For Monroe County to be more bikeable, New York State DOT (NYSDOT) and Monroe County DOT are going to have to “up their game” when it comes to complete streets designs and reallocating existing roadspace. Those two entities control the vast majority of the primary roads connecting our towns and villages. Town leadership can certainly make their wishes known when one of those primary roads through their community gets repaved, and those wishes will be considered, but the towns don’t have ultimate say-so.
Purple or Orange = Municipality has ultimate say-so
Today, we’d like to highlight something towns and villages can do of their own accord to better serve bike riders and cheaply achieve bike network connectivity in the meantime: connect residential streets at key locations with paths between residences.
Pittsford has done a great job at this. There are so many streets that don’t connect for motorists but do for those who walk or roll.
Path between houses on Devonwood Lane alleviates the need to bike on Calkins Road
Path at the end of Bromley Road, giving kids access to Mendon Center Elementary School alleviates the need to bike on Mendon Center Road
Path between houses on Rosewood Drive, giving kids access to Park Road Elementary School alleviates the need to bike on East Street or Park Road
It’s not uncommon for paths to/through schools to be closed during school hours, as you can see here.
As you can see, Pittsford has wildly successful Bike to School Days. And it’s not because their primary roads are bike-friendly! It’s because they’ve invested in cheap, low-stress connections between residential streets, especially around their school campuses.
Pittsford isn’t the only town with bike/ped access between residences. More examples below!
Narrow connection in Gates from Hinchey Rd to Walmart, alleviating the need to walk or bike on Howard Road
This path in Penfield connects Devonshire Circle to the Wegmans and Target off Penfield Road
Path off Frandee Lane in Greece, granting access to Brookside Elementary School alleviates the need to bike on Long Pond Road
Path between houses on Rusty Lane in Greece, granting access to Autumn Lane Elementary School
Path between residences on Pearson Lane in Greece, granting access to Greece Athena alleviates the need to bike on English Rd or Long Pond Rd
Irondequoit’s Bike Boulevard network wouldn’t be possible without this path connecting Norlane Drive to Kearney Drive. This crucial east-west Bike Boulevard allows cyclists to entirely avoid biking on Ridge Road or Titus Ave.
Boniface Drive in Brighton has a couple beautiful cut-throughs, one towards Lac De Ville and another to the Hillel Community Day School
This path off Clooney Drive in Henrietta leads to Emma E Sherman Elementary School alleviates the need to bike on Lehigh Station Road
Where could similar connections be made elsewhere in Monroe County’s towns and villages? Chime in and let us know. More importantly, as a resident, let the municipality know these investments are needed.
The Town of Chili could really benefit from connecting some of its residential streets with small paths between houses at key locations. This would save people from having to walk or bike on Chili Avenue and Paul Road.
It’s a squiggly way of getting there, but it’s entirely possible to bike from Creek Street in Penfield to the village of Webster, pretty much by residential streets alone. No paths between residences necessary!
One disclaimer: Pedestrians always have the right of way on trails, sidewalks and paths like the ones we’re highlighting today. NO ONE on foot or in a wheelchair has to get out of your way when biking along.
Timely advocacy opportunities for pushing NYSDOT and Monroe County DOT to be better:
Whether you’re motivated by saving money, protecting the environment, improving street safety, boosting your health, or building community connections, thank you for signing up for the Week Without Driving challenge. Discover the freedom and joy of leaving your car at home!
Review the daily emails below and don’t forget to measure your non-car trips and non-driving miles traveled then report each day on ourtracking form.
Don’t forget to log every mile you walk, roll, bike, or scoot onStravawhile using Google Maps to estimate mileage for bus trips. Log your non-driving miles and non-car trips on our tracking form each day. On Thursday October 8th we will tally everyone’s submissions.
Quick reminder that the challenges are guidelines to structure your week and you are welcome to use whatever mode makes most sense for you each day.
Today we’re spotlighting the option to take RTS to get around Monroe County.
Riding the bus is a great way to connect with your community. You can enjoy a book instead of stressing over rush-hour traffic or hit the town without worrying about parking or whether you’ll be drinking.
Frequent transit with good coverage of high traffic areas is much more effective at reducing traffic congestion than adding driving lanes which is proven not to be effective.
Thursdays Challenge
Join Reconnect Rochester for a Week Without Driving happy hour on October 1st! Meet us at Salinger’s (107 East Ave) by bus anytime from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. And/or join us by bus as we walk together as a group to the Transit Center to ride home. This is a great opportunity to meet Reconnect Rochester staff members and others in the community who are interested in alternate transit!
If RTS doesn’t run in your area, try carpooling to a stop with sufficient parking to try a park and ride experience.
Some Suggestions
If you’ve never ridden the bus before, check out theHow to Ride webpageon the RTS website.
“We like our drivers, we feel safe on the bus, RTS buses are newer and riding is a great experience! But do they get you to your destination frequently and on time?
We secured money to study Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to dedicate a lane just for bus service with transit signal priority to move our buses quicker. So if someone misses a bus they’re not waiting 45 minutes for the next one, they’re waiting 5-10 minutes.
I need everyone to call their state representatives and tell them to make transit a priority this budget session. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
-NY State Senator Jeremy Cooney Chair of Transportation Committee
Take Inspiration From Libby
“Living near NYC and then abroad in Europe, I saw how transit can easily work for residents. When you have frequent service you don’t need to plan your trip ahead of time and you can still get around without much trouble. Transit wasn’t viewed as something people used only because they couldn’t afford a car, it was simply how people got around. I wish we thought about transit that way here.”
Libby has never had a driver’s license and she doesn’t want one. She doesn’t bike and relies on RTS or walking to get everywhere she goes. Read about her car free life on our website.
What is Reconnect Rochester doing to help bus riders?
As funding for RTS primarily comes from New York state we are continuing advocacy with our statewide coalition New Yorkers for Transportation Equity. We have also formed a local coalition of RTS bus riders to share their ideas and experiences to guide our advocacy. Our goal is to build a robust bus system that connects people to jobs, healthcare, education, childcare and groceries.
If you are a regular RTS bus rider and you want to help out, please email info@reconnectrochester.org. If you are NOT a regular RTS bus rider, we encourage you to ride the bus when you can. The more of us who ride, the more the system will be prioritized.
“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!”
“I take the 6, then the 13 (this route gets PACKED, I’m shocked it doesn’t run every 15 minutes).”
“Routes need to be added that circle around the city instead of just spokes going out from the center.”
“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.”
Hear directly from local residents who rely mostly or solely on RTS to get around from our Voices of Transitinitiative.
Many of you listed biking or driving as your typical mode of transportation. Whether you have never ridden the bus or don’t ride it often, we highly encourage you to consider it in your mobility choices.
Please email info@reconnectrochester.org with pictures of you using alternative transit! We’d love to share them. You can also post them on your own, tag us, and include the hashtag #WeekWithoutDriving #ROCWeekWithoutDriving
We hope you are enjoying transit day today! If you haven’t already seen it on our social media, take a minute to watch Rochester’s State Senator Jeremy Cooney, Chairman of the State Senate Committee on Transportation, discuss public transit on Facebook, Instagram, andBluesky.
Today’s email is to get you ready for Day 2 of the Week Without Drivingwhich will focus on the simplest form of transportation: walking.
