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Ride RTS FREE On ‘Critical Mass Transit Day’ — October 20

Reconnect Rochester, RTS Partner to Stop the Exodus of $1.5 Million Vanishing from the Local Economy Daily

Riders with a 'UFO' pin will be able to ride local buses for free all day on October 20, the first Critical Mass Transit Day.
Riders with a “UFO” pin will be able to ride local buses for free all day on October 20, the first Critical Mass Transit Day. The UFO promotion is part of an ongoing campaignexternal link to raise awareness of the $1.5 million in gasoline money that is ‘abducted’ from our local economy every day.

Reconnect Rochester will be handing out UFO pins
at local farmer’s markets throughout October:

Critical Mass Transit is a joint effort by Regional Transit Service (RTS) and Reconnect Rochester, a transit advocacy group that suggests by using public transit as an alternative to driving a car, Rochesterians have the power to reinvest those dollars back into Rochester’s economy.

THE SAVINGS ARE VERY REAL! According to CommuteSolutions.org, those who drive to work everyday alone can incur costs that exceed $1 per mile. That includes fuel, maintenance, parking and depreciation, and depends on vehicle type and driving habits. By comparison, a ride on an RTS bus costs one dollar.

In addition to the personal savings, every one-dollar invested in public transportation can generate $4 in economic returns for our area. Conversely, nearly every dollar we burn on gasoline leaves Rochester.

Making smarter choices when it comes to transportation is an easy way for households to save money, and grow our region’s economy over the long run.

On October 20, proudly display your pin. Even if you just go for a joy-ride down the street, the idea is to learn about our transit system and show your support for the future of public transit in Rochester.

Need Assistance Using RTS?

Download this Commuter Resources sheet [PDF] for handy RTS transit tips. You can also call RTS at 585-288-1700 for help planning a trip or contact the volunteers at Reconnect Rochester—they can help you decipher the routes and schedules.

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Critical Mass Transit Day October 20, 2011

Critical Mass Transit Day


RIDE THE BUS FOR FREE ON CRITICAL MASS TRANSIT DAY (OCT. 20)
Reconnect Rochester, RTS Partner to Stop the Exodus of $1.5 Million Vanishing from the Local Economy Daily
Riders with a “UFO” pin, available at local retailers and by mail, will be able to ride local buses for free all day on October 20, the first Critical Mass Transit Day. The UFO promotion is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness of the $1.5 million in gasoline money that is abducted from local economy every day. Critical Mass Transit is a joint effort by RTS and Reconnect Rochester, a transit advocacy group. By using bus transit as an alternative to driving a car, Rochesterians have the power to reinvest those dollars back into Rochester’s economy. Learn more at http://RochesterVanishing.info
All RTS buses have bicycle racks that hold two bicycle. Take your bicycle for a ride on a bus. No extra charge.

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Urban Trail Linkages Public Informational Meeting Notice

Urban Trail Linkages Public Informational Meeting Notice
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
210 Maplewood Drive
City’s Maplewood Training Center – use entrance on Bridge View Drive
Rochester, NY
Proposed Eastman Park Trail – Kings Landing Cemetery to NYS Route 390
Genesee Riverway Trail (GRT) – Relining the GRT from
Kings Landing Cemetery to Turning Point Park
For details of the project: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/UrbanTrailLinkages/

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UFO Sightings Explained… Abductions Continue…

Sorry if we caused a mass panic last week with all of the reports of UFO’s and abductions. We staged the whole UFO thing. But we can’t apologize for the adbuctions. As it turns out, every dollar we spend on gasoline, over $1.5 MILLION each day*, leaves the local economy never to be seen again. Vanished! The numbers are real. The UFO’s are not. We can do something about the vanishing resources.

Did you know every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns. It’s true. Households that use public transportation and live with one less car can save on average $9,000 every year.[1]

The volunteers at Reconnect Rochester find these numbers downright frightening. And we’re doing something about. We’ve organized a ‘human resistance’ movement have been getting the word out this weekend at the Greentopia Festival about Critical Mass Transit Day.

