cycle safety

By Jesse Peers, Cycling Manager

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.

Motorists in New York are legally required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The “common law” interpretation of this is for motorists to yield to cyclists in crosswalks too (and we occasionally see motorists ticketed for failing to do so), but it’s not explicitly stated. Though cyclists are not legally required to dismount and walk their bike across the crosswalk, doing so protects them more in a legal sense. As Cara Hamann states in this important article, “There is a simple and straightforward fix to the legal loophole in crosswalk laws: change the word ‘pedestrian’ to ‘persons.’” We find it interesting that in the NYS Driver’s Manual, motorists are instructed to yield to pedestrians, in-line skaters and scooters in crosswalks. Bicycles are missing from that directive.

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.

A quirk of New York State’s e-bike law is that e-bikes (and e-scooters) are prohibited on roads with speed limits greater than 30 mph. This more or less only makes e-bikes legal in cities, villages and quieter residential streets. Most riders in the suburbs are unknowingly riding illegally on their primary roadways. There’s a bill in the legislature that would fix this. Prod your Albany reps. 😉

It’s worth noting: One of the reasons that Upstate New York’s Sidepath networks disappeared in the early 1900s was that different rules throughout the state just didn’t make sense. History is repeating itself in that sense with e-bike rules.

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.

By Jesse Peers, Cycling Manager

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.

Quick note: No blog on bike tips is a substitute for our on-bike Smart Cycling class. (Taking this class is what it took for me to get comfortable riding around back in 2013). The class is small, fun and propels students out with know-how and confidence. Stay tuned for 2026 dates or take the League of American Bicyclists’ online version in the meantime.

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:

1. It’s not the law right now
2. 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 cyclists going 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.

You’re not walking away from that crash.

Image taken from NYBC’s Pocket Guide, available as a free PDF here

What can cyclists do?

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.

by Cycling Manager Jesse Peers

In terms of bike education, John Forester’s Vehicular Cycling philosophy (drive your bike as if you were operating a car) has dominated in the US. If you can learn those tenets and develop a little bit of courage, that philosophy will absolutely keep you safer when riding. But we’ll readily admit that vehicular cycling philosophy alone doesn’t get a whole lot of people on bikes. That’s why we’re pro-bike education and pro-bike infrastructure at Reconnect Rochester.

As we’ve explored before, sidewalk-bicycling is legal in Rochester. While not as safe as many assume, sidewalk-riding can be used to the cyclist’s advantage – for short term maneuvers while taking precautions. Cyclists, after all, do have it both ways as John Forester himself notes:

Traffic law has two different sets of rules, one for pedestrians and one for drivers. Cyclists are unique because they are the only [roadway] users who have a choice. They can follow drivers’ rules when traveling on the roadway, or pedestrians’ rules if they travel on the sidewalk or crosswalk. It is nearly always more effective to be a driver…Being a pedestrian is the cyclist’s last resort when nothing else works.

One of the many benefits of bicycling around is that we tend to have more options than motorists do. Depending on the municipality, you can resort to using the sidewalk for a bit. Whereas motorists can’t drive in the shoulder or on trails, cyclists can. We can ride two abreast (if space is available). There are of course cut-throughs and shortcuts too small for motor vehicles that our shoulder-width vehicles can fit in. We also have more options for making turns.

Today, let’s examine the three ways cyclists can take a left turn.

1. Turning left as a motorist would

The default way any bike curriculum will teach you to make a left turn is by turning left as a motorist would: often in a dedicated left turn lane. We highly recommend learning and developing this skill. If you can work your way up to this and do it safely, the world opens up to you. We go through the intricacies of this maneuver in our on-bike Smart Cycling classes, which are now free by the way. 😉 Short version:

As you’re riding on the right side of the road, scan over your left shoulder to get a good view of traffic behind you (get in the habit of doing this often; that head turn keeps motorists on their toes and lets them know you might be about to make a move; mirrors don’t have the same effect)

For 2-3 seconds, signal your intention to change lanes (left arm straight out)

Yield to traffic already in the lane

Scan again for good measure

Move carefully, smoothly & deliberately when you have the chance

Repeat for multiple lanes until you’re in the left turn lane

When you’re in the left turn lane, position yourself in the middle of it. Make your turn when you have the green light/arrow and the way is clear.

