from point A to B—it’s about opportunity, dignity, and quality of life. When we invest in better mobility, we’re investing in our community’s future.
Vote for me because I’ll bring the lived experience, community voice, and determination to make Rochester’s streets safer and more accessible for all of us.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council has a huge role to play in making sure everyone can get where they need to go safely and affordably. We’re the ones who approve the budget, oversee policies, and hold city departments accountable. That means we can push for investments in sidewalks, bus shelters, and bike lanes—and make sure those investments actually reach the neighborhoods that need them most.
We can also partner with RTS and community organizations to make sure transit routes connect people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and groceries. Too often, our transit system leaves folks behind—especially in Black and Brown communities. City Council can be the bridge that connects residents’ needs to real solutions.
I see City Council as the people’s voice in City Hall. We’re here to listen, learn, and then act—making sure our transportation system is fair, safe, and works for everyone. That’s how we build a city that leaves no one behind.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
As a City Councilmember, I’ll work to make sure Vision Zero is real action, not just another plan on a shelf. We need safer crosswalks, better lighting, speed limits that keep people safe, and sidewalks that actually work for everyone—especially in neighborhoods that have been left behind.
I’ll fight to make sure every street redesign puts people before cars—kids, seniors, and folks just trying to get around. And I’ll push city departments to report back on progress so we know it’s working.
Vision Zero is about saving lives, and I’ll bring the urgency and community focus to make that happen.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Yes! I’m absolutely supportive of quick build programs here in Rochester. We can’t keep waiting years for safer streets—people need protection now. A quick build program would let us get real results faster: safer bike lanes, better crosswalks, and traffic-calming measures that save lives.
I believe we should prioritize local dollars to make these improvements happen—and target the neighborhoods that need them most. Relying only on federal funding takes too long and doesn’t always put our community’s most urgent needs first.
If elected, I’ll fight for a quick build program that uses local dollars to make our streets safer and more accessible for everyone—no matter how you get around.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
Too many Rochester families depend on buses, bikes, and sidewalks to get to work—and that means we need smart policies that bring jobs closer to where people live and make it easier to get there.
I’d push for zoning and incentives that bring more businesses, grocery stores, and healthcare services into our neighborhoods, so people don’t have to leave the city just to find work. I’d also support mixed-use development that puts housing, retail, and offices together, so folks can live, work, and shop without a car.
We need to invest in reliable, frequent public transit that connects people to jobs—and that includes improving sidewalks and bike lanes so everyone can get to work safely.
I’ll make sure that as we grow Rochester’s economy, we’re building it for everyone—not just for those who can afford a car.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
One of the things I hear the most from residents is how hard it is to wait for a bus without anywhere to sit or any cover from the rain, snow, or hot sun. As City Councilmember, I’ll push to make sure every bus stop has a bench and a shelter to protect riders from the elements.
I’ll work with the Department of Environmental Services to prioritize these improvements—especially in neighborhoods that rely most on public transit—and make sure that every street upgrade includes better bus stops.
A bus ride shouldn’t start with standing in the rain. Everyone deserves dignity and safety when they’re getting to work, school, or just getting around.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
I partnered with Reconnect Rochester to spearhead Roc Vision Zero, which is the most comprehensive plan we have ever had in this community make safer streets.
Moreover, I have focused on the very work that Reconnect does since first getting elected eight years ago. Though there is still lots of work to do, I believe that the culture of City Hall has made a dramatic shift towards being more bike/ped friendly in my tenure.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council must prioritize making our streets safer for everyone that uses them. That is the ethos that underpins Vision Zero.
Additionally, we have to make more transportation options available to residents; options like Veo, FloShare, RTS and more. The City does not create those transportation options ourselves, but we are responsible for creating meaningful partnerships with these types of entities.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
I am the co-chair of Vision Zero. I have built public awareness around this initiative and will continue to drive it in a new term.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Yes, and we have an opportunity to get some of these ideas started in short order. I am a big proponent of this work.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
I am a big believer in transit-oriented development. Though it’s a bit challenging to do TOD effectively in Rochester, there are some steps and strategies we can take as we adopt a new zoning code. Specifically, we should be making it easier as of right to build if it is effectively connected to our public transit system.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
We must strengthen the partnership between City and RTS. I have worked on this for years and am proud to say that I have a very strong relationship with their leadership. We need to leverage these relationships by continuing to work on things together – amenities, plowing near bus stops, targeted interventions, and more. I am currently working with RTS to find new ways to make public market shoppers aware of public transit. These partnerships allow RTS to focus their finite resources in a meaningful way.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
If you want safer streets, better mobility, and reliable transit, I’m your guy. I’m not here to push big government plans—I’m here to give you real options that fit your life. As a college student scraping by, I know how tough it is to get around when funds are tight and streets feel sketchy. Here’s my plan:
Safer Streets: Safety starts with fixing what’s broken. I’ll push for stronger community policing to deter crime and better street lighting so you can walk without worry. Well-maintained roads and sidewalks will cut down on accidents—no need for fancy overhauls.
Better Mobility: Mobility is about choice. I’ll back private sector ideas like ride-sharing or e-scooters to give you more ways to get around. For drivers, I’ll fight congestion by keeping roads in top shape, ensuring everyone’s needs are met.
Public Transit: RTS needs to work for you, not waste your tax dollars. I’ll push for smarter spending—on-time buses, decent stops—without bloated budgets. Private partnerships could boost service while keeping costs low.
Vote for me, and you’ll get a Council member who listens to you and fights for a Rochester where moving around is safe, easy, and free from government overreach.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council should be your voice, not a megaphone for bureaucrats. Our job is to clear the way for solutions that make life easier, not pile on more rules. Here’s how I’d lead:
Encourage Innovation: Cut red tape so businesses can offer new options—think ride-sharing or private shuttles. More choices mean less reliance on slow city systems.
Spend Wisely: Your tax dollars aren’t endless. I’ll demand transparency on transportation budgets and prioritize fixing potholes and worn-out stops over flashy projects.
Hear You Out: I’ll hold town halls in every neighborhood—especially those often ignored—to learn what you need. Your input, not top-down plans, will drive my votes.
Council should empower Rochesterians to move freely and safely. I’m here to make that happen without growing government’s grip.
I also have a plan for financial incentives for alternative transportation equipment for citizens. (EX. Bikes, E-Scooter, etc)
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
Nobody should lose their life on our streets—period. Vision Zero’s goal of zero traffic deaths is something I can get behind, but I’m not about heavy-handed regulations to get there. Here’s how I’d make Rochester safer:
Smarter Drivers: Reckless and distracted driving cause too many crashes. I’ll push for better driver education—especially for us younger folks—and stricter enforcement of laws like speeding. Responsibility starts with us.
Fix What’s Broken: Potholes, faded signs, and dark streets are dangers. I’ll focus on maintaining our infrastructure before chasing new projects that might not deliver.
Community Input: Nobody knows our streets better than you. I’ll work with neighborhoods to identify trouble spots and find practical fixes, keeping solutions local and effective.
I’ll advance Vision Zero by focusing on what works—practical steps, not government mandates—so we can save lives while keeping Rochester free.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Quick build bike lanes and intersection upgrades could help, but I’m not writing a blank check. Rochester’s got pressing needs—crime, schools, housing—and I want to make sure we’re spending smart. Here’s my take:
Prove It Works: Show me data that these projects cut accidents without messing up traffic for drivers. I’ll back what delivers results, not just what’s trendy.
Listen to Residents: Any plan needs your buy-in. I’ll push for public forums to hear what Rochesterians think before we commit local dollars.
Balance Everyone’s Needs: Bike lanes are great for some, but most folks drive. I’ll ensure projects work for all—cyclists, drivers, walkers—without prioritizing one group.