Don’t forget to count every mile you walk, roll, bike, or scoot and log your non-driving miles and non-car trips on ourtracking formeach day. Feel free to use Stravawhile using Google Maps to estimate mileage for bus trips. On Thursday October 8th we will tally everyone’s submissions.
Quick reminder that the challenges are guidelines to structure your week and you are welcome to use whatever mode makes most sense for you each day.
Here is something to think about:
More than 80% of people say having a sidewalk and being walking distance to shops and parks are important factors when choosing a home. Yet the majority of neighborhoods in America are not set up to accommodate these popular desires.
As Sunday’s Lucky Flea Market event showed us, opening streets to people is a popular choice.
Friday’s Challenge
Did you know 38.4% of vehicle trips nationwide in 2022 were less than 3 miles? That’s a great distance to do your errands on foot. Whether from work, home, or school, see if you can “trip chain” and combine stops along your route. Bring a friend or family member and enjoy a break from rushing to get around.
If you don’t live in a walkable area, go to a shopping center (such as Baytown or Pittsford Plaza-both accessible by bus!) and get as many things as you need without getting back in your car again; coffee, library book, hardware store, groceries, lunch etc. Now imagine if this was walking distance from your house and didn’t include a massive parking lot in the center.
Bonus challenge: Join one of the ROC The Riverway weekend activities! Tomorrow (Friday, October 2nd) there are multiple boat tours of the Erie Canal available. Even more bonus points if you get there multimodally and reply to this email with a picture.
Some Suggestions
Look for quieter streets with sidewalks and less traffic.
If you don’t have sidewalks, walk against traffic to monitor.
A backpack is easier to carry items.
Errands too sprawled out? Get multimodal! Hop on a bike, RTS bus, VEO, etc. to go far without the car!
Wear shoes you want to walk in!
Take Inspiration From Josie
“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.”
Josie McClary is a car lite pedestrian, a strong advocate for alternative transportation and a Reconnect Rochester board member. With 47 non-car trips, she is also one of our prize winners for the 2025 Week Without Driving. Read her reflection on being car lite in Rochester as a pedestrian.
What is Reconnect Rochester doing to help walkers?
Through our quick-build projects such as Complete Streets Makeovers and Downtown SmART Streets, we’re testing pedestrian safety improvements at intersections and using the results to push for permanent change.
Mixed use buildings are the way to go! Two of the five places I went were in the same building as another one of my destinations so I didn’t even count miles for the few feet I walked.
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.
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.
Good Reads
An underrated element in the pedestrian safety discussion? Good lighting.
We’re cruising into the weekend with a spotlight on the most efficient form of transportation in human history: the bicycle! There is so much to say about bicycling in Monroe County that we have a dedicatednewsletter, social media channels, and a webpagededicated to this popular mode of travel.
Don’t forget to count every mile you walk, roll, bike, or scoot and log your non-driving miles and non-car trips on our tracking form each day. Feel free to use Stravawhile using Google Maps to estimate mileage for bus trips. On Thursday October 8th we will tally everyone’s submissions.
Quick reminder that the challenges are guidelines to structure your week and you are welcome to use whatever mode makes most sense for you each day.
Here is something to think about:
Just one hour on a bike can burn well over 500 calories (depending on incline and how quickly you’re pedaling). It’s an excellent way to get your heart rate up and can actually help slow the decline of cardiovascular health—research suggests cutting your risk of heart disease by up to 82%.
As we covered in our Park(ing) day blog post, bikes are a much more economical use of space than cars and can help us preserve our most valuable asset: land.
Saturday’s Challenge
Ride your bike for an errand! Hit the library, go to a restaurant or a friend’s house. See how it feels to start your day outside, connected to the community, and getting some light exercise. Reflect on how it feels using Monroe County’s cycling infrastructure. Extra points if you ride recent road projects and tell us your grade for each completed stretch.
Bonus Challenge: Register and join us for a fun group ride with Reconnect Rochester, EE Pathways and DRHSfollowed by an ice cream social at our office on Wednesday at 6pm. Get familiar with Rochester’s low stress bike routes and get a chance to meet Reconnect Rochester staff members and other area cyclists.
Some Suggestions
Use a big backpack or panniers to hold anything you may need.
Visit our ROC Easy Bike Map and to plan your route through the beautiful trails, bicycle boulevards, and protected lanes offered throughout Monroe County.
Get to know Rochester’s Bicycle Boulevard network. Bicycle boulevards are streets that parallel major roads that see less traffic and are equipped with speed humps to slow down cars.
What do our leaders think of biking in Monroe Country?
“Monroe County believes there should be a complete streets approach to how we design our streets. To make sure it’s safe for everybody to use our roads regardless of the mode they choose.
We changed county policy to allow for bike lanes to be installed on county roads. We have more lane miles planned for the future so it’s not just the city of Rochester but we’re connected into the suburbs as well.
Try riding a bike to get to where you’re going today and Monroe County’s commitment is to design roads that are safe for you to ride your bike and safe for motorists as well.”
-County Executive Adam Bello
Take Inspiration From Lorie
“What are some of the most interesting things I’ve hauled on the back of my bike?
A large new rug from a rug store
A new guitar from Pittsford Plaza
A pot of lentil soup for a potluck supper
A small table found curbside”
Lorie has spent 16 years in Boston, then Rochester relying on biking, walking, and using transit to get around. Read about her journey without a car for more than a decade in our Car Lite series.
What is Reconnect Rochester doing to help cyclists?
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!
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!
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.
Good Reads
Although we all love protected or separated bike lanes, bicycle boulevards are a more viable and simple way to help carcentric suburbs welcome cyclists.
If you haven’t already seen it on our social media, take a minute to watch Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, discuss Monroe County biking onFacebook,Instagram, andBluesky.
We at Reconnect Rochester are pro e-bike! There is a lot of misinformation and confusion around this helpful mobility tool so we’d like to clear up the benefits of this technology while encouraging safe riding and only using legal e-bike models. Let’s get into it!
Don’t forget to count every mile you walk, roll, bike, or scoot and log your non-driving miles and non-car trips on our tracking form each day. Feel free to use Stravawhile using Google Maps to estimate mileage for bus trips. On Thursday October 8th we will tally everyone’s submissions.
Quick reminder that the challenges are guidelines to structure your week and you are welcome to use whatever mode makes most sense for you each day.
Here is something to think about:
E-bikes and e-scooters are compared to bicycles but more often than not, people are using them toreplace car trips.
Electric bikes and scooters open up an entire world of mobility for people who find it challenging to bike due to distance, age, ability, cargo, or any number of reasons. They are also a great companion for people using RTS who need assistance making the last trek of their journey.
Monday’s Challenge
Note: Since not everyone has access to e-bikes we will focus this challenge on our e-bike/e-scooter share system, Veo.
Download the Veo app and ride to an off site location such as a meeting or lunch. See how convenient it is to use one and leave it behind (not in the middle of the sidewalk!) so you can move around unencumbered. Use the code CARFREE26 for $5 off your Veo ride!
Bonus Challenge: Read more details from our E-bikelash Community Conversation from the spring. Thencall your town/village leaders and state representatives and let them know that you support e-bikes! They are mostly hearing complaints and this could introduce nuance to the overall conversation.
