Be part of the discussion “Breaking The Bubble: Re-Humanizing Rochester: The Past, Present, and Future of Rochester’s Transportation System”, 5 December, 7:30-8:30 at Brue Coffee downtown. Reconnect Rochester founder Mike Governale and City of Rochester Transportation Specialist Erik Frisch will speak about getting around by bike, light rail, Lyft, Uber, and more. It’s the first in a series of events soon to include presentations from Joshua Dubler and Mayor Lovely Warren. Come on out!
3-foot passing law + jerseys!
We at the Rochester Cycling Alliance are working with the New York Bike Coalition toward a state law requiring motorists to leave a 3-foot space when passing cyclists on the road. You can read more and help by contacting your local Assemblyman or local Senator, donating to RCA, and donating to NYBC. You can also show your support by wearing this jersey to spread the message! Want one? Contact Maura Gannan at NYBC.
Rochester awarded Bronze Bicycle Friendly City status
by Harvey Botzman
The League of American Bicyclists continues to cite Rochester for its success as a Bicycle Friendly City. In its most recent Fall, 2016, rankings, Rochester once again achieved a Bronze rating. More than 140 cities applied for this prestigious award this year. More than 404 cities throughout the USA have ranked for their bicycling infrastructure.
Of Rochester’s nearest municipal neighbors, Buffalo is ranked as an Honorable Mention city; Ithaca as a Bronze city; and Syracuse is unranked.
Being ranked as a Bicycle Friendly City has important tourism ramifications. Not only do leisure bicycle tourists traveling in the United States seek out cities ranked by the League to bicycle the infrastructure but also corporate location officials seek to site their offices, factories, and warehouses in cities with excellent bicycling infrastructure.
These corporate location officials continually cite bicycling infrastructure as an important accoutrement wanted by their employees. Their employees want to commute to and from the work place as part of their healthy living life style. This type of commuting is not limited only to the newest employees (the 20 & 30-year-old demographic) but also by employees in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s.
Members of the Rochester Cycling Alliance and the City of Rochester’s Environmental Services Department, will review the League’s comments in an effort to achieve Silver Bicycle Friendly City status.
The Rochester Cycling Alliance meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 P. M., usually in room 116, Wilmot Hall, University of Rochester, as listed on the RCA calendar. Free bike parking & automobile parking.
RTS Introduces New ‘Tap & Go‘ Card, PLUS Text & Email Alerts
This week RTS introduced a new Tap & Go! RTS Fast Pass. The new fare card lets customers simply tap it on the fare box (on the bulls-eye) when boarding. When the fare is accepted the fare box will beep or you will hear “fare deducted” to know you have successfully paid your fare.
If customers make use of the new Tap & Go! cards they should make boarding a lot faster which would be a good thing for everyone. Currently, riders insert their fare card into a slot and then must wait a moment for the card to pop back out – or worse, fumble for change. And when you serve thousands of riders every day, those seconds add up.
In addition to quicker boarding times, RTS CEO Bill Carpenter says the new technology at the fare box also lays the groundwork for improved payment options in the future. “The information and experience we gain from the Tap & Go! passes represents the first step toward technological improvements that may include refillable bus passes, fare boxes that accept credit card payments, mobile payment options on smart phones, and a Tap & Go! smart phone app.”
For many of us transit fans, those features can’t come fast enough. But for now, here is what customers need to know about Tap & Go!:
- Tap & Go! passes are available for purchase online at myRTS.com, or one of the ticket vending machines at the RTS Transit Center or the RTS Administration Building.
- They are available as a 5-Day Unlimited, 31-Day Unlimited, and stored value pass.
- The pass is activated with the first tap on the bus.
- Customers can check their card balance at any RTS ticket vending machine.
- Tap & Go! RTS Fast Passes are not currently refillable.
- The old magnetic fare cards in other denominations are still available.
Also… New Text Message and Email Alerts
And in case you missed it, last month RTS introduced another way for customers to receive service and schedule announcements: via email or text message. Transit riders with smartphones and the RTS Where’s My Bus App already receive timely alerts and information through the app. Text and Email alerts now give customers another option.
To sign up, you can either fill out the subscription form online or in person at the Transit Center.
Or simply text the words “OPT IN RTS ALL” to (585) 433-0855. If you only want alerts for a specific route, replace the word “ALL” with your specific route number. For example, to sign up for text message alerts for the Route 1 Lake, text “OPT IN RTS 1.”
