City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, May 11, 2018) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that Rochester will begin Bike Week 2018 with welcome news: A national bicycle advocacy organization has ranked Rochester a top 25 U.S. city for bicycles with one of the nation’s fastest growing bicycle networks.
People for Bikes ranked Rochester number 21 of almost 500 municipalities measured. Rochester scored number 12 for acceleration, which measures how quickly a community is improving its bicycle infrastructure and getting people riding bikes.
“This news that our investments in Rochester’s bicycle infrastructure are attracting national attention as one of the nation’s best cities for bicycles is a great way to kick off Bike Week,” said Mayor Warren. “This ranking is a testament to the work being done in our Department of Environmental Services and the partnerships we have fostered with our city’s transportation advocates, including the Rochester Cycling Alliance and Reconnect Rochester. Rochester’s growing reputation as a bicycle friendly city has many benefits that support our efforts to create more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities for our citizens.”
People For Bikes’ PlacesForBikes City Ratings system is a data-driven system to identify the best U.S. cities and towns for bicycling. The system uses feedback from bike riders, information provided by government officials, open-source maps and publicly available data from government sources to score five key factors: Ridership, Safety, Network, Acceleration and Reach. To view the full list, visit: http://peopleforbikes.org/placesforbikes/.
Mayor Warren has proclaimed Bike Week in Rochester – with events that run from May 11 through 20 – in celebration of the many advances the City continues to make to improve its bicycle infrastructure and be a bicycle friendly community.
Bike Week takes place each year 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.
The Rochester Cycling Alliance has organized a full slate of events and rides that will take place during Bike Week. Visit www.cityofrochester.gov/bikeweek to view them.
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.
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News Media: For more information, contact Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.