Of course, not everyone will be comfortable moving out from the side of the road into the middle, where they’re more vulnerable.

2. A two-stage (“Dutch”) turn

Another option, one that doesn’t require as much courage, is making a two-stage turn. These are common in the Netherlands, hence the moniker. In this maneuver, there’s no having to move out from the side of the road into the middle. Just proceed straight along the right side of the road through the intersection. Pull over to the right corner on the other side and reposition yourself to proceed in your new direction when the light turns green the other way.

Reconnect Rochester increasingly advocates for two-stage turn boxes on road projects since they’re more intuitive and easy for people. For an example of such a turn box in Rochester, see the corner of Court Street and Chestnut Street downtown. You don’t need a dedicated green turn box to make this maneuver. Those just help build awareness.

This option is the easiest but can take the most amount of time due to light cycles.

3. Wrapping around the corner via the sidewalk

Since Rochester bicyclists have the option of sidewalk-riding, there’s a third option: moving out earlier, getting on the sidewalk on the left side of the road prior to the intersection and using that sidewalk to wrap around in your new direction. Once the way is clear, you can transition back out into the street.

I do this for certain red lights that don’t detect my presence.

Example showing the path of a cyclist getting onto the sidewalk early before the intersection and using the sidewalk to wrap around in their new direction. They can transition back out into the street afterwards when the way is clear.

The benefits of this option are that the traffic lights at the intersection don’t affect you and you avoid being exposed in the intersection entirely. This can be useful if the light cycle is very long or there’s a lot of traffic from the other direction coming your way but you get the opportunity to safely transition onto the sidewalk early before that traffic gets to you. As always, go slow on the sidewalk, yield to pedestrians, maintain awareness and watch for turning vehicles. We only advise sidewalk-riding for short stretches like this.

Conclusion

I’m a confident bike rider as a result of many years of experience having the bicycle being my primary way of getting around. I use all three of these options to make left turns. Time of day, visibility conditions, level of traffic, intuition and my general mood are all factors determining which option I use at a particular intersection. It’s nice to have options.

One more plug for our on-bike Smart Cycling class. It’s fun, free and propels students out with confidence and know-how. It’s what made me comfortable back in 2013! A lot of riders would benefit also from our ROC Easy Bike map – the easier ways to bike around Greater Rochester. Have fun riding and stay safe.

On Rochester’s last Report Card from the League of American Bicyclists, we were urged to collect and track bike crash data. With that in mind, Reconnect Rochester started requesting crash reports involving cyclists in 2021 under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). We started small by just collecting and analyzing city crashes but soon branched out to crashes in the suburbs too.

Today we’ll explore what is consistently the most common cyclist crash in Monroe County. We want all road users to be aware and take appropriate safety measures, both for themselves and for the safety of others. In separate blog posts, we’ll parse out other findings from these reports.

First, some necessary background

In the early days of bicycling, roads weren’t suitable for riding. They weren’t paved and were thus dusty, muddy and full of horse poop. The only smooth, hard rideable surface was the sidewalk network. When too many Rochester cyclists started using the sidewalks, pedestrians were inconvenienced and the local law was changed. In 1896, Rochester cyclists were banned from riding on sidewalks, much to their consternation. That ultimately led to (short lived) bike infrastructure, and longer term to paved public roads, which became a normal expectation of government henceforward.

Meanwhile, the automobile gradually took over our cities and bicycling, for a variety of reasons, dwindled for decades to primarily become a childrens’ activity. (It was the 1970s oil crisis and better built bikes and new gearing which gradually started bringing adult bicycling back). Sadly, a spate of fatal crashes involving Rochester children in the 1950s woke the community up to the need for changing laws once again.

The City Code was changed in 1958 to allow sidewalk riding here. Bicyclists in Rochester, therefore have it both ways. They can choose to ride in the road following most of the rules for motor vehicle drivers OR if they’re not comfortable riding in the road, they can bike or scoot on the sidewalk where they are more or less treated as a higher speed pedestrian.