You can also opt-in for information outside Monroe County. Simply follow the same instructions above, but use your county code listed below:
- RTS Genesee: “OPT IN GEN ALL” or “OPT IN GEN 1”
- RTS Livingston: “OPT IN LIV ALL” or “OPT IN LIV 1”
- RTS Ontario: “OPT IN ONT ALL” or “OPT IN ONT 1”
- RTS Orleans: “OPT IN ORL ALL”
- RTS Seneca: “OPT IN SEN ALL” or “OPT IN SEN 3”
- RTS Wayne: “OPT IN WAY ALL”
- RTS Wyoming: “OPT IN WYO ALL” or “OPT IN WYO 1”
City of Rochester’s Pace Car Program Asks Drivers to Be Part of the Solution
Posted by: Renee Stetzer, Vice President & Pedestrian Safety Committee Chair at Reconnect Rochester
We were proud to be part of today’s launch of the City of Rochester’s Pace Car program! We joined Mayor Lovely Warren and other community leaders to introduce the new citywide initiative that asks drivers to be part of the solution to make our community streets safer for all who use them. Pace Car drivers sign a pledge to drive within the speed limit, drive courteously, yield to pedestrians and be mindful of bicyclists and others on the street. Drivers display the yellow Pace Car sticker on their vehicles to show others that they are taking accountability for how they drive on our community streets.
Reconnect Rochester Hires Mary Staropoli, Director of Planning & Development
2016 has been an exciting and transformational year for Reconnect Rochester as an organization. Last month we moved into our first physical location in The Hungerford Building (1115 East Main Street, Door 4). Sharing a space with the Community Design Center of Rochester will allow us to build a close working relationship with another local organization that has been a champion for walkable neighborhoods and smart urban planning.
Nelson Vails visit sponsored by Conkey Cruisers, 25-27 September
Conkey Cruisers, founded by RCA board member Theresa Bowick, will host Olympic medalist and cycling advocate Nelson “Nelly” Vails in Rochester 25-27 September. You can join him to see Cheetah: The Nelson Vails Story, attend a lunch & learn panel about the health benefits of legalizing electric bikes, ride with Nelly on a Slow Roll in Buffalo, hear Nelly on WDKX, see a Celebrity Tricycle Race, and ride again on a Family Fun Ride. Get more details here!
City to Nature Ride with Genessee Land Trust
As part of the first annual ‘Bike Your Park Day’ happening across the United States, Genesee Land Trust will be leading a City to Nature ride, happening Saturday, 24 September at 10:00. We will begin the ride on El Camino at Conkey Corner Park and ride north to Turning Point Park and Lake Ontario, and back. After the ride, any and all are welcome to join us at the Genesee Brew House for a late lunch, as Genesee Land Trust will be the featured charity and 10% of your bill will go to Genesee Land Trusts mission of preserving open space and connecting nature to the City of Rochester.
Bringing electric bikes to New York
This essay by Paul Winkeller, Executive Director of the New York Bicycling Coalition, originally appeared in the Buffalo News on 6 September 2016.
In 2002, federal law was amended to distinguish bicycles with low-power electric motors capable of reaching speeds of 20 mph or less, known as electric bicycles, from motorcycles, mopeds, and motor vehicles.
The New York State Legislature never changed state law to conform to this federal standard.
Although it is completely legal to sell and purchase electric bicycles in New York, it is illegal to operate them on public roadways. This creates confusion for manufacturers and consumers in this fast-growing market. It is time for New York to clarify where and how electric bicycles can be used.
Electric bicycles operate nearly identically to a traditional human-powered bicycle, but are easier to pedal with assistance from an electric motor that is activated when pedaling. Electric bicycles do not compromise consumer safety.
While research shows that the average speed of electric bicycle users on roadways is slightly faster than that of regular bicycle users, there have not been any significant increases in bike collisions, trail user conflicts, safety complaints or litigation with the growth in popularity of electric bicycles.
Electric bicycles benefit senior citizens, parents with children and people with disabilities by providing freedom of transportation and mobility. These bicycles also appeal to people who want to bike but do not because of physical limitations and other personal barriers. Encouraging bicycle ridership by any means benefits the environment and improves the state’s air quality, traffic congestion and quality of life.
Legalizing the use of electric bicycles will bring bicycle-based dollars to New York’s tourism destinations, and will bring increased business to New York’s local bicycle shops and bicycle and accessory manufacturers. Electric bicycles also benefit the environment and local economies by using green battery technology, and will add to New York’s growing energy-efficient transportation system.