I’m open to quick builds if they’re cost-effective, community-supported, and don’t disrupt how Rochester moves. Let’s do this right.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
With so many Rochesterians relying on buses or their own two feet, we need a city core that’s bursting with jobs and easy to reach. I’m not about government dictating every move—I’m about creating opportunity. Here’s how:
Ease Up on Rules: Slash regulations so businesses can thrive downtown. More shops and offices mean more jobs right where you need them.
Smart Incentives: Offer tax breaks to companies that hire local and stay in the core. A buzzing downtown makes transit a direct line to work.
Train for Jobs: Partner with businesses for apprenticeships and trade programs. Equip folks with skills to grab those jobs.
Flexible Zoning: Support mixed-use zones where you can live, work, and shop nearby. It cuts travel time and makes buses more practical—without boxing anyone in.
I’ll fight for a Rochester where jobs are close, transit’s reliable, and you’re free to build your future.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
Bus stops should be clean, safe, and functional—especially for folks who ride every day. We don’t need a big government project to make that happen. Here’s my plan:
Partner with Businesses: Let companies sponsor stops with ads on shelters or benches. Better amenities, lower costs for taxpayers—win-win.
Prioritize Busy Stops: Upgrade high-traffic stops first with lights, seats, and clear signs. Why spend on empty corners when we can help where it counts?
Ask Riders: I’ll talk to bus users directly—what do you need? More shade? Better info? Your feedback will guide every upgrade.
I’ll keep bus stops welcoming and practical, using smart solutions that respect your tax dollars and your time.
PS Those little boxes are not subtle waiting unites they are dehumanizing & uncomfortable.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
I have been active in the work to build better and safer mobility options for some time, currently serving as Board President of Reconnect Rochester. I am deeply passionate and invested in working to create safer and better mobility options. I would work to expediate the implementation of vision zero by prioritizing a few of the recommendations. Expediting the implementation of the spine network. Working to reduce the speed limit. Setting policies that would ensure protected bike lanes where possible. Solving our public transit challenges is a more difficult task because it requires involvement from RTS which is not a city entity. I would advocate for funding to implement a rapid transit system on Lake Ave. I would continue to partner with RTS to request funding for bus shelters and amenities. I would work to convene key stake holders like universities and business leaders along with RTS so we can figure out solutions to address the challenges RTS is facing.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council, can pass legislation to reduce the speed limit and set policies that can push for safer road design and support the implementation of Vision Zero.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
Expediting the implementation of the spine network. Working to reduce the speed limit. Setting policies that would ensure protected bike lanes where possible. I would advocate for funding to implement a rapid transit system on Lake Ave. Support funding of positions to ensure snow is cleared of sidewalks/bicycle lanes/ and bus shelters along with supporting the enforcement that business are clearing sidewalks.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
I support quick build programs. These type of program could be a great partnership with organizations like Reconnect Rochester to help with the implementation.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
I support eliminating car parking requirements, which creates barriers for small business to start. Promote higher density development and support accessory dwelling units. I would support the moratorium on new gas stations, so parcels could be used for better business that promote walkability and use of bicycles.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
I would support the city in their efforts to join RTS in request for grants and additional funding to support buss amenities. I would lobby state and federal leaders for funding and support.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
Transportation impacts everyone. I see that every day in my own life. We live in a multigenerational home with my elder in-laws and adult disabled son. My husband bikes to work year-round, even after being hit twice while riding. I’d love to bike too, but I won’t do it without a protected lane, and I know I’m not alone in that.
We need safer, more accessible streets for everyone: seniors, parents with strollers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians. I will push for protected bike lanes, better sidewalk infrastructure, and more reliable and frequent public transit. I also want to work with RTS to improve bus service so it is more frequent, functional, and responsive to the needs of riders. This is not just about mobility. It is about equity, safety, and the freedom to move through our city with dignity.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
City Council plays a key role in shaping our transportation system. We approve budgets, set priorities, and pass policies that determine how safe, connected, and accessible our streets are. That includes funding traffic calming, investing in sidewalk repairs, supporting protected bike lanes, and working with RTS to improve transit service.
Councilmembers also have a responsibility to listen to residents and ensure that planning decisions reflect what people actually need. This means centering safety, access, and equity. Everyone deserves safe, affordable, reliable and greener ways to get around the city.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
To truly advance Vision Zero, we need to redesign our streets to prioritize safety over speed. That means narrowing lanes, adding raised crosswalks, building protected bike lanes, and using traffic calming tools that prevent crashes before they happen. Road design is the most effective way to reduce harm, especially in communities that have historically been over-policed.
I do not support expanding automated enforcement as a primary solution. Cameras may catch violations, but they do not prevent crashes and often result in fines that disproportionately impact low-income residents. A safer city starts with streets that are built for people, not just for cars.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Yes.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
I support policies that make it easier for jobs and small businesses to grow within neighborhoods, like the Flexible Mixed-Use (FMU) zoning district proposed in the Zoning Alignment Project. This allows a blend of residential, commercial, and light industrial uses in the same area, which supports local hiring and revitalizes underused spaces and reduces the need for mechanical transportation. I also support eliminating parking minimums and requiring bike infrastructure, to reduce development costs and improve access for residents who rely on transit, walking, or biking
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
I appreciate the work Reconnect Rochester has done to elevate the importance of public transit, but I believe we need to bring back “real benches” at bus stops. Everyone deserves a dignified place to rest while waiting for the bus. The colorful fiberglass boxes may be well-intentioned, but they do not meet the needs of many riders, especially seniors, people with disabilities, or parents with children.
As a city, we should improve amenities at bus stops with seating, and ideally shelter, and lighting. We should also pair those improvements with compassionate policies to address social challenges and avoid potentially hostile architectural solutions.
1. Why should Rochester residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you, and what would you do to address Rochester’s transportation challenges?
I would like to see the City start creating more transportation infrastructure that is independent of County and State control. I know it has been discussed before (and dismissed), but I still think light rail can be developed in our region. I would also like to see more protected bike lanes.
2. What role do you see City Council playing in addressing the transportation challenges that city residents experience?
Lobbying for financial support to increase public transportation options and passing legislation and budgets that make increasing public transportation a priority. Economic development that increases walkability in neighborhoods instead of building more downtown.
3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. In June 2024, the City of Rochester joined over 60 municipalities in adopting a Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. How will you advance Vision Zero as City Council?
I think City Government has to do two things. First, create a sense of community in our City. This will help foster better driving as drivers will not want valued community members to be unsafe. But the toughest thing City government needs to do is to build infrastructure that slows down drivers including more raised intersections, roundabouts, and/or speed humps. This will be unpopular, but there are too many individuals who have a disregard for others’ safety. But again, fostering a better sense of community will help people accept such changes.
4. Across the country, many cities have launched quick build programs to jumpstart the construction of protected bike lane networks such as Rochester’s commitment to build 63 miles of bike spine and to improve safety at dangerous intersections for all users overnight. Many of these initiatives use local dollars, instead of relying on federal infrastructure funding which often limits project scope and increases timelines. These programs help transportation dollars to go further and reduce dependence on federal funding which is especially important since the current administration is threatening cuts. Cleveland, Sacramento, Kalamazoo, and many other cities have quick build projects & programs. Would you be supportive of a similar quick build program in Rochester?
Yes.
5. A quarter of Rochester households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. Given that the Zoning Alignment Plan is in the final review process, what land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development to remain in the city core, and better connect people in the city to employment opportunities?
My economic development policy can be found at: https://www.daveforchange.org/economy. I want smaller, more cooperative neighborhood businesses to be fostered. This not only shores up neighborhoods, but increases area of walkability.
6. While the City of Rochester does not have control over RTS bus service, the city controls the public right-of-way. City DES is currently undertaking a project to improve bus stop amenities across the city and many projects improve amenities as streets are upgraded. How would you continue these efforts to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience?
Money for more shelters and a program to make sure snow is cleared from bus stops (and sidewalks in general). But I want money to make sure there is MORE bus service (and other forms of public transit), not just making the experience more comfortable.