Some Suggestions
Review the How to Ride page on the Veo website to familiarize yourself.
Park your Veowith the kickstand engaged out of the way of pedestrian walkways.
Follow the same general rules as you would for riding a non-electric bicycle.
E-bike Rules of the Road
We are pro e-bike but a pedal operated class 1 or 2 e-bike with a top speed of 28mph is NOT the same as an illegal, throttle-powered e-moto that goes 30-60mph. If you choose to ride an e-bike make sure it is a legal model, the rider is over 16 years old and you understand where you can and cannot legally ride.
They are generally prohibited from trails unless the entity with jurisdiction allows them. In our case they are legal on the Genesee Riverway Trail and Erie Canal Trail. E-bikes can’t be ridden on roads with a speed limit greater than 30mph unless there’s a dedicated bike facility. E-bikes must ride single file while regular bikes are allowed to be side by side. No person shall operate an e-bike in excess of 20mph.
What is Reconnect Rochester doing to help e-bike riders?
Here’s what participants said last yearabout 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!
Reminder to make sure you are logging your non-car trips and non-driving miles each day and submitting to our form so you can be eligible for our prizes on Thursday. Also reply to this email with your address and we can send you your Week Without Driving sticker!
Please reply to this email with pictures of you using alternative transit! We’d love to share them. You can also post them on your own, tag us, and include the hashtag #WeekWithoutDriving
What would you do if driving simply wasn’t an option for an entire week?
This may be hard to imagine but more than one third of people living in the United States are nondrivers. Teenagers, older adults, visually impaired, those recovering from surgery, people who cannot afford a car, or any number of disabilities, this is a reality. As we age, we lose abilities that we had when we were younger. AAA estimates that older adults outlive their ability to drive by 10 years.
Non drivers created Week Without Driving so that those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers facing non drivers. In Monroe County we are lucky to have a fair amount of resources that make a car lite lifestyle more viable but it’s not without its challenges. When we better understand the gaps we can push for change.
Living in Monroe County without a car can be difficult. But it doesn’t have to be.
We hope you’ll sign up to join us for a community conversation on Thursday, 6:30-8pm at our office to share your thoughts on the experience and reflect on the gaps and weaknesses we need to strengthen so our transportation systems work for everyone.
Don’t forget to count every mile you walk, roll, bike, or scoot and log your non-driving miles and non-car trips on our tracking form each day. Feel free to use Stravawhile using Google Maps to estimate mileage for bus trips. On Thursday October 8th we will tally everyone’s submissions.
Quick reminder that the challenges are guidelines to structure your week and you are welcome to use whatever mode makes most sense for you each day.
Reflect on your experiences and gather your thoughts to share at the conversation on Thursday if you’re able to join us.
What was tricky?
What worked better than you thought?
What made you wonder “why isn’t THIS easier?”
Any hacks, new routes, or tips you uncovered?
What was the most surprising thing you learned or experienced during the week?
How did it feel to move through your community in new ways?
What would you say are the biggest challenges for nondrivers in your community?
Meet Miriam
“I do think if there were better transit options there would be fewer cars on the road subsequently lending more parking for individuals who need accessible parking.
Living with Avascular necrosis makes walking difficult. Having infrastructure that is in good condition with no cracks or bumps is important. Brighton now has a crosswalk that lights up. I’ve used it and I think it’s awesome for individuals who may not be able to cross at the speed that healthy individuals can.”
-Dr. Miriam Moore Chief Diversity Officer Town of Brighton
What is Reconnect Rochester doing to help those with disabilities?
We will continue to advocate to increase options beyond our current car-centric infrastructure that relegates pedestrians to cramped sidewalks with heaved segments and poorly placed curb cuts. While this 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. When we design streets and sidewalks for those with the least physical abilities, everyone benefits.
We collaborate with disability rights focused organizations like the Center for Disability Rights (CDR), Disability Rights NY, Endless Highways, Rochester Accessible Adventures and others. We follow their lead as they are the real experts in this area and they’ve been at it much longer than we have. Of course we’ll continue to advocate for improved accessibility across all new transportation projects in Monroe County, but if you have ideas for specific projects that you think we should engage in, please let us know!
If you haven’t already seen it on our social media, take a minute to watch Brighton’s Chief Diversity Office Dr. Miriam Moore, discuss moving through Monroe County with a disability on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.
Don’t forget to report all of your miles on our tracking form by the end of the day Thursday to be eligible for prizes!
Quick reminder that the challenges are guidelines to structure your week and you are welcome to use whatever mode makes most sense for you each day.
Wednesday’s Challenge
Try a mode you have never tried before! We’re hoping you have stepped out of your comfort zone and tried a mobility option that you’ve never tried (or rarely use) to embrace the spirit of the week. If you haven’t done this already, tomorrow is your chance!
Bonus Challenge: Send us a picture of you at a bus stop, near your bike/Veo, or on a walk. We’ll share it on our social media and in our newsletter!
We appreciate you taking this journey with us. We are almost done and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts on everything!
One More Thing
If you value the work we do at Reconnect Rochester in transit advocacy, safe streets projects, and bicycle education, we hope you’ll consider making a tax-deductible donation to support the multimodal movement in Monroe County!
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 local cyclists. It would be a fun way to celebrate biking in Monroe County: 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 7. We hope it inspires you to get out and ride!
Mona Seghatoleslami
Biking is friendship and often leads me to wonderful chance encounters – with people, places, and ideas. I love riding on the canal trail (it’s flat, it’s scenic, it leads to ice cream in at least one direction!), but when I need to get away from the world, the Greenway Trail is the place to be. It really helps to clear my head, whether I am stopping to enjoy the scenery (and some snacks) or just catching glimpses of flowers, critters, weird old architecture, and the rest as I keep rolling.
(six posts Nov 7-20, 2025)
Photo by Carl Pultz
Nita Brown
I got into biking because most of the people in my 5:30am Run n Ride group are avid cyclists. Two years ago, I found the courage to hop on a bike with Black Girls Do Bike Rochester for their weekly Unity Ride with a police escort. It was such an exhilarating experience to navigate busy city streets and feel completely safe! Buying my first bike in 2025 motivated me to ride as much as possible. With the Flower City Feeling Good rides with Reconnect Rochester on Wednesdays, I push my limits a bit outside my biking comfort zone.
(five posts Nov 21-Dec 3, 2025)
Amanda Wickham
My first bike was my ticket to exploring the world just outside my front door. I rediscovered that feeling in 2016 when I purchased my first adult bike. Cycling became my favorite way to be fully present, a chance to disconnect from everything and just be. I love how a bike ride engages all your senses—the feeling of the road, the sights, the sounds, even the unique smells of a neighborhood. Through Ride Flow, GROC, and Rootz, I aim to inspire more girls and women to experience the joy of off-road cycling. The Rochester cycling community is so vibrant, with so many ways to get involved, from community rides and trail building, and even getting kids on bikes. Find your way to contribute!
(seven posts Dec 5-17, 2025)
Nick Brandreth
I’ve been in love with riding my bike since my feet first touched a pair of pedals as a young boy. My roots are based in freestyle riding, predominantly street and dirt jumping. However, these days I prefer the solitude of riding trails and being in the woods. Riding bikes alone is fun, but nothing is better than riding trails with your buddies. I’ll ride my bike anywhere and everywhere. From the bike paths of downtown Rochester to expert level double black diamonds downhill trails in the mountains. I fear no trail!