ON THE 3RD THURSDAY OF OCTOBER, AND EVERY MONTH THEREAFTER, WE WILL LEAVE OUR CARS AT HOME & JOIN TOGETHER FOR A “CRITICAL MASS” TRANSIT RIDE. EVERYONE IS INVITED! NO ONE IS IN CHARGE! LOOK FOR YOUR COMRADES ON RTS BUSES WEARING THIS PIN…

ON OCTOBER 20 SHOW THIS PIN TO YOUR RTS DRIVER AND RIDE FREE ALL DAY!

ON OCTOBER 20 SHOW THIS PIN TO YOUR RTS DRIVER AND RIDE FREE ALL DAY!

THAT part is no hoax. RTS has kindly agreed to honor our NO-UFOs pin as free entry onto any RTS bus all day on October 20. Just flash this pin at the friendly driver. Even if you’ve never ridden RTS before, now is the perfect time to give it a try. If only for one day. To get to work, or for a leisurely trip around the block.

Visit Reconnect Rochester at the Greentopia Festival (High Falls, vendor area, booth 55) and grab your FREE pin today… before they VANISH.

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Getting Ready for Greentopia

Greentopia Festival gets ready to kick off this weekend. Workers in the High Falls neighborhood were invited to a picnic lunch today on the newly 'green' Commercial Street. [PHOTO: VJ Ortiz]
The Greentopia Festivalexternal link is getting ready to kick off this weekend. Check out the photo above, snapped earlier today on Commercial Street. Ain’t that something?!

The two-day, interactive fest in historic High Falls will reveal what the region is doing to help the environment – and envision a greener Rochester of the future. The volunteers at Reconnect Rochester are VERY excited to have a booth at this brand new event to help promote the green movement and alternate forms of transportation.

I won’t give away the surprise, but we’ll be featuring an out-of-this-world exhibit highlighting some “green” benefits of transit you probably never knew.

Announcing the FIRST EVER
“Critical Mass Transit Day!”

Reconnect Rochester is using this weekend’s event to get the word out about the first ever “Critical Mass Transit Day”—taking place on the 3rd Thursday of October (10/20/2011) and every month thereafter.

Similar to the cycling version of Critical Massexternal link where cyclists take to the streets on human-powered modes of transport, Critical Mass Transit will be a celebration of greener, more social forms of transportation. The rules are simple: on the 3rd Thursday of every month, leave your car at home and walk, bike, or roller skate to the nearest bus stop. Take the bus to work (or where ever it is you go during the day) and then take it back home at the end of the day.

Get Your FREE Ride…

To make things a little more interesting, we’ve teamed up with the Transit Authority to offer you a FREE day on RTS. You heard me right… The first Critical Mass Transit Day can be absolutely FREE for you… No strings. All you have to do is visit our booth at the Greentopia Festival and say hello.

So come visit us Saturday or Sunday in the High Falls overlook area (where Browns Race and Commercial Street meet) and get green with us.

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The RCA Greentopia Bike the Bridges Ride Saturday September 17

On Saturday September 17 the RCA is organizing a self-guided Bike the Bridges ride to the Greentopia Festival site at High Falls from Genesee Valley Park (GVP), six miles one-way.
Meet at GVP anytime between 9:00 -10:30 A.M. and join other cyclists riding to the festival.
Print ride maps off the web site and sign the ride waiver on- line, www.greentopiafestival.com/highlights/bike.
The Rochester Cycling Alliance (RCA) will have a table at the Greentopia Festival on September 17 & 18, 10:00a .m. – 6:00 p.m. Admission to the festival is free. Go to www.greentopiafestival.com for more information.

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Help Protect Funding for the ‘Partnership for Sustainable Communities’

The U.S. House of Representatives just stripped funding for the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The Senate will consider funding for the Partnership next Thursday. NOW is the time to tell your Senators to maintain funding for this important program.The U.S. House of Representatives just stripped funding for the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The Senate will consider funding for the Partnership next Thursday.