In the United States, the bike industry estimates more than 200,000 e-bikes will be sold in 2015, and this number is set to increase by 10 percent annually. New York State could benefit from the sale of electric bicycles with their legalization, and it is estimated by industry sources that annual electric bicycle sales could exceed 10,000 units per year in the state.
Legalizing e-bike use in New York is a benefit to both riders and to the state. Many states already allow e-bikes to be used and California just expanded its e-bike authorization.
Encouraging bicycle use is a safe way to help the environment by limiting congestion, supporting healthy living, promoting New York’s robust and diverse tourism industry and helping local economies.
Making connections at the Women's Safe Cycling Summit
An enthusiastic group participated in the Women’s Safe Cycling Summit organized by Karen Lankeshofer and held at the Legacy at Erie Station in Henrietta, on September 10. The participants, with riding skills ranging from novice to expert, heard keynote speaker Theresa Bowick of Conkey Cruisers explain how she changed a community through cycling and making healthy choices. Harvey Botzman of the Rochester Cycling Alliance led a discussion on advocating for better infrastructure for cyclists and walkers; Maria Furgiuele of R Community Bikes gave a workshop on basic bike maintenance and repair.
Participants discussed how they could work further to create change in their communities that would benefit all non-motorized traffic users. But the biggest take-away of the event was that a connections were made and a group of people found individuals with whom they shared common interests and goals.
The Summit was sponsored by The Pedallers Bike Shop and Legacy at Erie Station.
Rochester Intermodal Station 2016 Construction Update
Posted by: Mike Governale, president and co-founder of Reconnect Rochester
There hasn’t been much coverage about the progress on Rochester’s new intermodal station lately. So we thought we’d do another construction update and let you know that the project is moving along as scheduled and the new station is expected to be open and ready for passengers next summer, 2017.
Since our last update, the rickety old 1970s Amtrak station has been demo’d, bridge and tunnel work has largely been completed, and the new building is rising above the site. You can find most of these photos and information on the NYSDOT website 
but once again, so that you don’t have to go digging for it, here’s a look at what’s been happening…
Fun New Bike Racks in Culver-Merchants Neighborhood
This past spring NeighborWorks Rochester invited local artists to submit designs for new bike racks in The Triangle area of North Winton Village. The winning artists were announced earlier this summer, and the finished racks are now open and waiting for you to secure your bike…
On Spokes & Folks: Bike to School Day
On 15 August, the local radio show Spokes & Folks featured Bike to School Day activities around Rochester as its topic. Host (and RCA board member) Dan Lill led a discussion with guests Karen Lankeshofer, Glenn Cerosaletti, and Doug Kelley. Listen here to a great conversation about ways to get our kids more active and build our communities through cycling!
And since that episode, here’s an example of the way things should be: lots of use of the bike rack for students at staff at the Rush-Henrietta Central School District’s Good Shepherd site.
Why Small Things Matter: Artistic Bike Racks in a Transitional Neighborhood
by Monica Finger, NeighborWorks® Rochester
The intersection between healthy, stable, and prosperous neighborhoods and those neighborhoods that support infrastructure for alternative transportation is well-documented. Communities that are walkable and ‘bike-able’ have reduced congestion, pollution, and noise; they promote interaction and neighborly connectedness at a grassroots level; they are visually appealing and desirable. Such neighborhoods also may be less likely to suffer from disinvestment, as the “walkability of an area increases the per-foot price of commercial and residential spaces” [1].
NeighborWorks® Rochester, a non-profit community development organization founded in 1979, provides many services to tenants and homeowners in the Rochester area, including first-time homebuyer counseling, financial fitness education, low-interest loans and grants for home improvement, and free energy assessments. One of NeighborWorks® Rochester’s initiatives, Healthy Blocks, makes a 5-year commitment to a transitional city neighborhood — one that could either experience a regeneration or slip into poverty and disinvestment [2] — and works with residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to stabilize property values, increase resident investment, and improve neighborhood image.
When Healthy Blocks chose The Triangle of North Winton Village (the neighborhood bordered by Culver, Merchants, and East Main) as its target neighborhood, there was a noticeable lack of bike racks in its commercial district — only one set, and not much to look at. Now, if you visit the Triangle point (and you should — it’s home to some fantastic local places like James Brown’s Place, L & M Lanes, Johnny’s Irish Pub, and Merchant’s Bar and Grill), you’ll see four unique, detailed, functional, and visually striking artistic racks made by local artists Matty & Clay (MetalSomeArt) and Jesse Hughson of SkillHoarder.