(seven posts Dec 19, 2025-Jan 1, 2026)
LuAnn Arena
I have always loved biking. It is the one thing that consistently gives me a feeling of freedom. When Winter is over, Cobbs Hill is usually the first place I ride. I love it there and it tests where I’m at physically at the beginning of the season. Other go-to rides are the Erie Canal Trail & of course the Genesee Riverway Trail with High Falls, Lower Falls, Turning Point Park and Charlotte. I always missed the accessibility to water that we have in Rochester when I lived elsewhere. I love that the river runs right through the City. The improvements that are being made via Roc the Riverway are really exciting!
(six posts Jan 2-15, 2026)
Xavier Hope
My love of biking started only a few years ago. Riding the Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails allowed me to see how beautiful the Greater Rochester area is. Just within city limits there is a lake, a waterfall and a river! From that waterfall, you could bike alongside the river to the lake. That is not something many places on Earth can boast. I love the fact that I could walk/ bike from my home in the city and feel like I am in nature within 10 minutes. Despite being from NYC, one of my life’s mantras is to “live life slow.” To take the time to notice the things around me and leave room for margin in the way I live my life. Biking and walking, experiencing Rochester at 2-15 mph, enables this quite well.
(five posts Jan 17-28, 2026)
Megan Willy
I ride roads and gravel for recreation and some commuting, and this year I started racing for the first time. I love how many awesome trails we have to ride in the area. My spouse and I run Rochester Rainbow Riders, a cycling club for the LGBTQIA+ community. We have an annual Labor Day picnic and ride at Durand Eastman Park. We also do annual rides out to Kelly’s in Hilton for cider and pastries. Last Fall, I rode my first century (100-mile ride) with friends. We started in Scottsville at 6am and rode to Syracuse via the canal trail, through the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, and along the shore of Lake Onondaga. It was such a good time that I did my second century six days later riding to Buffalo. I couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement of all my friends and family.
(six posts Jan 30-Feb 12, 2026)
Amanda Tucker
I love riding a heavy upright Dutch style step-through bike with a kid on the back. I try to ride as much as I can, especially when the weather is perfect here. I do it for every reason, from transportation, exercise, enjoyment, and slowing down enough to say hi to people on the street to equity, environmentalism, and activism for a people-first city. I mostly just ride as convenience — to and from work, my kids’ schools, the grocery store, kids’ lessons, date nights, etc. I just find it to be a nicer way to get around than a car.
Bikes = freedom! They played an important role in both the women’ s liberation movement and the civil rights movement (all hail Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and all of the other amazing Rochesterians who contributed to both of these movements). I think about that all the time when I’m riding around town and it helps me feel connected to the rich history here in Rochester.
(five posts Feb 13-25, 2026)
Roger Levy
I started riding when I was 3 and haven’t stopped. In fact, I never learned to drive. I’ve never had a car or license or car insurance. It’s my “peculiar luck” to be able to commute by bicycle.
When I was 16 at East High School, Freewheelers at Culver & Parsells was the closest bike shop. Richard DeSarra and Ted Gunkler founded it in 1970, and took the time to talk & converse. Both were great guys. I bought Freewheelers in 1985 and stayed at that location until 1998, when I moved it to my current location on Mt. Hope.
My favorite places to ride recreationally: I’m a big fan of the Brickyard Trail and Highland Crossing Trail. It’s refreshing riding through wetlands. Also, the Quinn Unique Area (Rush Oak Openings). Roads in Mendon, Honeoye Falls, and Henrietta. Crittenden & East River Roads are traffic-free when it’s not rush hour. I don’t ride in shoulders. I ride in the traffic lane.
(nine posts Feb 27-Mar 11, 2026)
Michelle King
What an enjoyable Summer 2025: certified bike instructors collaborated with the City of Rochester Recreation Department to sponsor Pedal Pioneers, a 4-part bike workshop for young adults ages 10-15. I enjoyed the girls and they learned that there is more to cycling than just hopping on a bicycle and riding off. Workshops were interactive experiences with hands-on learning.
(four posts Mar 13-25, 2026)
Lori Koenick
To me, biking is community, joy, flexibility and opportunity! Bikes are a big reason I fell in love with Rochester when I moved here 6 years ago. So many relatively flat trails and quiet roads, great community, beautiful destinations, such a wonderful place to travel by bike! Numerous beautiful flat trails- rivers, woods, lakes, canals, beautiful downtown architecture, country roads, such a treasure trove to choose from.
Rochester has wonderful, welcoming biking communities and I am so thankful to have been introduced to them. Big shoutouts to KICCC (Keeping it Classy Cycling Club) and Genesee Valley Pathfinders!
(five posts Mar 27-Apr 10, 2026)
If you’re interested in sharing your story for our 2026-27 #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.
Automated traffic enforcement programs have expanded in New York State in recent years thanks to better technology and their demonstrated ability to reduce traffic crashes and hold drivers accountable for reckless driving. Safe streets advocates across New York have called for continued and expanded camera programs because they have been shown to be effective at saving lives.
As a member of the ROC Vision Zero task force, Reconnect Rochester has championed taking a holistic approach to traffic safety, one that includes multiple solutions: placing a high priority on infrastructure changes to the built environment, lowering the city speed limit to 25 MPH, and educating drivers on safer driving. Along the way, we have been centering the perspectives of people who walk, bike and take transit, including the 24% of Rochester households who don’t have access to a personal vehicle.
The safe systems approach that underpins Vision Zero recognizes that enforcement has a role to play in curbing traffic fatalities. At Reconnect Rochester, we have centered the word “accountability”, and specifically, accountability for drivers who are operating a large, heavy machine with the ability to seriously injure and kill people. Accountability that would, if done correctly, create a change in driver behaviors so that speeding, red light running, and ignoring pedestrians in crosswalks no longer figure into Rochester’s driving culture.
According to data cited by AARP, speeding is involved in approximately 29% of motor vehicle fatalities, while 28% of deaths at signalized intersections result from running red lights. In 2023, these behaviors accounted for 11,775 speeding-related fatalities and 1,086 red-light running deaths. According to analysis by New York Families for Safe Streets just 1% of vehicles in New York State get more than 6 automated camera violations per year (where the technology is currently deployed) suggesting very, very few drivers are racking up automated tickets and putting their community in danger. This is good news because what we need is behavior change, not punishment.
The City is now asking residents to weigh in on what would make an automated safety camera program equitable, fair and effective at curbing unlawful driving. It’s essential that community voice is centered in this process, and we hope you will engage and share what you think would be fair and equitable ways to roll it out.
As we’ve worked through Reconnect’s perspective, we have relied heavily on Vision Zero Network’sFair Warnings: Recommendations to Promote Equity in Speed Safety Camera Programs to learn from other cities about what did not prove effective or equitable in the roll out of camera programs elsewhere. As the report states, “Speed safety camera programs — when well designed, operated and monitored — are effective at deterring people from speeding, thereby reducing crashes overall and lessening the severity of injuries when crashes occur. They are widely used internationally and in more than 240 communities in the United States.” However, in the context of a transportation system and community like Rochester, with longtime structural inequities based on race and economic status, equitable roll out and operation deserves our dedicated attention.
