News

Bike Week is upon us, and RochesterBikeWeek.blogspot.com is here to tell you all about it.
As of this writing, here’s the event schedule.  But check there for updates!

Subject: Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project (Traffic Counts)
We need your help.
The Active Transportation Working Group, a spin-off the Rochester Cycling Alliance’s April 2011 Active Transportation Symposium, is searching for volunteers to conduct bicycle and pedestrian traffic counts in Rochester and Monroe County during May 2012 as part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, http://bikepeddocumentation.org/.
We are planning to conduct the counts during commute times in the A.M. and P.M. on May 15-17.
The meeting to discuss the program will be held:
Thursday April 26, 2012
7 -9 P.M.
Rochester Institute of Technology Center for Student Innovation
Room 1100
Building 87, University Service Center, Parking Lot S
Map Link: http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/general/general.pdf.
We will have a short training session on how to count. You will be using a clip board and recording on a paper form during the count and standing outdoors.
We will have some selected sites. We will be determining other locations dependant on the number of volunteers available. Bring a friend that is willing to help. Help us select additional sites.
We are also planning to use automated equipment at some selected locations but our first effort will be mainly manual. We will tell you about the automated counting devices at our disposal.
If you are unable to attend the meeting and are willing to do a count please send an email to Richard DeSarra, rdscomm@rochester.rr.com. We will arrange other training dates as needed depending on the response.

RCA Meeting
Date: Tuesday April 17, 2012
Time: 7:00 – 9p.m.
Location: RIT
Map Link: http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/general/general.pdf.
(Building 87, University Service Center) (Parking Lot S)
Think Bicycling as Transportation

Today the Genesee Transportation Council announces a new online service that provides information on bicycling, public transportation, and other travel choices.
roceasyride is a free-to-use rideshare solution allowing you to create a commute profile to find carpool matches and smart commute options specifically for you. Online tools allow you to track the money you save and the environmental benefits that result.
roceasyride provides information on bicycling, public transportation, and other travel choices that can help you save money while improving our environment.

Bike Walk Brighton
Historic charm, renowned schools and expansive parks make the Town of Brighton one of the finest places in New York to live, work, and raise a family. Brighton is recognized as one of America’s most attractive residential towns – home to notable leaders in business, industry, education, government…
The Town of Brighton has launched its Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bike-Walk-Brighton/219553991464496.
The objective of the Brighton Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan is to develop a plan for a well-connected, safe, and functional active transportation network of sidewalks and on- and off-road trails to enhance the safety and circulation of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
The Town will hold a public open house on March 29, 2012. Details will be announce on the Facebook site.

RCA Meeting
Date: Tuesday March 20, 2012
Time: 7:00 – 9p.m.
Location: U of R, Goergen Hall, Room 110
Map Link: http://www.rochester.edu/maps/ (River Campus)
(Goergen Hall, Room 110) (Intercampus Drive & Trustee Road)
Think Bicycling as Transportation

February 23, 2012
Richard W. Lee, P.E.
Acting Director, Office of Design
NYS Department of Transportation
Albany, NY 12232
Dear Mr. Lee,
We are in receipt of your letter dated January 27, 2012 by which the Department solicits input from the New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) regarding a draft shoulder rumble strip policy. We welcome the opportunity to illustrate some of the policy’s negative impacts upon bicycling. NYBC is New York’s statewide bicycle advocacy organization, representing bicyclists of all abilities and types. Members of our staff and board have significant experience in transportation design, planning and administration. Our recommendations, therefore, are deeply informed by input from hundreds of bicyclists as well as a strong base of technical knowledge.
NYBC understands and appreciates the potential of rumble strips to protect motorists from drift off the road crashes. We recognize that the benefit to cost ratio provided by rumble strips on given roadways varies significantly according to a number of factors, including road geometry, speed and traffic volume. We support targeted installation of rumble strips on roads that would benefit the most from their use. Indiscriminate, wholesale installation of rumble strips, however, would provide significantly reduced return-on-investment and result in a serious reduction in safety, comfort and mobility for bicyclists.
Attached is a December 2009 NYBC report which 1) describes the effects of rumble strips upon bicyclists and 2) compares the Department’s 2009 draft policy against policies in other states and guiding documents. The Report made many recommendations for changes to that policy. It is disappointing, therefore, to observe that the current draft policy does not appear to incorporate the recommendations provided by the bicycling community in 2009. We urge the Department to seriously consider the report’s recommendations, re-stated below, in the continued formation of a rumble strip policy.
NYBC Recommends the following text and/or concepts be included in a revised rumble strip (or SHARDS) policy;
see the balance of the letter and the December 2009 New York Bicycle Coalition Report at http://www.nybc.net/rumble-strips.