1. New York State Law requires schools to teach students bicycle safety. As Commissioner of Schools, how will you work with RCSD to include bicycle safety education?
As a Commissioner of Schools, I will work collaboratively with district leadership to ensure that bicycle safety education is fully integrated into RCSD’s health and physical education curriculum in alignment with New York State requirements. This includes partnering with community organizations, such as local law enforcement and bike advocacy groups, to provide hands-on learning experiences and culturally responsive safety workshops. I will also advocate for necessary resources and training to support educators in delivering this content effectively. Above all, I will prioritize student safety and understanding—ensuring that all instruction not only meets state regulations but equips our students with the knowledge and skills to stay safe while navigating their neighborhoods.
2. The City of Rochester and RCSD are working together to install bus arm cameras to deter drivers from passing stopped school buses. How do you plan to continue this partnership and what other steps do you plan to take to protect children on their way to school?
To continue and strengthen the partnership between the City of Rochester and RCSD, I will fully support the implementation and expansion of bus arm cameras as a critical deterrent against illegal passing of stopped school buses. Beyond this initiative, I will advocate for a comprehensive safety plan that includes increased training for bus drivers, monitors, and crossing guards focused on student safety and proper crossing procedures. Using district data and ongoing community input, I will work with the district to identify high-risk areas and develop targeted strategies to improve safety for all students traveling to and from school. Ensuring every child can travel safely—whether by bus, walking, or biking—is a core responsibility, and I am committed to making this a district-wide priority.
3. Electric school buses offer cleaner air for growing children, a quieter ride, and protect the environment. As of 2027, New York State law requires that all new school bus purchases must be electric, with the entire fleet transitioned to electric by 2035. How will you advance the NYSERDA study to plan for the electrification conversion of RCSD’s bus fleet?
As a Commissioner of Schools, I will ensure the district takes a proactive, collaborative approach to the electrification of RCSD’s bus fleet by leveraging the NYSERDA study as a foundational planning tool. I will advocate for strategic conversations with transportation providers, facilities staff, and community stakeholders to fully understand the operational, financial, and infrastructure needs involved. My priority will be advising the facilitation of a smooth, seamless, and non-intrusive transition that maintains the integrity of school operations while meeting the 2027 and 2035 state mandates. By aligning this work with student health, environmental responsibility, and cost-efficiency goals, we can implement changes that not only comply with the law but improve daily conditions for students and families.
4. How will you work with the city to protect RCSD students walking and biking to school, especially given the City of Rochester’s ROC Vision Zero plan?
I will work closely with the City of Rochester to align RCSD’s efforts with the ROC Vision Zero plan, prioritizing the safety of students who walk and bike to school. This includes identifying high-risk routes using traffic and school data, gathering community input, and advocating for infrastructure improvements such as safer crosswalks, signage, and traffic calming measures near school zones. I will also support the integration of pedestrian and bicycle safety education into the curriculum and ensure crossing guards, staff, and families are part of ongoing safety conversations. Protecting students on their way to school is essential, and I will work to make sure our efforts are coordinated, data-driven, and centered on student well-being.
1. New York State Law requires schools to teach students bicycle safety. As Commissioner of Schools, how will you work with RCSD to include bicycle safety education?
As a Commissioner of Schools, I would ensure RCSD is responsive to New York State requirements by supporting the integration of bicycle safety into health and physical education curriculum. I would also advocate for partnerships with local community-based organizations to provide hands-on learning, such as workshops and proper helmet fittings. These efforts would also promote the importance of bicycle safety and healthy lifestyle choices students.
2. The City of Rochester and RCSD are working together to install bus arm cameras to deter drivers from passing stopped school buses. How do you plan to continue this partnership and what other steps do you plan to take to protect children on their way to school?
In my current role as a School Board Commissioner, I have voted in unison alongside my board colleagues to support the installation of bus arm cameras on school buses. I am also in favor of advocating at the State level for a reduction in the 1.5-mile radius that determines a child’s access to school bus transportation. I believe this needs to be reconsidered to promote student safety, especially for our very young walkers.
3. Electric school buses offer cleaner air for growing children, a quieter ride, and protect the environment. As of 2027, New York State law requires that all new school bus purchases must be electric, with the entire fleet transitioned to electric by 2035. How will you advance the NYSERDA study to plan for the electrification conversion of RCSD’s bus fleet?
To support the electrification of RCSD’s bus fleet, I would remain abreast on the findings of the study and actively collaborate with district leadership and transportation partners to ensure the findings of the NYSERDA are in alignment with expected standards and operationalized by administration.
I would also advocate for securing state and federal funding, including NYSERDA grants and Inflation Reduction Act funds, to offset costs. It’s essential that this transition is equitable, benefits all communities, and includes training for staff and drivers.
I believe this is an opportunity to improve student health, reduce emissions, and demonstrate RCSD’s leadership in sustainability.
4. How will you work with the city to protect RCSD students walking and biking to school, especially given the City of Rochester’s ROC Vision Zero plan?
I have recently advocated at the State level, along with other elected board members, for a reduction in the 1.5-mile radius that determines a child’s access to school bus transportation. I believe this needs to be reconsidered to promote student safety, especially for our very young walkers.
We did not receive a response from this candidate.
Reconnect Rochester would like to thank all of the candidates (and their teams) for the time and effort they’ve dedicated to our community, and for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to working with them very soon.
Car Lite Rochester is a blog series that highlights the stories of Rochesterians living a car-lite lifestyle. The term “car lite” encompasses a variety of multimodal transportation lifestyles, featuring little dependence (but not NO dependence) on a car. It typically looks like sharing one car within a household or only using a car when absolutely necessary.
So, we hope you’ll continue to follow along. Maybe you will be inspired to join our bloggers in living a car-lite lifestyle!
Walking in the City of Rochester has always been more than just a way to get from one place to another for me. It’s how I stay connected to my neighbors, my community, and the city I’ve called home for so many years. But the truth is, being a pedestrian in Rochester isn’t easy. It can be frustrating, unpredictable, and at times, even unsafe. Still, every time I step outside and walk down a block, I’m reminded why walking matters — and how much better this city could be if it were built with people, not just cars, in mind.
Rochester is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own rhythm. Walking through the 19th Ward feels very different from walking on Park Ave or downtown. When you walk as much as I do, you see the city in a way that drivers never will. You notice the cracked sidewalks, the missing curb cuts, and the cars that speed through crosswalks as if pedestrians are invisible. You also notice the beauty — the old homes with character, the trees that somehow manage to push through concrete, the kids walking home from school, laughing and carrying backpacks that look too heavy for their small shoulders. There’s life and community on every block, but getting from one place to the next can feel like an obstacle course.
In certain neighborhoods, walking feels pleasant and safe. But in others, it feels like taking a risk. Some sidewalks just end with no warning, forcing you into the street. Others are so uneven you have to watch every step to avoid tripping. There are intersections where I hold my breath waiting for the light to change, hoping drivers actually stop before turning. And if you’re walking at night, you learn quickly which blocks are well-lit and which ones you should avoid.
The hardest part is that so much of this could be fixed — if local government made it a real priority. Too often, the focus is on roads, parking lots, and traffic flow, not on the people who actually live in the neighborhoods. When snow falls, plows clear the roads, but the sidewalks stay buried for days, sometimes weeks. For seniors, parents pushing strollers, or people with disabilities, that’s not just inconvenient — it’s isolating. It means being stuck inside or risking your safety just to get groceries or make a doctor’s appointment.
Too often, the focus is on roads, parking lots, and traffic flow, not on the people who actually live in the neighborhoods.
As someone who enjoys walking as exercise, I see how much harder it is for people who don’t drive. Bus stops aren’t always easy to reach, and some don’t even have benches or shelters. Imagine waiting for a bus in the rain or in freezing temperatures, with no protection from the wind, and you start to understand the quiet struggle of getting around this city without a car. It’s not that people don’t want to be independent — it’s that the infrastructure makes it difficult.