This current community input effort is critical to involve voices from neighborhoods that are most affected by traffic crashes to have a say in how the program is set up. Based on lessons from other cities, we believe Rochester can avoid unfair pitfalls by:
Finding an equitable pattern of distributing cameras so that enforcement isn’t concentrated in certain areas of the city, but every neighborhood has some degree of enforcement.
Ensuring that all funds collected by the program go, after program expenses, back to the ROC Vision Zero program to enhance traffic safety in our neighborhoods.
Giving residents the opportunity to challenge tickets, review the video evidence, and appeal for alternatives to payment, if necessary.
Providing transparent data sharing on tickets issued, locations, and revenues.
Since Rochester has to follow New York State precedent, some of this is set in statute. For example, tickets start at 11 miles an hour over the posted speed limit, which we hope Rochester sets at 25 MPH citywide by the end of 2026 and the maximum ticket is $50 per violation. No additional fees can be imposed. A 2021 law change meant that camera violations can’t result in points on the license and are a civil penalty against the vehicle owner, so no license suspension is possible. Drivers can still drive to work.
Some advocates have asked: “Why shouldn’t we focus on the highest-injury roadways and not put cameras where there are lower injuries and fatalities?” We followed that logic with the City’s red light camera program a decade ago, and that resulted in placing cameras almost exclusively in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of traffic fatalities, which also corresponds with the neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of poverty and black and brown residents. We believe a citywide approach would be more equitable and ensure a wholesale change in driver behavior.
Reconnect Rochester is grateful once again to Dr. Scott MacRae for his sponsorship of our trip to the 2026 League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit.
The National Bike Summit brought together advocates from across the country for four days of learning, networking, and federal lobbying to advance better biking and walking infrastructure. This year’s summit was packed with policy discussions, inspiring presentations, and hands-on tours of Washington, DC’s evolving bike network (which is sadly under attack by the Trump Administration). On the final day of the summit, we joined a protest ride to oppose the removal of the 15th St. Protected Bike lanes organized by the League of American Bicyclists and Washington Area Bicyclist Association.
We were excited to see the remarks from Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear, whose work on Life After Cars and The War on Cars continues to inspire advocates to imagine people-centered streets. Naturally our cycling Manager Jesse Peers got their autograph on his Strava route screen shot.
Addressing pushback and understanding cyclist growth
As e-bikes are the center of many mobility conversations right now (including an upcoming community conversation at our office on May 21st!) we were happy to learn that the addition of e-bikes to the Capital Bike Share exploded ridership and played a big role in DCs push for more bike infrastructure in general.
This aligns with what we had noticed: e-bikes are expanding access for riders who might not otherwise consider biking, whether due to distance, hills, or physical limitations. At the same time, high speed unregulated e-motos are confusing perceptions about the usefulness of e-bikes. Safety and policy decisions require nuance to address risky behavior without discouraging the growth of everyday cycling.
Another emerging dynamic we heard about came from New York City, where gig-economy companies such as DoorDash have become major stakeholders in bike infrastructure conversations because so many deliveries are made by bike. That made us wonder if there are big players in Rochester, beyond municipalities and transportation agencies, that could help sway our street design projects.
One of the highlights of the Summit was a tour of the protected bike lanes on 9th Street NW Protected Bike Lane. Ddot received a lot of push back at first from businesses along 9th street about losing parking spaces, but the area seemed to be thriving, especially with the added parklets. Businesses often fear losing parking, but evidence like this shows that streets designed for walking and biking can actually increase foot traffic and economic activity.
Bicycle Safety and Education
Our Cycling Manager, Jesse, spent time diving into sessions on bike safety data and education. We learned about new methods such as partnering with Strava Metro, which provides anonymized biking and walking data to planners and advocates. This could help us understand how people move through our streets and where new infrastructure is needed. We also learned from Bike Cleveland, which produced an impressive crash report by mapping 911 dispatch calls to identify cyclist crashes that never made it into official state crash databases. Their work shows how advocates can uncover safety problems even when official reporting falls short.
We’re intrigued by the League’s plans for its upcoming Ready to Ride curriculum where any teacher can be equipped to teach bike safety without needing to become a Licensed Cyclist Instructor. We see potential in lowering the barrier to entry for cycling instructors. Jesse also found inspiration in Utah’s “Beat the Street” school presentations and is already thinking about how elements of those programs could be incorporated into his own bike education visits with local fifth-grade classrooms.
Advocacy inspiration
Leaders from Bike Pittsburgh and Bike Cleveland emphasized the importance of supporting volunteer advocates while creating structures that provide training,and coordination. We need to demystify the process to make it easier for residents to participate in transit and cycling advocacy. A key takeaway from this was to let organizations such as Reconnect Rochester focus on the official wonky policy language while letting advocates tell their personal stories and pleas for safe streets in plain language.
Businesses often fear losing parking, but evidence shows that streets designed for walking and biking can actually increase foot traffic and economic activity.
Federal Lobbying
Every year bike summit participants participate in “lobby day” to meet with federal offices to advocate for policies that support safer streets nationwide. By focusing on a few clear and practical requests, our meetings were smooth and productive. We didn’t get any pushback from offices because the asks were so reasonable and the benefits clear.
One challenge, however, was the lack of meetings with Republican members of Congress. Assuming that the upcoming transportation reauthorization will move forward without bipartisan support for bicycling could be shortsighted. Building broader support for safe streets will remain an important priority.
TAP is the primary formula program that allows local governments to fund walking and biking projects. We urged lawmakers not to merge TAP into larger funding programs during the upcoming federal transportation reauthorization as that historically leads to a loss in overall funding and makes it less effective.
This legislation would allow states to fund projects that protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized road users in states with high fatality rates with 100% federal dollars when they use proven safety countermeasures.
The Safe Streets and Roads for All has already helped more than 70% communities develop safety plans. We encouraged support for legislation that would increase funding to $5 billion per year (previously $1 billion) while maintaining strong local control.
The Summit reinforces something we see every day: across the country, communities are rethinking streets so they work for everyone. And Rochester has an important role to play in that movement. Visit our Take Action page to find out how you can get involved!
As Reconnect Rochester has grown over the years, we’ve gotten better and better at getting residents engaged during the public input process for road projects. We get the word out about public meetings and open houses. (Subscribe to our Mobility Action Alerts!) We post the proposed designs on social media, encouraging residents to submit feedback. We equip the public with potential talking points. We encourage folks to show up in droves to meetings to outnumber the naysayers (it really makes a difference!). We’ve even started using petitions folks can easily and quickly sign onto.
As one City Hall staffer told us years ago, “Bike advocacy is changing the way street design is conducted in Rochester.”
But after the last public meeting where the “final design” is unveiled (after which sometimes changes are made), things go silent. After construction is completed, there are rarely ribbon cuttings or press events. No parties or celebratory rides where residents are invited to bike it with City staff. People just happen upon new infrastructure on their own. No mechanism is in place either for the City to receive feedback about their work.
Reconnect Rochester thought it was time for a simple grading system for completed road projects; a means by which residents can assess a new segment’s bike-friendliness and grade various styles of bike infrastructure in different contexts.