An Opportunity to Make Wegmans Rochester’s Top Bicycle Friendly Business
In 2013 there will be a new Wegmans East Avenue Store. This is a great opportunity to encourage Wegmans to become a more bicycle friendly business.
Wegmans is taking comments and is open to suggestions. Please send the following three recommendations and your suggestions to Wegmans.
The best way to send suggested ideas is through the Consumer Affairs Dept. The department will record your ideas and forward them to the appropriate people. If you want to call the phone number is 328-2550 or via the web site, www.wegmans.com.
There are a few critical things that Wegmans can do to create a bicycle friendly environment:
1. Have ample and secured bicycle parking for employees and customers.
2. Have a unisex bathroom shower facility for employees who wish to clean up, change or shower prior to work, and provide lockers to store cloths.
3. Many progressive businesses are now giving small financial incentives for employees who bicycle and walk to work. This makes for healthier and happier employees.
Thank you,
Scott

Happy New Year, cyclists!
The fantastic nation-wide program Bicycle Benefits is now here in Rochester.
Kick off 2012 by getting your $5 membership helmet sticker at participating locations, and then ride your bike to other participating businesses to receive your discount on products and services.
The first local business to join was Park Ave. Bikes (thank you, Andy!); other recent businesses joining include Java’s, Callan-Harris Physical Therapy, and the Owl House.
You can read more about the program at http://www.bicyclebenefits.org. Click on “New York” on the left side of the home page, and then on “Rochester,” and you will find new businesses added as they join. You can also see the location of each business as well as the details about the discounts offered.
If you know of any businesses that would like to join, please contact us at the RCA, or the business can contact Bicycle Benefits directly. It is virtually a cost-free program for businesses, and is one that encourages cleaner air, personal health, and the use of pedaling energy in order to create a more sustainable community.
Please join us to help make Bicycle Benefits a success in the Flower City. And let’s put more people on bikes and continue to bring active transportation to Rochester!
The Rochester Cycling Alliance Board of Directors

This is a very important NYS DOT project that will have a major impact
on transportation to/from the University of Rochester.
The NYS DOT web site for the project is https://www.dot.ny.gov/access390.
Access 390: Interchange 16/ I-390 Rehabilitation at Routes 15 and 15A
Project I.D. No. 4390.17
Public Hearing:
Tuesday January 17, 2012
Open house 3 – 5p.m. and 6 – 7:15p.m.
Hearing 7:30p.m.
Monroe Community Hospital Auditorium
435 E. Henrietta Road
Rochester, NY 14620

RCA Cycling Forum With Chief Sheppard of the Rochester Police Department
Monday, December 12, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Bausch and Lomb Library
Kate Gleason Auditorium
This is an opportunity for members of the Rochester cycling community to ask the Chief questions about cycling topics such as:
-Bike Theft
-RPD response to bike/car crashes
-RPD officer training in bicycle law

The City of Rochester Bicycle Master Plan was completed in January 2011. The plan’s recommendations serve as a framework for the city’s future investment in bicycle infrastructure; http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589943115.
And here is a list of the bicycle infrastructure that has been implemented since the plan was completed in January 2011.
Sharrows, a Share the Road Symbol, painted on roadways–approximately 5 lane miles
Bicycle Shelter – Court Street
Bicycle Lanes – approximately 6 lane miles
Bicycle Work Station – Sisters Cities Parking Garage, Fitzhugh St.
Bicycle Parking Racks – more added throughout the City
Portable Bicycle Parking Racks – used at Greentopia Festival in September
More Sharrow and Bicycle Lane miles are planned for 2012.
Now is a good time to send your Hoorays to the City.

The D&C reported that Douglas Brown was assaulted and left unconscious. This is the text from the D&C:
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an attack on the Erie Canal path in Pittsford on Monday. Douglas Brown, 58, of Rochester was riding his bicycle on the path near Clover Street around 12:30 p.m. when another man on a bicycle kicked Brown’s tire, which caused him to fall.The suspect then kicked and punched Brown in the head and caused him to lose consciousness, said Cpl. John Helfer.Brown was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Update 10/14/2011 Suspect apprehended