I’ve had conversations with neighbors who depend on walking and the bus system every single day. Some are older adults who gave up driving for safety reasons. Others are younger people trying to save money or can’t afford a vehicle. For many families, especially in working-class neighborhoods, one car has to serve multiple needs — work, school, errands — and walking fills the gaps. It’s a reality that often goes unseen in city planning conversations.
What’s tricky about walking in Rochester is how much planning it requires. You can’t just step outside and go wherever you need without thinking about safety, timing, or the condition of the route. And yet, despite all of this, I love walking. I love how it slows the world down and gives me space to think. I’ve met some of the kindest people just by walking — a neighbor raking leaves who waves hello, a parent waiting with their child at the bus stop, and residents walking their dog early in the morning. Walking connects me to the pulse of the community in a way that driving never could. But it also reminds me how much work still needs to be done.
The biggest challenge for nondrivers isn’t just cracked sidewalks or poor street design. It’s the feeling of being overlooked. The message that our needs don’t matter as much as those of people behind the wheel. A truly inclusive city would make walking and public transit reliable, dignified, and safe for everyone.
We talk a lot about equity in Rochester — about giving people fair access to jobs, food, and opportunity. But access starts with something as basic as being able to move safely through your neighborhood. If we can’t walk to the store, or get to a bus stop without fear, how can we talk about opportunity?
If we can’t walk to the store, or get to a bus stop without fear, how can we talk about opportunity?
I want a Rochester where walking is easy — where kids can safely walk to school, where seniors can stroll without worry, and where the simple act of walking doesn’t require courage or constant awareness. I want sidewalks that are smooth, wider and well-lit, crosswalks that actually protect pedestrians, and city policies that treat walking as a right, not a luxury.
Until that happens, I’ll keep walking — not out of necessity, but to stay connected to those that don’t have a choice. Walking for me, isn’t just about getting somewhere. It’s about being part of Rochester, one step at a time, even when the path isn’t easy.
As a community advocate, I’ll keep speaking up for those of us who walk — the workers, parents, elders, and young people who move through Rochester every day on foot. Our experiences matter. Our safety matters. And when the city truly begins to plan for pedestrians, it won’t just make walking better — it will make Rochester stronger, more connected, and more humane for everyone.
At Reconnect, we’re inspired by the stories of people in our community, like Jasmine Burley, Karen Nozik, and Steve Roll, who are passionate about living a car-lite or car-free lifestyle. If you want to support our work and make it easier for others to go Car-Lite please donate and sign up for Mobility Action Alerts to stay in the loop with opportunities of how to advocate for safer streets and transportation options.
Let us know if you want to share your mobility story! What’s in it for you? The intrinsic reward of knowing you’ve inspired others, and a free t-shirt from our online shop! Contact Chaz to submit your story.
We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2025 Week Without Driving! Disability Rights Washington first launched this campaign in 2021 as a way to highlight the barriers faced by those without access to a car. By 2023, the challenge had expanded nationwide, encouraging individuals across the country to rethink their reliance on automobiles.
While we think highlighting barriers is important, we also wanted to inspire Monroe County residents to explore their mobility options beyond the car to see how “one less car trip” can be easier than most people imagine at first. As Simeon Banister mentioned in his reel on our Magic Bus day, the best way to improve our public transit is for people to “use public transit!”
We are thrilled to share that 44 participants logged a stunning 616 non-car trips for a total of 1,970. 41 non-driving miles!
Thank you to EJ Bradford for your photo submissions and detailed reflection of the week! We have included your response along with many of the comments we received from our participants below.
Biking Comments
I biked to the grocery store to get a few things for dinner and wondered why more people didn’t do the same…With the right planning, it’s actually easy, fun, AND it helps you to avoid buying unnecessary impulse purchases because you will only buy what you can carry back on your ride home!
Biked to RIT, the scariest part was being on the road on Monroe Ave in the city. Drivers aren’t cognizant or expecting cyclists on that road and many drive recklessly.
BIG shoutout to panniers. And dressing in layers. And then shedding layers and putting them in your panniers!
Home Depot on Portland Ave. was very tricky, but I managed it!
Traveling with a bike trailer is no joke! Luckily I spent the majority of my trailer laden route on the Genesee river trail. I don’t often have a need to take that trail so it’s nice not to have to feel like your competing with cars especially when carrying cargo.
I’ve decided that 104 is the devil for bikes. The closer you get, the less bike friendly.
Took the Auburn Trail from cobbs hill to Pittsford Plaza. Not my first time on the trail, but first time using it as a way to get to those stores. Always surprises me how close they are.
Walking Comments
Lee Road should at least have a sidewalk north of Lexington to the City line with Greece where the shoulder starts. You can see a dirt path worn in and can see it on Google maps from this year. Lots of shift workers walking to and from work here.
Mixed use buildings are the way to go! Two of the five places I went were such in the same building as another one of my destinations so I didn’t even count miles for the few feet I walked.
I will carry a bookbag next. I carried shoulder bags, and it wore me out.
I love walking to my yoga class as it helps me transition from my work day to a more meditative and expansive mindset. Plus I often run into people I know, which gives me joy!
I had a lot of meetings in the downtown area today. I was surprised how quickly I was able to get there. The tricky part is all the construction going on in the downtown area but still in all a very pleasant walk time today.
Bus Comments
I was so excited to see how easy it was to get a bus to get my errands downtown done! I plan on using the same route to get to The Little this weekend!
Well, went to MCC as usual (6, then the 13 buses). After that, took the 17 the entire route to the library for the transportation hearing (it was pretty decent, though I was the only one along with another participant), then I took a short walk to the center to then take the 6 back home.
Bus service to RIT is hot garbage, but taking the RTS 14 most of the way and biking the rest is surprisingly easy!
I head to MCC in the morning, walking to a nearby bus stop along N. Goodman. I take the 6, then the 13 (this route gets PACKED, I’m shocked it doesn’t run every 15 minutes). After my classes today, since I am NOT waiting almost an hour for the 6 (my class ends before 7 pm), I took the 41, up until the Culver Waring intersection, where I then walked a decent amount home.
Unfortunately the bus routes for me to get to most destinations I frequent are incredibly long and inconvenient because there are no direct routes. You have to go all the way to the transit center first before you can go out to a different destination. Routes need to be added that circle around the city instead of just spokes going out from the center.
I was disappointed that I couldn’t manage to get to and from work without my car. I made a few short trips by walking, and I wanted to try taking the bus to work, but my 10 minute commute would take over an hour on the bus! I realized that if I didn’t have a car, I wouldn’t be able to work at my current job.
I was frustrated because I had a convention center trip, which is easy by bus, but because my wife had to go to a construction site, I had both kids in the AM and I was short on time so even though its just one bus, I could not make it happen. I think I just need to spend more time planning and change the pace of life.
E-Bikes/E-Scooters
I took my e-bike to work today. My son had a soccer game so I left work and headed to his game. Unfortunately, I had to go up Culver and cross over 104 to get to east ridge road. Then I had to take a left on East ridge. That whole area is not bike friendly but good news, I didn’t get yelled at by a car driver that I should be on the sidewalk.
Took an e scooter for the first time today! It was a little scary– they go so fast! But my legs were tired from an earlier bike ride so it was definitely a good alternative!
Reflections from EJ Bradford
Dressing in packable layers and having a way to store them was the biggest “tip” or “trick” I had this week. When the weather was predicted to be a low of 48/50 in the morning and then 75/80 in the afternoon, that was a big challenge for bike commuting. However, that made the bus much more appealing of a solution for me and was great when facing decision fatigue/paralysis with trying to find comfortable outfits to wear for theses commutes in highly variable temperatures.