But first…
Before we dive in, however, I need to briefly address a common refrain we’ve heard over the years: “If it’s not a protected bike lane, it’s not worth riding in,” and its cousin: “Paint isn’t infrastructure.”
Reconnect Rochester just doesn’t believe that. No one will deny that protected bike lanes are safer, attract more ridership and generate more bike trips. That, of course, is what we’re after! But we must acknowledge too that CONTEXT MATTERS and that the outcome sometimes depends on whether a road project is a rare reconstruction or standard milling & repaving project. A conventional painted bike lane on a road with low traffic volumes and slow motorist speeds is rideable for many people. On the other hand, a conventional painted bike lane on a road with high traffic volumes and high motorist speeds isn’t rideable for many people. Furthermore, as we’ve noted before, “Though not all bike riders will be comfortable riding along bike boulevards, most people find them manageable, even pleasant to bike along.”
Notice the popularly-used diagram above is about *perceived* safety, not actual safety. Motorists drifting into shoulders/bike lanes and hitting cyclists is very, very rare. On the other hand, motorists hit sidewalk-riding cyclists everyday.
Even the most progressive bicycle planners from Europe contend: With 25mph speeds, “painting a lane is an acceptable solution. When speeds hit 30mph, it’s time for hard separation from motorized vehicles.” Once vehicle speeds reach “43mph or higher, there is only one goal: getting cyclists as far away as possible from motorized traffic.”
Reconnect Rochester’s grading system
Everyone’s experience and degree of comfort along various bike facilities is different. And that’s okay. We’re proud to present Reconnect Rochester’s custom grading system below, along with penultimate examples for each tier in my opinion. If you’d grade these examples differently, that’s fine, indeed expected. That’s why we’re grading each project collectively and taking the average.
In my view, with the exception of trails, 5-Star Bike Infrastructure in Rochester is rare. But we do get something every once in a while.
Google Maps shot of the temporary Jersey Barrier protected bike lane we had in 2022
The flex posts Broad Street used to have before they were put away for the season & lost, courtesy of The Urban Phoenix
North Chestnut Street, the way it used to be before its seasonal flex posts were lost
The South Ave raised cycle track (by Highland Bowl), a place where that treatment works since development is sparser
The new side path along East River Road in Henrietta works very well in this context. Well done Monroe County DOT!
Three shots of the raised cycle track on East Main Street between Goodman & Culver
For the most part, when there’s one motor vehicle lane in each direction and conventional bike lanes on each side (and traffic isn’t too bad), I’m giving it 3 stars. Bike boulevards too.
Conventional bike lane Downtown on Andrews Street outside Harro East
Bike Boulevard roundabout in the Homestead Heights neighborhood of Rochester
When there are brief bike lane disappearances or when a continuous lane is next to multi-lane traffic in an urban context, that’s 2 stars. As an experienced cyclist, I can bike these just fine but definitely see why others are turned off.
Disappearing bike lanes on Culver Rd approaching Park Ave & East Ave
Bike Lane on East Main Street between Union & Goodman (by the Auditorium & Armory)
Something is better than nothing. But my heart goes out to anyone having to use this.
Bike Lane on Jefferson Road in Henrietta
I avoid these like the plague. Rochester’s most dangerous roads look like this.
Upper Falls Boulevard in Rochester
We need your help!
Over the course of the peak 2026 riding season, one by one over 2.5-week stretches, we’re going to ask those that are comfortable to ride these recently completed (2023-25) road projects once in each direction, preferably on your own, and tell us your grade for each completed stretch. (Spend some money at a local business while you’re at it, telling them you appreciate bike lanes!) We’ll take the average grade for each project and communicate that to City Hall. Hopefully this feedback will move the needle towards infrastructure that gets more residents on bikes and generates more bike trips.
Ride each of the following stretches and submit your grade whenever you want. For social media purposes, however, we’re focusing on each road project for a 2.5-week period – just to ramp up ridership and attention.
As winter loosens its grip on Rochester, I’m eager to get outside and enjoy the sunlight of longer days. Many of my cherished fair-weather memories share a common thread: the terrace and the plaza. Internationally, outdoor drinking and dining are cultural institutions. Town squares and city streets around the world are packed with tables. The air is filled with the sounds of conversation and the smell of fresh food. City planners and community members are intentional about creating safe, calm oases within the urban context to eat, drink, walk, and socialize.
Sadly, this experience is not the norm in our city. With so much of our public realm surrendered to travel lanes and parking spaces, there is little space left for people. Even downtown and in entertainment districts like Park Ave, cars are prioritized while humans are pushed to the margins. Where outdoor seating is available at all, it often encroaches onto already too-narrow sidewalks, creating conflicts between diners and pedestrians. And if you can find outdoor seating, it is frequently located within just a few feet of high-speed car traffic, with all the accompanying noise and fumes.
While I see this situation as a tragedy, defenders of the status quo insist that allocating valuable urban space for outdoor dining and recreation is pointless in a city like Rochester which is gripped by snow and ice for 3-4 months of the year. While on the surface this argument sounds logical, our neighbors to the north see things differently.
City streets around the world are packed with tables. The air is filled with the sounds of conversation and the smell of fresh food…in our city if you can find outdoor seating, it is frequently located within just a few feet of high-speed car traffic with all the accompanying noise and fumes.
Every year during the winter months, the city of Montreal, Quebec is pummeled by an average of 83 inches of snow, with average temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. To put it in perspective, that is almost as much snow as we get in Rochester with a lower average temperature! But rather than basing decisions about urban space for the whole year on the coldest three months, Montreal has a different philosophy. Every summer, they open up some of their most vibrant city streets for walking, biking, and outdoor dining. Local artists and community members are called in to beautify their thoroughfares with planters, murals, and street furniture.
Despite our smaller population, I think this is something we could emulate in Rochester; perhaps from the beginning of the Jazz Festival in June to the end of the Fringe Festival in September. Partnerships could be created with these festivals, as well as other events and local businesses, to active the newly available public space. Here are my nominations for Rochester Open Streets.
Gibbs Street between Main Street and East Ave:
Located directly in the middle of the Eastman School of Music campus, this is area is the closest thing that the prestigious college has to a “quad.” A pedestrianized Gibbs Street would act as an extension of the existing pocket park on the corner of Main and create enough space for small outdoor concerts. It would also allow expanded outdoor seating for Java’s Café, Ludwig’s Center Stage Café, and Max Chophouse; all of which front onto this section of Gibbs.
Elm Street and Cortland Street at Parcel 5:
Parcel 5 has been growing in popularity as a venue for events and public gatherings; however, Elm and Cortland currently separate it from the nearby pedestrianized areas of Midtown Commons and The Grove to the southeast. Pedestrianizing these two streets would connect existing assets into a proper public square with the capacity for larger community events. It would also provide additional outdoor dining capacity for Branca, Patron Saint, and the food trucks that frequently set up shop in the area.
Park Avenue from Berkeley Street to Culver Road:
This stretch of Park Ave is home to many beloved restaurants and cafes. While I would love to see the entire length of Park Ave receive the Open Streets treatment, this section is the most obvious and least disruptive. RTS service could be shifted to East Ave during the window. Alternatively, a 12-foot span in the center of the roadway could be left unobstructed to create a temporary transit mall. This intervention would truly bring the corridor to life during some of its most vibrant months.