So, what does it take to turn artistic bike racks from a dream into a reality? Well, besides patience, the short answer is the power of collaboration. NeighborWorks® America provided the grant funding, a team of residents helped to prepare the Request for Art and review submissions, the fabricators crafted the racks with care and quality, the City of Rochester installed them, and Healthy Blocks coordinated it all. Efforts like this — that bring permanent community assets into a neighborhood — may have a small footprint, but the impact can be enormous. Our hope is not only that more people ride their bikes to the area instead of driving, but that these structures will become points of pride, defining elements of place and space that transcend to the level of neighborhood icons. We want one neighbor to say to another: “Meet me at The Triangle, by the bike rack with the fork on it.”
Why not come celebrate these new racks with us? Healthy Blocks is holding an event to promote the artists, the businesses, and the neighborhood on Friday, September 16, from 4 to 7 pm in the Culver-Merchants parking lot outside 1382 Culver Rd. More information is available at the Triangle Facebook page. You’ll have a chance to admire the sculptures, talk with the artists, meet the neighbors of the Triangle, and check out the local fare. Better yet, ride your bike and park it at the rack and get special discounts from participating merchants. In the meantime, you can win a $30 gift certificate to Tryon Bike Shop by cycling up to the racks, taking a picture of you and your bike and posting it to Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook with #trianglebikerack included.
See you there! Want to publicize this event around town? Use this flier.
[1] http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/2/12/americans-want-walkable-neighborhoods
[2] HUD designated a census tract as poverty-level when it reaches 20% poverty. Rochester has the third highest concentration of poverty census tracts in the US. When neighborhoods reach 20% poverty, there is a very small chance that they will recover and stabilize. The Healthy Blocks initiative chooses neighborhoods that are close to 20% poverty to work in. The Triangle’s poverty rate is currently 17%.
Bike-in Movie 11 August at the Public Market
Here’s a great way to enjoy summer on two wheels: a bike-in movie! On 11 August, after Richard Fries’ talk, you can roll over to the Public Market to see the 1983 feature film BMX Bandits. Music and socializing start at 8:00 pm, then the movie starts at 9:00. The event is jointly sponsored by Rochester Cycling Alliance and the City of Rochester. Find out more here and sign up for the Facebook event.
Richard Fries speaks about cycling & city revitalization 11 August
Richard Fries, Executive Director of MassBike, will lead a discussion 11 August about cycling, urban development and revitalization, and attracting and retaining the millennial generation. Join in! The event will start with a reception at 5:30, continue with Richard’s presentation at 6:00, and wrap up with a question and answer session at 7:30, all at the Strong National Museum of Play. Find more information here, and email Shana at Full Moon Vista if you plan to attend.
Two great events on 13 August
Saturday, 13 August 2016 will be a great day to get involved in cycling! First, the Eastside YMCA Charity Ride will offer routes of 50, 20, and 10 miles starting from the Y at 8:00 am, 9:30, and 10:00, respectively. Post-ride festivities will continue until 1:00, and all proceeds benefit the YMCA. Register here. Second, the Rochester Twilight Criterium will bring top-ranked professional cyclists to a fast-paced race through downtown Rochester. The first of many amateur races starts at 3:15, the pros start at 6:25, and awards will be presented at 10:15 pm. Expect high-intensity racing, vendors, food trucks, and a big, electrified crowd. What a day!
When it comes to jobs, location matters.
Posted by: DeWain Feller, Vice President at Reconnect Rochester
Recent articles have highlighted Rochester’s dependency on parking, and have illustrated how our over-reliance on parking is limiting downtown development. This is in turn limiting how many jobs can be located in the city, and many people are beginning to make the connections between the location of jobs, access to jobs, and our debilitating poverty problem.
Do-It-Yourself Bus Stop Bench
Posted by: Daniel Speciale, volunteer at Reconnect Rochester
When the Reconnect Rochester volunteers were out on Joseph Avenue last month placing the latest set of bus stop cubes, I noticed this crumbling bit of concrete (above) and thought… What the hell is it?
We kicked around some thoughts; Maybe a base for one of those traffic signal boxes? Part of an old bus shelter? An old stoop leading to a long-demolished storefront?
An email to my street design guy (yeah, I know a guy) quickly solved the mystery…
New bike lanes on Crittenden Boulevard
There’s great news for the thousands of people who come and go from University of Rochester Medical Center every day: new bike lanes on Crittenden Boulevard! The bike lanes run the entire length of Crittenden in both directions, from Mt. Hope Avenue to Kendrick Road, and are separated from motor traffic by a painted margin.
Do you know of other improvements and upgrades to bike infrastructure around Rochester? Drop us a line.
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