I’m a fairly confident bike commuter, however I was shocked at how frequently the bike lane and shoulder was completely blocked by cars/construction/and signage this week. I saw plenty of “no parking” signs but it was clearly unenforced. This was both surprising and the trickiest for me this week. My bike commute is about 9.9 miles in one direction, so it’s longer than the average, but I have some very good bike lanes and options to use the Canal and Pittsford Rail Trail- I challenged myself to try new routes this week and was shocked at the lack of infrastructure.
I have walked from my office to the bus-stop that takes me direct to my neighborhood (the 41) it is about a 3 mile walk, mostly on sidewalks and fairly quiet neighborhoods. The amount of “car-centric” drivers who are shocked by this amount of walking saddens me. People are very comfortable walking that amount in parks, walking tracks, even doing laps in the mall. The social stigma of going on an hour long walk to an actual destination with a purpose in mind is a major challenge I have faced as a non-driver.
Thank you again to all of our participants!
Our local Week Without Driving initiative inspired wide local news coverage:
Our fifth Complete Streets Makeover project at Avenue D & Hollenbeck Street is now complete! Since 2018, we’ve partnered with Rochester neighbors to transform neighborhood intersections in every quadrant of the city. By listening closely to community voices and focusing on safety over speed, we’ve transformed these intersections into spaces where pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers can all move with greater confidence.
The Selection Process
Located smack dab in the middle of the El Camino neighborhood, Avenue D is often treated as a thruway for traffic connecting larger roads such as St Paul St and N Clinton Ave where driver speeds tend to be higher. From Conkey Ave to N Clinton Ave, a one block distance from either side of the intersection, we saw a total of 16 crashes with pedestrians and cyclists between 2014-2023 with a noticeable cluster occurring right at the intersection of Avenue D & Hollenbeck St.
These safety concerns raised red flags for vulnerable road users passing through this intersection. The nomination for this location came from an R-Center staff member who had helped move the needle with traffic safety improvements in this area through organizing R-Center youth to lobby for temporary speed humps as a traffic calming measure along Avenue D.
With the Avenue D R-Center, an attractive third space for neighborhood youth, at one end of the block and senior housing nearby, the Steering Committee saw a need and opportunity to protect vulnerable road users in the area.
Getting Community Input
At a community workshop in February 2025, we sat down with residents of the El Camino neighborhood to hear firsthand what it’s really like to navigate this intersection every day. After walking everyone through the idea of complete streets and how they can make roads safer and friendlier for everyone, we opened the floor. People shared stories, frustrations, and creative ideas, and we listened closely. A visit to School No. 8 added youth voices and ideas to the mix. Then we got to work turning those hopes and concerns into concrete design features—practical changes that reflect the community’s vision for a safer, smarter intersection.
A unique element to Avenue D & Hollenbeck St is that it is an “offset” intersection as opposed to a conventional t-intersection meaning that Hollenbeck St ends at Avenue D and continues again a few feet down on Avenue D. A recurring comment from the community was that drivers cutting diagonally across the intersection when traveling along Hollenbeck St posed a high risk for pedestrians.
Based on community input from this session, the Stantec team drafted a conceptual drawing of street design improvements. Their rendering focused on elements that could be brought to life in the temporary, on-street installation and then translated into permanent improvements. For this project, they proposed flex posts in the center of Avenue D to direct vehicles to turn right, then left, giving drivers more time to watch for pedestrians and making their movements easier for pedestrians to anticipate. Flex posts in the middle of the roadway is the first installation of its kind in Rochester. This project will serve as a pilot of this intervention to improve pedestrian safety at offset intersections.
Making the Magic Happen at Avenue D & Hollenbeck
On Saturday, June 7, the street came alive as neighbors, the school community, and community partners* rolled up their sleeves together—painting a vibrant mural (designed by Artist TaQiyya Burrs), setting flex posts in place, and brightening the block with fence art and flower planters in the adjacent empty lot.
We are continually grateful to Floating Home Films, for documenting the transformation and producing a video of the process.
The Impact
The flex posts have helped to guide drivers on how to safely navigate through the intersection. The butterfly mural helps to reinforce the El Camino neighborhood’s identity while serving as a visible reminder that streets are shared spaces. Pre and post-installation data collection showed that the roadway has seen up to 16% reduction in the average speed off vehicles traveling westbound.
Most importantly, testimonials from neighborhood residents indicated a marked improvement in safe vehicle movement, feelings of safety, and added vibrancy in and around the intersection.
The Complete Streets Makeover of Avenue D & Hollenbeckinspired wide local news coverage:
In collaboration with the amazing neighborhood team, we will continue taking action on long-term advocacy opportunities, working with community partners for as long as it takes to achieve permanent changes to further improve pedestrian safety on Avenue D.
If you have a spot where you don’t feel safe, keep an eye out for our next project when we ask for nominations from the community. In the meantime, make sure to let the county know by filling out their Traffic Safety Concern Form.
*Community Partners
The Complete Streets Makeover of Avenue D & Hollenbeck was a collaborative venture with the following community partners:
In our climate, most people ride bikes in the Spring, Summer and Fall and that’s okay! When the cycling scene slows down in November, our cycling Instagram account would go almost completely dark for several months. The thought struck us in 2019 that we could use that time of year to feature guest contributions from Monroe County cyclists. It would be a fun way to celebrate biking in Greater Rochester: Contributors could give us a glimpse of their biking lifestyle, what it means to them, what got them into riding, their favorite places to ride and groups to ride with, etc. It’s become a neat way for cyclists who bike in different ways for different reasons to find commonality.
The #ROCbyBike series has been a hit! Here are the previous season recaps.
We are proud to present below consolidated stories of our contributors from season 6. We hope it inspires you to get out and ride!
Kerry Foxx
“My hubby and I had bikes for years and they just took up space in the garage. In the last couple of years, we’d started to look for low-to-no-cost ways to spend intentional time together. We were also on a bit of a health kick – healthy eating, regular gym visits, etc. – and biking ticked all those boxes.
Biking has been an awesome way to connect with and learn about the City and surrounding areas. It’s also been fun meeting new people. We discovered Reconnect Rochester and the rest is history! We’ve been biking ever since. The open-invite group ride we attend the most is the Flower City Feeling Good ride series sponsored by DRHS and led by Reconnect Rochester and EE Pathways.”
(five posts Nov 8 to Nov 21, 2024)
Mary Eggers
“I’ve learned that Rochester is a great place for gravel riding. I live near the Lehigh Valley Trail and can do a 50 mile loop connecting to the Greenway, the Erie Canal, and the Auburn Trail with very little road involved! We are so lucky to have this trail system, and if you venture further South there are plenty of places to] ride gravel. On the trails I am surrounded by beauty.
It’s one thing to be with friends, but cycling friends are the ones you can ride 5 hours with and not need to say a word, and know that you have all helped one another through something. Cyclists share a special bond.”
(six posts Nov 22 to Dec 5, 2024)
Adrian Martin
“One day in 2009-ish, I was sitting on an exercise bike in the Downtown Fitness Club, still aggravated after having driven around a few blocks to find a parking place, when I had an epiphany – what if I biked to the gym? Later I had another epiphany – since I can bike downtown to the gym, I could also bike downtown to work. Within 5 years I was a year-round bike commuter.
Biking is my favorite way to get from one place to another. I bike both because I enjoy it and because I dislike driving. When I arrive at a destination having biked there, I’ve gotten some outdoor exercise, I feel better physically and mentally, and I can generally bike right to my destination instead of a large parking lot/garage. And I’ve had fun! And now that I have kids, biking someplace together is a bonding and learning experience totally different from chauffeuring them around town.”
(six posts Dec 6 to Dec 20, 2024)
Hulda Yau
“Bikes have played a huge role in my healing journey, helping me both physically and mentally. Every journey can lead to something beautiful. Get out there, and let your spirit soar!
Fall is the perfect time to explore! Ontario Beach Park and Durand Eastman Beach are perfect spots for a delightful cycling trip! Take in the crisp air and the stunning autumn leaves while you ride. It’s a great way to relax and enjoy nature. So, grab your bike and go!”