Which of these locations would you most like to see receive an Open Streets treatment? Is there another location in the City of Rochester you would like to see temporarily or permanently pedestrianized? Let us know!
After weeks of collectively feeling underwhelmed by the City’s snow management, we welcome the time of year when Rochesterians bundle up for early spring walks and rides! Up until last week, a lot of our public right of way was icy and unrideable, but kudos to everyone (City and private property owners) who cleared their paths and sidewalks to make the melt go faster.
Below are a few highlights from the last few weeks in our Advocacy Team’s work!
We held our second community conversation of 2026 with Carter Lavin, author of If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight. If you missed it, watch the recording here and buy Carter’s book! We also launched the Reconnect Rochester Road Project Advocacy Toolkit, outlining some of the most useful things we’ve learned while doing road project advocacy. Take a look and give us your feedback so we can improve the usefulness of the information.
Better Buses for Rochester
Transit Awareness Month in February saw a flurry of activity. We mobilized a joint letter with RMAPI, Climate Solutions Accelerator and Healthi Kids on transit funding, attended a legislative breakfast in Albany with the State Legislature Transportation Chairs, met with lawmakers to share support for DMV Surcharge, and put out the third edition of the Voices of Transit series. To better understand RTS’s funding crunch, read the Beacon’s great overview.
Supporting Crash Victims
As a follow up, we installed a Ghost Bike in 2025 for Jerome Blocker and his family members have been active advocates with Reconnect since then. The driver of the vehicle that struck and killed Blocker, then left the scene, was sentenced this week.
Coming up next:
Reconnect Rochester is getting ready to fly to DC for the League of American Bicyclists Summit and we will be lobbying on capital hill for funding to multimodal transportation projects in the next transportation reauthorization bill!
The City of Rochester installed its first raised cycle track on Lake Avenue in 2016 beside St. Bernard’s Seminary and the Holy Sepulchre/Riverside Cemeteries. Since then, raised cycle tracks and doublewide sidewalk “trails” such as the Eastman Trail along Ridgeway, have become the City’s go-to protected bike infrastructure. Raised cycle tracks and “trails” like Eastman are separated from the street and “above” the curb next to the sidewalk. Our friend The Urban Phoenix has done a great job examining these and his thoughts are a great complement to what follows.
Bike and scooter riders of all ages and abilities tend to be comfortable on those cycle tracks and this is great! Reconnect Rochester’s historical preference for most City streets, however, hasbeen for protected bike lanes in the street – the gold standard we see in great cycling communities who really grow their ridership. Well-designed raised cycle tracks have their place in some settings, especially for suburban higher speed roads, which we’ll get into in a future blog post.
Rochester’s Union Street cycle track (“above” & outside the street at sidewalk level)
If Rochester’s ideal Bike Spine Network is composed primarily of cycle tracks constructed during very rare, very expensive Reconstruction projects, we won’t have the Bike Spine Network in 100 years.
Rochester installed some protected bike lanes with bollards/posts on Broad Street and Chestnut ~2017. The bike community was excited, expecting those to be the forerunners of many. But the bollards/posts went missing, we never saw any more protected bike lanes and started seeing a regular dose of raised cycle tracks next to the sidewalk instead. There are 8 recently completed or in-design projects with cycle tracks. Some cyclists have grown concerned that City Hall has developed a raised-cycle-tracks-or-nothing philosophy when it comes to protected bike infrastructure. Fortunately, that seems to be changing. More on that in a bit.
The primary drawback of raised cycle tracks is cost: They’re typically only feasible during rare Reconstruction projects, which come along (if you’re lucky) once a lifetime to a given stretch of road. If Rochester’s ideal Bike Spine Network is composed primarily of cycle tracks constructed during very rare, very expensive Reconstruction projects, we won’t have the Bike Spine Network in 100 years. This goes against the recommendations and spirit of the City’s 2023 Active Transportation Plan, which urges concentrating political will on achieving that Bike Spine Network in the near term.
Luckily there is a cheaper way to build the bike spine: The lower hanging fruit when it comes to bike infrastructure is cheaper, routine preventative maintenance (resurfacing) projects, which roll along every few years and allow for space reallocation between curbs. This is where protected in-street bike lanes become possible, provided the design allocates the space to the bike lane.
This is also where things get thorny: We’d contend that there’s often room for protected bike lanes on many roads. But there’s often not room for both protected bike lanes and on-street parking. This trade-off and elephant in the room can’t be ignored. Along those proposed spines, the safety and comfort of vulnerable road users must override free on-street parking, especially in light of safety initiatives like ROC Vision Zero. If a City reconstruction project comes along to widen a road and enable both on-street parking and protected bike infrastructure, great. Safety above all in the meantime.
For the above reasons, these two tenets hold true:
Sidewalk level cycle tracks don’t require confronting bad driver behavior and take more money and time.
Protected bike space in the street confronts driver habits (like illegal parking and speeding) and is cheaper and faster to implement.
Other concerns about raised cycle tracks
Cycle tracks might subtly convey to motorists that cyclists shouldn’t ride in the road. Raise your hand if you’ve been yelled at by a motorist to “get out of the street” and “ride on the sidewalk.” Cycle tracks feed this thinking and are seen by some as bowing to car-dominance. Great cycling cities challenge that car-dominance.
So many cyclist crashes in Rochester involve sidewalk-riding cyclists. Raised cycle tracks are not much different than sidewalk-riding and they open riders up to some very common motorist mistakes, especially locally. Motorists pulling out of driveways and parking lots tend to pull right into the sidewalk/cycle track area as they wait for a break in traffic. (They’re required by law to come to a complete stop *before* the sidewalk and only creep up for a better view once they know it’s clear. Very few drivers do this). Bike riders in protected bike lanes are more visible and predictable in the street than they are outside the street.
Raise your hand if you’ve been yelled at by a motorist to “get out of the street” and “ride on the sidewalk.” Cycle tracks feed this thinking and are seen by some as bowing to car-dominance.
The line between sidewalk and cycle track have blurred in recent Rochester projects, which is concerning. See the new doublewide sidewalk on University, the shared path on State Street by MCC and the way cyclists are supposed to go up on the Culver sidewalk now over 490.
Cycle tracks, especially bidirectional ones on one side of the street, often create awkward, unintuitive, inconvenient, sometimes scary transitions when they end abruptly or switch sides of the road. See Elmwood/East Drive or Union/University for examples. (When regular bike lanes end, you just keep going straight).
Though this has gotten better, Rochester has a less-than-stellar record when it comes to curb cuts and smooth transitions for raised cycle tracks. Constant curb cut riding isn’t required when riding in the road.
As the cycle track on East Main Street has taught us, if a resident has multiple cars parked in their driveway, the cycle track is blocked and unusable. Garbage cans, hot dog stands, anything really – can make cycle tracks unusable.
Though Rochester doesn’t clear its bike lanes of snow (they’ve got a plan for (studying) that), at least the responsibility for keeping roadway travel space is clear: the owner of the road. With cycle tracks, it’s ambiguous who should clear the snow. Property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks of snow, but not the cycle track right next to the sidewalk.