NOW is the time to tell your Senators to maintain funding for this important program.

These are tough economic times, which makes it even more important to keep the innovative programs that put federal dollars to good use rebuilding our local economies, strengthening our communities, and creating necessary jobs.

Earlier this year when the Partnership was under threat, your voices made a real difference and funding was preserved. Now we need your voices to be heard even louder.

Tell your Senators: Protect funding for the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.external link

Make sure that Congress knows we will not accept shortsighted cuts that sacrifice the health of our communities.

From connecting affordable housing with jobs to turning dilapidated lots into vibrant downtown centers, the Partnership is making a difference in our communities, where we are hurting the most.

Please tell your lawmakers not to take away crucial opportunities for our communities.external link

This is the time when we need your voice the most. Thank you for all that you do.

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W. Broad St. Sharrow


The first ‘sharrow’ to appear in the downtown area is on W. Board St. near Main St.
The ‘sharrow’ is a road sharing symbol that will be mainly used where there is no room to strip a bicycle lane. 2011 is the first year this new symbol is being used by the County DOT & the City DOT.
In time motorists will get used to this new sharing the lane symbol which will hopefully increase the safety of cyclists.
The chevron arrow of the symbol is to remind cyclists the direction of travel which will hopefully decrease wrong way cycling, a leading cause of auto and bicycle crashes.
The photo; looking toward Main St. (Nick Tahou’s) from the Brown St. intersection.

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RCA at Greentopia

The Rochester Cycling Alliance (RCA) will have a presence at the Greentopia Festival on September 17 & 18, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Admission to the festival is free.  Go to www.greentopiafestival.com for more information.
 
On Saturday the 17th, the RCA is organizing a self-guided Bike-the-Bridges ride to the festival fromGeneseeValleyParktoHighFalls(six miles one way).  Meet there anytime between 9:00 -10:30 a.m. and join other cyclists riding to the event. Free bicycle parking is available at the event.
 
Print ride maps off the web site and sign the ride waiver on- line; www.greentopiafestival.com/highlights/bike.
 
The RCA will also have a table at the festival site. Stop by to get some free educational cycling material, bicycle road & trails map, or just to talk about the bicycle infrastructure in theRochesterregion.
 
The Cycling Alliance is gratefully accepting volunteers to staff the table. Go to https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjwrTZlKE2FLdGw1bmROdXpjZGV0X19JWS04ZXMyaUE&hl=en_US&pli=1#gid=0 to claim your spot or contact Rochelle Bell at rbell@monroecounty.gov.
 

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Bike Lanes Marked on Two Major Local New York State Roads


Bike Lanes now marked on two major local New York State roads.
The recently completed Jefferson Road project, Route 390 to Hylan Drive, now has an approximate four foot shoulder and marked with the bicycle lane logo.
Monroe Ave. from Clover St. to French road was recently repaved. The shoulder was increased from four to five feet and marked as a bicycle lane.
Both are challenging roads to cycle mainly due to a very high volume of motor vehicle traffic. I have seen many experienced cyclist riding on both roads during commute time periods. For those less experienced or fearful there are sidewalks on both roadways to ease your fears.
Ride safely.

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Governor Cuomo Signs “Complete Streets”

Pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders in Rochester (and across New York state) will soon benefit from a new Complete Streets law. Thanks to the volunteers at Reconnect Rochester and outspoken citizens like you! [FLICKR PHOTO: _Yoshi]
Earlier this year, Reconnect Rochester teamed up with Tri-State Transportation Campaignexternal link and other transportation advocacy groups from around New York state in an effort to mobilize support for, and urge Governor Cuomo to sign New York’s first Complete Streets law. Thousands of you and other New Yorkers signed petitions and wrote and called your representatives. It made all the difference, helping to get this issue onto the agendas of elected officials and making sure it passed during a busy legislative session.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders in Rochester (and across New York state) will soon benefit from a new Complete Streets law. Thanks to the volunteers at Reconnect Rochester and outspoken citizens like you! [IMAGE: Reconnect Rochester]Earlier this week Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the billexternal link that will make streets safer for everyone. The law will ensure that major road projects take into account the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and people of all ages and abilities.