(seven posts Dec 21, 2024 to Jan 1, 2025)
Tim Gabriel
“I was that one kid growing up that was always riding his bike. Cycling was freedom, and I began my adventures very early. I agree with Einstein that something magical happens when we ride, and may add that if ever there were a “fountain of youth”: biking is it!
Adventure-type riding is truly the best form of cycling and traveling there is. These days you’ll find me taking photos of my bike against a tree, on local rides near the Zoo, the Greenway, downtown, the Canal, an old railbed, or a nearby park…just trying to stay in shape for my next cycling adventure!”
(seven posts Jan 3 to Jan 16, 2025)
Danielle Harrison
“My reintroduction to biking happened in 2020 when a friend introduced me to a bike group in Brooklyn. Since then, I’ve been hooked! I love the freedom and endless exploration that biking offers. It’s not only a fantastic form of exercise but also a way to connect with the world around me, whether it’s discovering new routes or just feeling the wind on my face. Cycling has truly become a passion.
My favorite places to ride are Turning Point Park and Ontario Beach Park. In terms of regular rides, I ride with Reconnect Rochester on Wednesdays & Black Girls Do Bike on Tuesdays.”
(four posts Jan 18 to Jan 30, 2025)
Gaie Goodness
“My friends and I ride in Mendon Ponds in the winter when the trails are snow covered or muddy. There is less traffic, but a good riding surface. I live a half-mile from the Lehigh Valley Trail, so as soon as the trails are dry enough, I am off!
Riding along the Genesee is always fun. We are so lucky to have the endless Erie Canal to ride in both directions. My friends and I ride this beautiful venue often, as soon as the snow melts. And then there’s the Genesee Valley Greenway, with new improvements over the past few years.
The May and October Light Up The Night Rides organized & led by Reconnect Rochester are among my faves.”
(seven posts Jan 31 to Feb 13, 2025)
Caitlin Meives
“Like a lot of people, I spent my childhood tearing around the neighborhood on my bike, then I took a 15-year break once I had access to a car. I decided to try getting back in the saddle after moving to Rochester and realizing that, in a lot of ways, a bike could afford me more freedom than a car. At first, it felt weird and I was super intimidated by biking in traffic. I started by taking little 15 minute jaunts on residential streets in the neighborhood and gradually worked my way up to more busy streets until I felt comfortable. Within a year, I felt at home on any city street (the ‘burbs are a different story) in any amount of traffic.
When it’s above my threshold biking temp (50°F), I have a rule that I bike or walk to my destination if it’s within a 2-3 mile radius.
I love that biking gives me the chance to take in my environment at a slower pace. You notice things you wouldn’t otherwise see, hear, or smell in your car. Biking is a multi-sensory experience that connects me to the world around me and to my body and gives me a little jolt of fun, especially at the end of a long workday.”
(seven posts Feb 14 to Feb 26, 2025)
Katie Evans
“I’ll admit: I once pulled up to a group ride, saw everyone dressed in lycra, and felt so intimidated that I decided to keep driving. That was a long time ago, and I am living proof that there is a place for everyone in this community. The Rochester cycling community is filled with kind-hearted, welcoming, and like-minded people.
I encourage you to try out a few group rides if you haven’t before. It is a great way to meet people; before you know it, you’ll have new ride buddies to meet up with. Cycling started as a solo activity, but it became a community. I’ve met the kindest, most encouraging people.”
(seven posts Feb 28 to Mar 13, 2025)
Martin Petrella
“Cycling has always been a passion of mine. For a while, it was hard to find people to ride with who had the same mindset. That all changed when I started riding with Just For Giggles Cycling. They ride every Monday night from Three Heads Brewing on Atlantic Ave., rain or shine, 12 months a year. I’ve developed many friendships in the group as well and always look forward to good times on our Monday night rides.
It’s so much fun riding in winter, listening to the snow crunch beneath the tires, and feeling the crisp winter air streak across my face. It’s exhilarating! With the proper gear and attitude, winter riding isn’t as chilling as you might think.”
(five posts Mar 15 to Mar 26, 2025)
TT Fairbanks
“My favorite part about riding my bike is helping the environment! Imagine how fast we could reduce pollution. It was so beautiful learning Rochester through riding my bike. I was nervous to join a group ride because I mostly ride solo but I was SO welcomed by everyone! Reconnect Rochester’s Light Up The Night Ride was so cool! The changes being made for a safer riding environment are incredible.”
(five posts Mar 29 to Apr 8, 2025)
Kel DeShong
“I love this city and my favorite way to explore it is by bike! I’m a huge fan of bike and transit infrastructure and anything car-free.
One underrated perk of bike commuting is recognizing people. I see my neighbor walking his big fluffy dog and Opa the school crossing guard. I cross paths with the cyclist with the blinky helmet light who also rides hand-free along a stretch of the Riverway Trail. For each of them, we give each other a little wave or nod of recognition and continue on our ways! Things like this make me feel more enmeshed in the community and part of something bigger.
Urban group rides make it so much fun to be a cyclist. It’s not just about the ride itself — it’s a good excuse to get outside on a weekday, spend time with fun people who, over time, can become great friends, and explore places and routes I’d never find on my own. We stop at cool spots like High Falls or the MAG outdoor gardens and art installations, taking in the scenery while hanging out. All while getting in some good exercise! These weeknight rides also make a “school night” feel like the weekend. And with the strength in numbers, we can go on roads I’d never bike alone!”
(six posts Apr 11 to Apr 25, 2025)
If you’re interested in sharing your story for our 2025-26 #ROCbyBike series, reach out to Jesse at cycling@reconnectrochester.org.*
*Diversity is important to us. So, it may take a while to fit you in the queue so we can make spots for other voices.
During Reconnect Rochester’s Ride for the Spine bike rally in 2024, one of our partners at City Hall made a passing remark that left a lasting impression: “It’s great so many cyclists turned out to hear from the Mayor, the County Executive and Congressman Morelle, but where’s New York State? They have authority over so much of this.”
Of course, they were right: The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)’s decision-making authority over a road project can make or break bike infrastructure choices that any local authority – whether it be the City, Towns, Villages or the County – wants to implement. Projects in our region that are building better bike infrastructure use a combination of federal, state and local funding, and the requirements – and often constraints – imposed by these funding streams dictate what is considered as feasible in the design process. While engineering guides from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), to the AASHTO and NACTO bike guides have made momentous leaps forward, design standards used by traffic engineers at all levels of government take far too much time to adopt and implement that progressive guidance.
NYSDOT’s decision-making authority over a road project can make or break bike infrastructure choices that any local authority wants to implement.
For suburban towns and villages, the hand of NYSDOT is even heavier: state roads built before the interstate highway system designed to move freight or serve as highway alternatives are now the main streets of local communities. Unfortunately, Smart Growth America’s Dangerous by Design report in 2024 cited that across the U.S., nearly two-thirds of traffic deaths in metro areas happen on state-owned roads—often fast-moving arterials that weren’t designed for people walking, biking, catching the bus, or simply crossing the street to enjoy a coffee or get home. The burden of mortality isn’t evenly spread either: Black and Native Americans, older adults, and people walking in low-income communities die at higher rates and face higher levels of risk of becoming victims of road violence when compared to all Americans.
To cite a recent Vision Zero Network analysis, state roads “serve very different purposes today – including local traffic, people walking and biking, school buses and delivery vans – without having been redesigned for these uses.” It is urgent for communities, therefore, that New York State officials, including planners, traffic engineers, municipal public works heads, become more responsive to the way local communities are growing and the ways the roads are used today.