In sum, Reconnect Rochester would love to see more in-street protected bike lanes. They really drive up ridership, create less conflicts, and it’s the cheaper, faster way to realize the City’s vision. We’re excited for the City’s upcoming Protected Bicycle Lanes Demonstration Project, which will “trial a number of semi-permanent barriers…that can be left out during the winter season. These barriers will be evaluated on cost, their ability to create safe cycling infrastructure, their resilience to snow plowing, and their ease of maintenance.” These demo protected bike lanes are expected in 2027 on St Paul, State Street, Ford Street and East Avenue.
For a taste of what’s in store, check out the new protected bike lane segments on West Main Street! This seasonal barrier should be reinstalled in April.
People power this movement for more transportation options and a vibrant community – through riding, walking and raising your voice. Your voice can make a difference speaking to your municipal, county, state and federal leaders to get improvements made to your street, bike lanes and sidewalks in your community.
This toolkit is a compilation of everything we’ve found useful and important in understanding different road projects, national trends and local plans to enhance our multimodal transportation network! It contains links to other partner resources that go deep into all aspects of safe road designs for all users – from kids to seniors and every ability in between.
Why is this important to Reconnect?
All of us on staff are residents and advocates. None of us have degrees in urban planning or traffic engineering. We’re self-taught and we have lived experiences riding the bus, a bike, and walking. We all decided at a certain point that this was a topic we wanted to learn more about, and joined with others to identify a project we wanted to fight for.
In advocacy, there’s a ladder of engagement and we want more residents to be engaged, knowledgeable and powerful in advocating for their neighborhood’s needs. That means having access to the same information, resources and frameworks that we have. It’s fine if you want to trust us and copy the talking points from Mobility Action Alerts, but we also think it’s important to share the knowledge and inspiration while we advocate.
We want to hear your perspectives
Whether you spend time with this guide or not, we always want to hear from you about local projects. Send your thoughts and ideas to our email. Our input to the City, County, State and Federal partners should always be grounded in your feedback.
An invitation
Our blog and social media are great ways to share an idea you’ve had for your community. Write up a 300-500 word post with original pictures and share them with Reconnect and we’ll work with you to get your idea out there. We’ve previously featured ideas about High Falls that might get real treatments in upcoming projects, visions of Bus Rapid Transit on Lake Ave, and proposals for a mixed-use trail on the east side of Irondequoit.
The Advocacy Team has kicked off 2026 with a slate of meetings with our local leaders to advocate for the things you care about: safer streets, more bike infrastructure, and places that feel safe to walk in.
City of Rochester Mayor Evans & New Vision Zero Report
We should lower the speed limit to 25 MPH in the City of Rochester as soon as possible. The Mayor confirmed the City is moving forward with this change, as reflected in the ROC Vision Zero report.
The City can establish more quick-build mechanisms to quickly respond to traffic safety concerns, build confidence in ROC Vision Zero, and try new approaches to multimodal safety.
We are committed to working together with the City’s Vision Zero task force to help bring national examples from Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento and even small municipalities like Keyport, NJ to the table.
We also followed up with Mayor Evans about the building of the Intermodal Station Bus Terminal Phase 2, which NYSDOT has funds to build and Amtrak has responsibility to operate. We understand they are working behind the scenes on several issues, but we are also advocating to NYSDOT in Albany to press forward on the design of the station.
Last week, the City also released its first ROC Vision Zero report to the community. It contains a ton of useful information about what the City, partners and community stakeholders, including Reconnect Rochester, have been doing on the initiative over the past year. We’re excited about the year ahead because the report outlines several tangible projects that residents will start to see in their communities, like protected bike lanes, pedestrian enhancements, new bus amenities, and slower speeds. Driver accountability will also take center stage this spring with more public engagement around how drivers who break the law speeding or running red lights should be held accountable.
County Executive Bello Check-In
Monroe County government has been leading the charge to encourage Active Transportation Planning, expanding how community members can report traffic concerns, and to plan for sustainability. During our meeting with CE Bello, we emphasized that now we need to amp up implementation of active transportation. Towns and Villages in Monroe County have some local roads, some county roads and some state roads, and the county maintains 664 centerline miles of roads. The CATP calls for building out a network of bike lanes, but the county budget only envisions 4 miles of bike lanes per year and 10 miles of shoulder widening to make it more suitable for biking and walking per year. At that rate, we won’t have a connected network for a very very long time! Some of the town roads are state roads, which is why we’ve put so much emphasis on building a movement for safer state roads.
For example, upcoming projects like Monroe Avenue in Brighton are state projects, and so we need those to also include active transportation features…speaking of which!
Monroe Avenue Public Meeting and Follow-up
Finally, we mobilized advocates to speak up at the Monroe Avenue project public meeting on Jan. 20th. NYSDOT officials heard from Reconnecters who are Britonians and everyone else who just likes to visit Brighton’s businesses by bike, by bus or on foot. As a follow-up to that meeting, we are calling on our advocates to send Action Network emails to the NYSDOT project managers to keep up the pressure. We have a meeting with the new Regional Director of NYSDOT Region 4 in early February where we’ll keep echoing our call for safer state roads.
Coming up next:
We’re launching Voices of Transit soon with a push for transit equity and state funding to RTS
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.
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.
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.
Sign up to meet us at Salinger’s (107 East Ave) by bus anytime from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. And/or join us by bus as we walk together as a group to the Transit Center to ride home.
Sign up for the final Flower City Feeling Good ride of the year with Reconnect Rochester and EE Pathways! Meet at Schiller Park (350 Andrews Street) at 5:45 for a fun, 7-mile group ride around downtown and the Riverway Trail.
Register to join us at this community conversation on Thursday, October 8th from 6:30-8pm to share your reflections on a week without driving in Monroe County. Learn more about our advocacy to improve transportation choices and how to get more involved.
Below are the themes we’ll explore in our daily communications for 2026
“Walk On”
Did you know 40% of car trips are under 2 miles? And that 28% are less than 1 mile? Is there somewhere you go regularly where you’d consider walking instead? If you can’t think of anywhere safe or pleasant to walk, conducting a walk audit of your community is easier than you’d think!
Tuesday – “Magic Bus”
With the cost of car ownership estimated at $12,000 a year (due to maintenance, insurance, gas etc.), the $1 price tag of an RTS trip is a great alternative. Check out the RTS routes to see if you can incorporate a bus into your travels!
Wednesday – “Watching the Wheels”
There is so much to say about bicycling in Monroe County that we have a dedicated newsletter, social media channels, and a webpage just to index our resources. Bicycling connects communities and is great for heart health. Visit our ROC Easy Bike Map and enjoy some of the beautiful trails, bicycle boulevards, and protected lanes offered throughout Monroe County.
Thursday – “Electric Boogie”
E-scooters are a “micro-mobility” transportation option that offer a fun, affordable, convenient way to get from here to there! Try the Veo system to scoot around within their footprint in the city of Rochester.
Friday – Your Choice
Finish off your week with your favorite mode of transportation.
Saturday – Prize Day & Advocacy
Report the number of non-driving miles and trips you have accumulated for a chance to win a prize! We’ll also fill you in on our ways to get started advocating for safer streets and more frequent public transit!
Sunday – Reflection
How do you feel about the Week Without Driving? What did you discover about yourself and your community? Want to write a blog post about it? We’ll ask to hear your thoughts!
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.
