Reconnect Rochester

"By prioritizing the places throughout the county (not just within the urban core) that have the greatest impact on daily life, RTS could make every service hour and mile count."

Thank you to Christine Corrado from the Brighton Town Board for writing this thoughtful piece on important locations to prioritize with frequent bus service.

Read here: https://reconnectrochester.org/2026/08/top-10-places-rts-should-go/

“School bus stop-arm violations are happening almost 30 times each school day in Monroe County...we have seen a recidivism rate of less than 4%, potentially signaling that motorists who receive a citation rarely receive an additional one.”

More than 6,000 stop-arm citations issued in last school year Nearly 20,000 citations have been issued since 2023, when the Monroe County School Bus Safety Program was launched.

Wow biking and walking trails are popular! It's also wild that 47% of survey respondents have avoided walking or biking because they didn't feel safe! If all those people end up driving to a destination instead they are contributing to congestion which makes the roads worse for cyclists, pedestrians, AND drivers.

“We are a real city up here, and we need transit to function,” says Henry Litsky, policy and advocacy coordinator for Reconnect Rochester. “And we cannot afford further cuts to our transit system.

“It's all about the freedom of movement. It doesn't matter who you are. Everyone should have transportation options to get around their community.”

Transportation advocates raise concerns surrounding rider accessibility, equity As some areas face public transportation services being cut, shinning a light on the barriers of these specific bus routes but the ongoing issue of public transportation altogether.

"Instead of asking whether a single bike lane works, [the most successful cities] build connected systems that allow people of all ages and abilities to travel comfortably across the city. They combine infrastructure with lower traffic speeds, better intersection design, secure bike parking and policies that prioritize active transportation alongside public transit...Perhaps most importantly, they keep building."

Study Finds Cities That Kept Building Bike Lanes Saw Cycling Continue to Grow After the Pandemic Cities that treated cycling as permanent transportation—not a temporary pandemic solution—continued to see ridership grow while making cycling safer.

We are grateful to Walking For Rochester, and all who support them, for doing their part to make Rochester beautiful and more community focused!

The wait is over. The official Walking For Rochester app is now available on both iPhone and Android.

This isn't just another app. It's a citywide tool that puts the power to fight litter into everyone's hands.

Use the app to:
• Report litter anywhere in Rochester
• Log the litter you remove
• Track your personal impact
• Build the data that will drive smarter cleanup efforts across our city

All litter reports matter. All cleanups now count towards one shared goal. Every piece of data helps us better understand where litter exists and how we can eliminate it together.

From this point forward, all Walking For Rochester litter reports and community cleanups should be submitted through the app. The more people who use it, the stronger our collective impact becomes.

Download it today and help take control of litter in your neighborhood.

Bike buses are great ways for kids to get to school in a fun way that also allows them some exercise. Rather than sitting in long car lines, kids can begin to learn independence in their mobility. Interested in learning more about how they work? Join the Parks & Trails New York webinar on Tuesday!https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-_LS8ipjQqSyaTo0mO5seA

What’s a bike bus?

We’re glad you asked! A bike bus is a group of kids and adults who ride to school together along a planned route, making the trip safer, healthier, and more fun.

Join us on August 11 at 12 PM for a free webinar featuring CoachBalto, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Bike Bus World, along with the founders of Geneseo Bike Bus and representatives from Bikeatoga and the East Aurora Bike Bus.

You'll hear firsthand how these communities got started and learn practical tips for launching a bike bus of your own, including:

🚲 Building support among families, schools, and community partners
🚲 Identifying safe and accessible routes
🚲 Addressing safety, logistics, and rider preparation

Register today and take the first step toward bringing a bike bus to your community!
🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-_LS8ipjQqSyaTo0mO5seA