Because of Rochester’s disparate/piecemeal bike network, the fact that most of those bike lanes aren’t protected from traffic, and the excessive speeds and red light running that have become increasingly common, it’s no wonder why many bike riders in Rochester opt to ride on the sidewalk! Reconnect Rochester’s highest cycling priority is seeing the City’s envisioned Bike Spine Network of protected bike lanes built in the nearterm and the County’s Active Transportation Network longer term.

The Most Common Crash in Monroe County

The most common bike/automobile crash in Monroe County features a motorist failing to yield to a sidewalk-riding cyclist approaching from their right. Just as pedestrians can walk both ways on a sidewalk, cyclists can ride both ways on the sidewalk, though riding on the sidewalk on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic is much safer. (The law requiring cyclists to ride on the right with the flow of traffic applies only when riding in the road itself). When riding on the sidewalk on the left side of the road facing traffic, the trouble for cyclists primarily comes at intersections and parking lot exits.

It’s all too common for motorists wanting to turn right at a red light or stop sign to only look to their left, waiting for a break in oncoming traffic before making their turn. Pedestrians or cyclists entering the crosswalk from their right must be yielded to. Therefore motorists must look both ways, ensuring the way is clear and that their turn can be made with safety.

It should be noted that this failure on the motorist’s part is a ticketable offense. On rare occasions, law enforcement in Monroe County will issue motorists tickets for either of the following violations in this scenario:

• VTL 1146 Every driver shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist or pedestrian…
• VTL 1151 Drivers shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk… (In their crash reports, it’s very common for Officers to refer to the cyclist in this scenario as a pedestrian – with all their accompanying rights)

What can drivers do to avoid this particular crash?

• The law requires motorists to come to a stop *before* the stop line/marked crosswalk, if there is one. If not, you must stop *before* you enter the crosswalk area. (Crosswalks exist legally whether or not they are marked).
• Only after yielding to people walking or rolling in the crosswalk and ensuring the way is clear in *both* directions can motorists creep up gradually to get a better view, waiting for a break in traffic before making their turn with safety.

What can bike riders do to avoid this common crash scenario?

• Because riding on the sidewalk opens you up to some very common motorist mistakes here, we recommend riding on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic. Yes, this can be scary at first (traffic will be coming up behind you on your left), but you are much more visible and predictable this way. The crash scenario we’re examining today is much more common than cyclists’ greatest fear (getting hit from behind or side-swiped).
• Take one of Reconnect Rochester’s *free* on-bike classes sometime to become more comfortable getting around on your bike.
• Constant fear isn’t required when riding a bike, but constant vigilance is. If you choose to ride on the sidewalk, maintain awareness, scan around and behind you on a regular basis, and ride on the sidewalk on the right side with the flow of traffic. As noted above, motorists ahead of you tend to look left in your direction when approaching intersections, so you ought to be more visible to them.
• Only ride on the lefthand sidewalk for very short stretches where it’s to your advantage to do so.
• Riding across crosswalks/parking lot exits via the sidewalk, don’t assume the driver sees you and will yield to you. You must negotiate and reach an understanding. This can be hard due to the increase in tinted windows which don’t allow you to interact with the driver in any way. Don’t proceed until you know it’s safe in all directions.
• Some safety educators would advise you to dismount and walk your bike across crosswalks, particularly at busy intersections.

Crossing intersections on the lefthand sidewalk also puts you in danger of other turning motorists, such as motorists behind you turning left.

What can governments and street engineers do?

• Ban right on red. This was traffic law for a long time, and it needs to come back.
• Eliminate slip lanes
• For municipalities that allow sidewalk-riding, update your code to require motorists to yield to bike & scooter riders in the crosswalk too. This is already the “common law” interpretation, but it helps to get rid of the ambiguity. Clear motorist expectations are important.
• Seamless corridors of protected bike lanes
• Protected intersections
• Educational campaigns about this common error
• Continual messaging to motorists that cyclists have every right to ride in the street

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. Stay tuned for more crash analysis…