Week Without Driving Emails – Reconnect Rochester

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 our tracking form.

WWD Day 1: Bus

DOUBLE DUTCH BUS

Don’t forget to log every mile you walk, roll, bike, or scoot on Strava while 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.

Here is something to think about:

A quarter of people reach their recommended daily physical activity just by walking to and from transit. Public transit also contributes to cleaner air, fewer crashes and expanding social networks.
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 the How to Ride webpage on the RTS website.
Try a cart for grocery shopping by bus.
Know your route and schedule and make sure to arrive 5-10 minutes early at your stop.
Use the Transit App to plan your trip and check the arrival time of the bus.
You can pay a few different ways:
- Using cash (make sure to have at least $2 ready)
- Purchasing an RTS Go Card (make sure to put at least $2 on it)
- Using the Transit App (make sure you have opened the app, found the RTS Go logo, and added at least $2 before riding)

Pay with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet on the bus!

What do our leaders think of RTS?

“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.

Here’s what participants said last year about riding RTS

“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.”

Good Reads

RTS riders share the numerous benefits of a well funded transit system in this great article from Spectrum News.
Read this thoughtful piece on the top 10 places bus riders need to go written by Christine Corrado from the Brighton Town Board that shares important locations to prioritize with frequent bus service.
Learn more about Rochester’s Bus Stop Improvement project to expand amenities at bus stops within the city.
Hear directly from local residents who rely mostly or solely on RTS to get around from our Voices of Transit initiative.

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

WWD Day 2: Walking

WALK ON BY

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, and Bluesky.

Today’s email is to get you ready for Day 2 of the Week Without Driving which 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 our tracking form each day. Feel free to use Strava while 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.

We’re also supporting ROC Vision Zero, advocating for a 25 MPH citywide speed limit which has been proven to be safer for pedestrians, and supporting the revival of the Drive 2B Better campaign. Help us spread the message by ordering a Slow, Space or Scan lawn sign or bike license plate!

We’re watching the City’s Active Transportation Winter Maintenance Study closely and are pushing the city to address gaps in the current approach to snow clearance; a huge impediment to walkers.

Join our mobility action alerts list and never miss a chance to advocate for strong safety measures for pedestrians!

Here’s what participants said last year about walking

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.
It’s not just about your physical health, car-free streets create healthier communities overall.
Walking to your destination is a great way to save money.

WWD Day 3: Biking

BIKE

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 dedicated newsletter, social media channels, and a webpage dedicated to this popular mode of travel.

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%.
Biking can help you retain cognitive abilities, especially past the age of 45 years old.
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 DRHS followed 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.
Use Rochester’s bike map to find a convenient location to lock up your bike.
You can put your bike on an RTS bus for parts of the journey where you don’t feel comfortable or if it’s a long trip.
Read more helpful tips for riding.

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?

In addition to sharing an array of bicycle resources, we’re working to help unlock federal funding for key parts of Rochester’s bike spine while supporting the City’s efforts to build a Bike Spine Network and expand protected bike lanes and bike boulevards.

Zooming out beyond the city, we’ll plan to be involved in Monroe County’s Vision Zero commitment. We’re looking forward to a more comfortable crossing for RT-104 at Seneca Ave after sharing our thoughts on the project last year. With your help we gathered more than 500 letters to support a safer Monroe Avenue with the upcoming resurfacing project.

Want to stay up-to-date on bike advocacy efforts? Sign up for our monthly Cycling e-newsletter and/or Mobility Action Alerts.

Here’s what participants said last year about biking

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.
Removing lanes for cars in favor of bike lanes does not add very much travel time for drivers and actually saves money due to safer driving conditions.
Seriously, we love Bike Boulevards.
Read more inspiring testimonials from people who get around our community by bike!

WWD Day 4: E-Bikes/E-Scooter

MY ELECTRIC BIKE

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 on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

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!

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 to replace 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. Then call 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.
Just as with regular biking, the ROC Easy Bike Map and Rochester’s Bicycle Boulevard network will come in handy.
Park your Veo with 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?

While there is backlash locally and at the state level, fortunately none of the restrictive bills passed this year’s state budget. With the New York Bicycling Coalition and the NY Safe Streets Coalition, we developed a position paper on common sense e-mobility regulations to stop the harmful bills that were advancing in the NYS Assembly this session. We’re happy to see that potential e-bike regulations will be delayed until the 2027 legislative session, and we’ll keep everyone updated on future threats.

Here’s what participants said last year about 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!

Good Reads

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

WWD Day 5: Disabled Mobility

Differently Abled Man

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.

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:

“If those first or last few feet of a journey are inaccessible, the whole trip becomes difficult or impossible.”

Tuesday’s Challenge

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!

Good Reads

WWD Day 6: Your Choice

Changes

Almost done! We hope to see you at Thursday’s Week Without Driving community conversation.

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!