City of Rochester
News Release
(Thursday May 7, 2015) – Mayor Lovely Warren today proclaimed the week of May 10 through 16 as Bike Week in Rochester.
“Like the daffodils and tulips in our gardens, the sight of bikes on our roads is welcome sign of spring,” said Mayor Warren. “And we want even more bikes on our roads -- because bikes create access to opportunity. They’re good for the environment, they’re good for our bodies and they’re good for Rochester.”
The proclamation was delivered at R-Community Bikes, an all volunteer organization that collects and repairs used bikes and donates them to people in the community. R-Community Bikes has given away more than 20,000 bikes.
Bike Week will take place during National Bike Month and brings awareness to the ongoing implementation of the City’s Bicycle Master Plan. Rochester has been named a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.
There are many reasons to promote bicycle ridership in Rochester, including:
- Improved bicycling conditions provide mobility for people who do not have cars, thereby increasing access to jobs, education and health care.
- Almost 20 percent of a family’s budget is spent on transportation, so families that choose to bike more often can save money on fuel and maintenance.
- Bicycle trips create zero emissions, contributing to better air quality.
- Cities that promote bicycling tend to retain youth and attract young families.
- Improved bicycling conditions add to the vitality of the community and provide access to recreational destinations across the region.
- Better bicycling facilities provide access to public transit, thereby increasing transportation options.
Since completing the Bicycle Master Plan in 2011, the City has installed 52 lane miles of on-street bike lanes or shared-use lanes, and another 20 lane miles are programmed for installation this year.
The City now has 30 miles of multi-use trails and more are planned. Hundreds of bike racks have been installed in recent years, including an on-street bike corral as well as covered bike shelters and bike repair stands.
The City has also adopted a Complete Streets Policy, which means bicycle infrastructure will be a feature of all current and future City street projects, wherever feasible.
Elizabeth Murphy, the Active Transportation Specialist for the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, has organized a full slate of events and rides that will take place during Bike Month. Visit www.cityofrochester.gov/bikeweek to view them.
During Bike Week, additional bicycle racks will be installed outside City Hall and the Public Safety Building to encourage Downtown bicycle commuting, particularly on May 15, which is National Bike to Work Day.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.