I’m thinking about converting a bike into a Draisine and riding down the middle of Main Street just to spite Rochester traffic code, written in the time of the horse-drawn carriage. But I value my life too highly to do something so crazy. Even on a modern bike, I stick to back roads when I’m traveling downtown.

CHARTER AND CODE OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, v15 Updated 09-15-2007
Chapter 34, BICYCLES
34-6. Regulations.

C.Children under 12 years of age shall ride bicycles, velocipedes or tricycles only on the sidewalk and must walk bicycles, velocipedes or tricycles across all streets. All persons over 12 years of age may ride bicycles upon any sidewalk except in the Central Traffic District EN but may not ride bicycles on any plot in the roadway planted with grass, flowers or shrubs or on any ornamental parkway in any roadway. The prohibition against riding bicycles upon sidewalks in the Central Traffic District shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their duties. [Amended 5-12-1992 by Ord. No. 92-155]

G.Bicycle riding by children under 12 years of age is forbidden in the Central Traffic District.

CENTRAL TRAFFIC DISTRICT — This territory is to be described by the area bounded by the Inner Loop, but shall exclude the Inner Loop and its frontage.

I enjoyed your review of the ride along the Genesee Riverway Trail (GRT).

I have been a citizen reviewer of the GRT trail development since the early 1990s while sitting on the Board of the Rochester Bicycling Club (RBC) in various capacities. The trail is a great transportation and recreational asset for the community and will continue to expand with linkage to other planned trails. See the Genesee Transportation Council’s Web site for details- http://www.gtcmpo.org.

I wish to clarify one topic covered in the review on cycling on the sidewalk.

NYS does not have a law against riding on the sidewalks for anyone of any age. Local municipalities may have exclusionary regulations or ordinances to limit sidewalk use by cyclists, rollerblades, and skateboarders, among others.

The Rochester Code 34-6 Part C.
‘Children under 12 years of age shall ride bicycles, velocipedes or tricycles only on the sidewalk and must walk bicycles, velocipedes or tricycles across all streets. All persons over 12 years of age may ride bicycles upon any sidewalk except in the Central Traffic District … The prohibition against riding bicycles upon sidewalks in the Central Traffic District shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their duties.’

I have served as RBC’s road and trail advocate for several years. There are a few members that are involved in advocacy. RBC is a volunteer driven club and the main focus of the membership is to ride. Our community has been in need of more cycling advocates for decades. Hopefully, RocBike will generate advocates.

Sincerely,
Richard DeSarra
rdscomm@rochester.rr.com

i really enjoyed how the podcast covered a lot of ground (no pun intended) on hot topics, advocacy and general opinions. keep ‘em coming!