Whether young or old; on foot, in a wheelchair, on a bike, or in a car, everyone is safer when roads are designed so everyone can use them. Roads designed according to complete streets principlesexternal link are safer and encourage walking and cycling, leading to healthier neighborhoods and better quality of life. This is an extremely important reform that will save lives.

Thank YOU for helping to win positive change!

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Mapnificent, Meet Rochester.

Posted by: John Lam

Rochester is now on Mapnificent thanks to Reconnect Rochester!
Scoop one for Reconnect Rochester! Several days ago we noticed Mapnificent.net (a new site for visualizing transit reachability) hadn’t included Rochester among its cities. Clicking into its support forum led me to a post also seeking support for Rochester. A quick search told us our bus company had just announced the public availability of their General Transit Feed Specification, so in response we posted the location of this feed and within an hour Rochester debuted in Mapnificentexternal link.

Read more

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Bicycle Day at the Brighton Farmers Market Sunday August 21, 2011

R_Community_Bikes_Photo
Bicycle Day at the Brighton Farmers Market (www.brightonfarmersmarket.org/)
Sunday August 21, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Brighton High School parking lot
1150 Winton Road South
Rochester, NY 14618.
R. Community Bikes will be collecting used bicycles at the Brighton Farmers Market. Bike donations are tax deductible.
Please bring your used bicycle to the market to donate to a wonderful community organization.
10:00 a.m.  – Brighton Police Dept. bicycle safety talk.
Free helmets kids donated by Brighton Police Patrolman’s Association.

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Brooks, Rochester General Hospital Host Wheel Sport Safety Contest Ceremony

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, in collaboration with the Office of Traffic Safety, the Rochester General Hospital Association and the Twigs organization, hosted the 23rd annual Wheel Sport Safety Awareness Contest Awards Ceremony. The event, which took place at Greece Ridge Mall, honored local schoolchildren for their participation in a coloring and writing contest.
“This annual contest is a great opportunity for our children to be advocates and raise awareness of the dangers of riding a bicycle, rollerblading, or skateboarding without proper protection,” said Brooks. “By educating the public on safe wheel sport practices, we will certainly prevent countless injuries to our children and in turn, will save precious lives.”The coloring and writing contests promote all forms of wheel sport safety including bicycle, in-line skates, roller-skates, skateboards and scooters. Fourteen children were awarded first place, earning them new bicycles and helmets, and 357 contest participants received new properly fitted helmets, all of which were donated by Rochester General Hospital and Twigs.
Nearly 2,600 entries were submitted this year from a total of 84 local schools.
“The Twigs of Rochester General Hospital are a proud co-sponsor of the Wheel Sport Safety Contest,” said Trudie Kirshner, Rochester General Hospital Association and TWIGS President. “We invite children in grades K-6 to submit colored pages, drawings and essays addressing safety issues. This important event is a fun and educational way for children in Monroe County Schools to learn about safety as it relates to wheeled vehicles.”
Twigs was founded as a grassroots organization in 1887 and supports Rochester General Hospital through fundraising and donations. There are currently over 600 members of Twigs in the Rochester area.
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NYC Biking is Up 14 Percent From 2010; Overall Support Rises

By Andrea Bernstein | July 28, 2011 – 12:31 pm

The Prospect Park West bike lane in Brooklyn (photo by Kate Hinds)

Biking is up in New York City by 14 percent from last spring. The NYC Department of Transportation says it recorded 18,809 cyclists per day, up from 16,463 in spring 2010.  Word of the increase in cycling comes the same day a poll shows a widening number of New Yorkers support bike lanes.
Read the story.