That’s why this year, Reconnect Rochester is asking NYSDOT and other state leaders to speak to us about what they are doing to keep cyclists safe and build the all-ages/all abilities bike infrastructure on all roads, but especially on the state roads that are often the Main Streets of our county’s towns and villages. We see some glimmers of a culture shift , but it will take much more to turn such a large ship. Good intentions are present throughout the Draft NYSDOT 2050 Strategic Master Plan, signs of newly prioritizing active transportation are present in the agency’s move to update a two-decade old walk/bike plan. Now is the time to reiterate to New York State: safety for your most vulnerable people using the road is safety for everyone, including drivers!
But these intentions aren’t yet fully realized: A recent Brookings Institution analysis concluded that NYSDOT is among the lowest-ranked state DOTs in the United States when measured on evidence that it is shifting its mandate from car-centric infrastructure to building and maintaining multimodal transportation systems that serve all users and responds to environmental change. As articulated in our New York Safe Streets Coalition feedback on the 2050 plan, NYSDOT can show its seriousness about its strategic intentions through more transparency, funding allocations to public and active transportation, and public engagement with local communities.
What’s at stake for Monroe County’s cyclists of all ages and abilities:
To illustrate what’s at stake for cyclists in our community, let’s look at the map. Two years ago, Monroe County hired Toole Design to craft the County’s first Active Transportation Plan. It was very high level and created a common vision as a starting point for discussion. The question it asked: If there was an ideal countywide bike network someday that connected towns & villages, what lines on a map would make most sense to invest in? The map below is the result.
The red circled roads are owned & maintained by NYSDOT. Thus, if our county is ever going to be bikeable (for more than just the brave and bold), NYSDOT will need to modernize the way they design and maintain roads to prioritize complete streets elements and build with the safety for all users in mind. Monroe County is working on an implementation plan for the CATP (work item 8756) that will make more specific recommendations, and we’ll let you know when there’s a chance to give public input.
While the City of Rochester has a lot of control over how it designs its roads, NYSDOT owns and operates portions of the most dangerous road in the city and New York State: Lake Avenue. The City has recognized the unacceptable level of road safety problems on Lake Avenue, and has put on the table the idea of reengineering Lake Avenue to be a multimodal corridor equipped with continuous bike infrastructure and bus rapid transit through the ROC Vision Zero initiative. As recent events confirm, NYSDOT’s cooperation on making Lake Avenue a safety corridor is more urgent than ever.
A local sign of culture shift toward accommodating complete streets and active transportation is NYSDOT Region 4’s project on Route 204 – Brooks Avenue in the Town of Gates, which coincides with New York State Bike Route 5. Reconnect Rochester’s input to the project last year highlighted the opportunity to connect the City of Rochester, the Airport, Gates employers and commercial center on 33A with multimodal investments on this corridor. For this project, NYSDOT coordinated with the Town of Gates and local business partners to close sidewalk gaps, and improve bus shelters. Through a combination of shoulder widening and restriping, the project will provide 5’ minimum shoulder width through corridor (with the exception of the railroad underpass area – which is outside of the NYSDOT jurisdiction) and the installation of a refuge island and other enhancements to provide for a crossing of Rt 204 at the Canal Trail. This is the kind of attention to multimodal needs that we’d like to see on every project.
Implement dedicated bike facilities, sidewalks, enhanced pedestrian crossings, traffic calming or road diets (where appropriate) to create safer places for ALL users of the road.
Build safe cycling infrastructure on Empire Boulevard (Penfield) and Monroe Avenue and West Henrietta Road (Brighton) during upcoming road projects!
Build a safer, multimodal Lake Avenue as part of ROC Vision Zero!
Create a fully connected network of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in Monroe County working with towns, villages, the City of Rochester, Monroe County and residents. Improve connectivity across municipal boundaries, between neighborhoods, jobs, and safe routes to schools.
Allocate more funding to active transportation enhancements on all road projects.
NYSDOT has an important strategic choice to make: Do we maintain the roads and bridges we have and add safety for all users, or do we spend our limited resources expanding highway capacity to save drivers a few minutes of time? Reconnect for one would like to see our local roads maintained and more bike lanes, sidewalks and transit stops added. We know that adding lanes induces new demand for car trips at a time when climate action demands we reduce our vehicle miles traveled, especially for short daily trips that are most appropriate for walking, biking or transit. Let’s make it safer for more cyclists to use state roads!
Car Lite Rochester is a blog series that highlights the stories of Rochesterians living a car-lite lifestyle. The term “car lite” encompasses a variety of multimodal transportation lifestyles, featuring little dependence (but not NO dependence) on a car. It typically looks like sharing one car within a household or only using a car when absolutely necessary.
So, we hope you’ll continue to follow along. Maybe you will be inspired to join our bloggers in living a car-lite lifestyle!
That’s usually the reaction I get when I tell people I try to rely on public transit and carpooling as much as possible in Rochester. It’s as if I just announced I forage for food in my backyard. But my journey to going car-lite wasn’t exactly straightforward. Let me explain.
Last October, I decided to take a trip to Washington, D.C. (before the political madness of 2024 took over). After attending Reconnect Rochester’s Street Films: The Sprawl Effect program, I was determined to make this trip extra memorable by reducing my carbon footprint as possible, so I set a challenge for myself: no cars, no Ubers—just my feet, the Metro, and the occasional bus. I had no idea if my body could handle it. I also had no idea this little experiment would completely change how I look at transportation back home in Rochester.
Because, let’s be honest—Rochester isn’t exactly known for its public transit. And yet, after years of feeling chained to my car, I started wondering: Could I make a car-lite life work here?
Growing Up Car-Lite
Though I was born in Rochester, I spent most of my childhood and teenage years in Tacoma, Washington (state, not D.C.), just south of Seattle. And let me tell you—public transportation there is incredible. Buses ran on predictable schedules and connected not just from suburbs to the city, but between suburbs, too. There’s a light rail system downtown that’s completely free to use and is currently being expanded across cities. Most kids walked or biked to school, and school buses picked up kids in groups rather than stopping at every individual house (I think of this often when I’m stuck behind a school bus in traffic). There weren’t lines of cars idling in front of schools like some kind of chaotic drive-thru. Carpooling was second nature. There were trains that took you north to Seattle and beyond or south to Oregon, even down to California. Recycling and composting were the norm. Community and sustainability were built into daily life.
Then in 2013, I moved back to Rochester, and…well. Let’s just say it was an adjustment. Public transportation here felt like an afterthought. When I mentioned the possibility of taking a bus, I got blank stares, or worse, concerned looks.
“It’s not safe.” “What do you mean, you don’t have a car?!”
It was disheartening, to say the least. But I did what many do here—I got a car. I didn’t have a choice. A 15-minute drive to work would’ve been an hour-long bus ride. And so, like most Rochesterians, I became car-dependent.
My Health Forced a Change
In 2019, life threw me a curveball. I developed a rare autoimmune disease that left me completely paralyzed. Months of therapy helped me relearn how to walk, use silverware, drink out of a cup, even just see straight ahead in front of me. My body was fragile, and at the time, my focus was purely on survival: get to work, pay the bills, and come home.
I wasn’t thinking about how I got to and from places—I was just grateful to be able to go at all. I was given a second chance at life and I wasn’t about to take it for granted. My energy is now limited, so I kissed the opportunity to try to take the bus or walk to work goodbye.
A 15-minute drive to work would’ve been an hour-long bus ride. And so, like most Rochesterians, I became car-dependent.
Testing a Car-Free Life in Washington (D.C. this time)
Fast-forward to 2024. I changed career paths and met Chaz Goodman, who is now the Marketing & Outreach Manager at Reconnect Rochester. He invited me to come to their event “Street Films: The Sprawl Effect”. I was excited to hear how Rochester could be more sustainable with their transportation, so I went with my mother (we carpooled!) and I left feeling ambitious that it could be possible to rely less on a vehicle.
While Rochester’s limited in options, it’s not impossible. I was leaving for a trip soon to Washington D.C., so I made a gameplan: Could I set a no-car challenge during my trip and only rely on public transportation? I was stronger, but still cautious about my limits. I wasn’t sure if my disabled body could handle it. I would be kidding myself if I wasn’t worried.
Walking 20,000 steps a day? It sounded impossible; it was a huge leap from my usual 5,000. But with breaks, I made it work.
And the best part? I felt free.
I wasn’t stressed about parking. I wasn’t sitting in hours-long traffic just to get downtown. I wasn’t paying for gas. I was just…moving. Exploring. Seeing the city in a way you simply can’t from behind a windshield. So, I thought: What if I tried this at home?
The Rochester Experiment
When I got home, I made a goal: To take the bus to work. To put things in perspective, I live in North Greece, and I commute to downtown Rochester for work. I pulled up Google Maps and did some research. I found a possible solution: If I can be dropped off to a bus stop 10 minutes from home, hop on the bus, and walk 10 minutes to work after I got off, it could be doable.
It sounded reasonable. My husband’s car lease was ending, so we were already considering downsizing to one car. This could actually work.
For about 2 solid months, I strictly relied on taking the bus to and from work. Sure, it took a little longer than it would have if I drove (35 minutes instead of 20), but I didn’t mind.
Pros
The morning commute was a breeze. The bus was on time (a minor miracle in public transit).
The extra time it took gave me more free time to read. I listened to music. I looked out the window and actually noticed the neighborhoods I was passing through. Rochester’s really beautiful!
I never felt unsafe. In fact, I felt completely comfortable and felt as if I’ve done this route my whole life.
The ride was comfortable and the people were pleasant.
It was only $1 to ride the bus. UM, HELLO?! That’s way better than filling up a tank of gas 2-3x a month and paying a few hundred dollars a month towards a car payment.
The 10–15-minute walk to work? Surprisingly lovely. Fresh air, a little movement—it was an easy way to get steps in without even thinking about it.
The RTS Transit Center downtown? Super clean and well-designed—it felt like I was in a mini airport. (To put it in perspective, the transit centers back in Washington state were all outdoor, so I wasn’t used to this.)
Every Pros list has a cons list, so here are some of my not-so-favorite things about Rochester’s public transit:
Cons
The evening commute? A whole different story. The Transit Center was chaotic. I got lost trying to find my bus a few times, and by the time I spotted it, I had to sprint to catch it (not exactly ideal for someone with mobility concerns.)
The bus was PACKED in the evenings. Unlike the mornings, it was almost difficult for me to find a spot, and sometimes I was close to having to stand the whole way home.
The stops felt endless. A 35-minute morning commute turned into 50+ minutes going home.
The biggest issue? Frequency. But what would we expect differently if the bus only comes every 30 minutes? If it ran every 15 minutes, it would’ve been a game-changer. There’d be less people as we’d be spread out more.
I recognize my blessings in having the ability to be dropped off at my bus stop, which is about a 10-minute drive from my house. What if I didn’t have that option? Then, I’d have to walk to my stop, which could take hours given my disabled body. That’s not feasible.
Where I Landed: A Car-Lite Life
I did my bus experiment for about 2 months before my body started to push back. The morning ride was fine, but running through downtown and the Transit Center in the evening and scrambling for a seat? Not sustainable as much for someone like me.
But in the end, this experiment had a lasting impact—My family officially downsized to one car. Now, my husband and I carpool to work. Some weeks, I drive just one day to work. I’m still car- lite—just in a different way. And I still take the bus here and there, but I make sure to give myself enough lead-time to catch the evening bus so I’m not running to catch it.
And honestly? It feels great. I spend WAY less on gas. I walk more than I used to. I feel more connected to my city. And I still dream of the day that Rochester invests in public transit the way Tacoma, Seattle, and D.C. have. Until then, I’ll keep doing what I can—one less car ride at a time.
At Reconnect, we’re inspired by the stories of people in our community, like Karen Nozik, Steve Roll, and Calvin Eaton, who are passionate about living a car-lite or car-free lifestyle. If you want to support our work and make it easier for others to go Car-Lite please donate and sign up for Mobility Action Alerts to stay in the loop with opportunities of how to advocate for safer streets and transportation options.
Let us know if you want to share your mobility story! What’s in it for you? The intrinsic reward of knowing you’ve inspired others, and a free t-shirt from our online shop! Contact Chaz to submit your story.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Kristin Brower to the Reconnect Rochester team! Kristin and her family have been involved in Reconnect Rochester’s advocacy for years. She will play an integral role in our efforts by helping to attract the financial and in-kind resources that fuel Reconnect Rochester’s work in the community. Find out how she landed here and what inspires her to advocate for mobility in the message below.
Kristin Brower (she/her)
I’m thrilled to join Reconnect Rochester as the new Fundraising and Development Manager! My passion for biking, walking, and transit over a car-dependent lifestyle started at a young age. My first job, delivering the afternoon Democrat and Chronicle, was by bike, and as an adult, I’ve even enjoyed vacations entirely by bike. I was fortunate to live 12 car-free years in Washington, DC, and was able to experience safe, efficient, and reliable transportation options on a large scale.
Returning to Rochester highlighted America’s car culture dependency. While my family and I continued to bike, walk, and bus, it was undeniably more challenging, and biking or walking with young children was often stressful and sometimes frightening. This experience disheartened me, not only for my family and friends, but overall seeing the community impact of cars.
Finding Reconnect Rochester, joining many of their bike history tours, and seeing their incredible work promoting transportation choices, gave me hope. I truly believe our community can change and eventually will thrive. However, it also made clear that for many, navigating Rochester without a car is still a significant barrier. I’m excited to help make it easier for everyone.
Guest Blog: Monroe County Office of Public Safety/Traffic Safety
We trust school buses to keep our kids safe—and for the most part, they do a great job. But what if the real danger isn’t the bus, the driver, or even the road conditions?
What if the biggest threat is… other drivers?
WAIT, PEOPLE ARE REALLY PASSING STOPPED SCHOOL BUSES?
Yep. And way more often than you think.
Even though it’s illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus when its stop sign arm is out and the lights are flashing, people do it constantly. One national report estimated over 45 million violations every year. That’s 45 million times someone risked a child’s life just to save a few seconds.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, CITATION
Monroe County (NY) Executive Adam Bello decided enough was enough. In 2023, the County rolled out a School Bus Safety Program that added cameras to buses in four local school districts. These cameras automatically record any car that blows past a stopped school bus.
The results? Honestly, kind of terrifying.
Over a 19-month period, those cameras caught over 20,000 potential violations. Almost 12,000 of them were confirmed by safety experts and led to actual traffic tickets. To put it another way: every single day, about 50 drivers in just one county ignored a stopped school bus – and could have hit a kid.
WHICH SCHOOLS WERE HIT HARDEST?
Here’s how it broke down by district:
And this isn’t even the full picture. More schools are signing up, and more cameras are being added.
WHY IT MATTERS (BEYOND THE OBVIOUS)
Sure, a traffic ticket is annoying. But this isn’t about a minor infraction—it’s about keeping kids safe while they get on and off the bus. That’s when they’re most vulnerable. They’re small, they move fast, and they’re not expecting a car to whip past the bus that’s supposed to be protecting them.
This camera program isn’t about punishment—it’s about prevention. It’s waking people up and saying: “Hey, pay attention. That’s someone’s child you’re putting at risk.”
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Slow down near schools and neighborhoods—just assume a bus could stop at any moment.
Never pass a bus with its stop arm out, even if you’re “in a hurry.”
Spread the word. Most people don’t realize how common this is, and the more people know, the better.
Talk to your school district about opting into the County’s program – it is free for districts to join!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Sometimes, safety improvements come from tech. Sometimes, it’s awareness. This time, it’s both. These bus cameras are shining a light on something we’ve been missing—and they’re helping keep our kids safer in the process.
So next time you see a school bus with its lights flashing and the stop sign out, just stop. It’s not just the law—it’s the right thing to do.
