This great chart from Vancouver shows just how much land is needed for single family homes generally, yet Monroe County zoning restricts apartments, ADUs, and houses on small lots while allowing single family homes everywhere. We will need to address this if we want walkability.

Car ownership continues to get more expensive... gizmodo.com/the-era-of-t...

Car ownership continues to get more expensive... gizmodo.com/the-era-of-t...

"A surprisingly small drop in cars on the road—just 5% to 10%—can dramatically ease congestion, and public transit is one of the most effective ways to get that drop." www.fastcompany.com/91493803/whe...

Read the interviews in their entirety here: reconnectrochester.org/2026/02/2026...

Happy Transit Awareness Day from Albany! This is the year NY should fix upstate’s public transit funding inequity. Systems like RGRTA have shelf-ready plans to improve frequency, but are constrained by unpredictable operating funding and declining sources of revenue.

On #transitawarenessday hear more from RTS riders who use the bus every day from our 2026 Voices of Transit interviews! In this thread we'll share some of their thoughts on how RTS service impacts their lives.

Thank you Spectrum news for helping us get the word out on our transportation challenges survey! Help us address transportation barriers for job access faced by residents and employers across Monroe County. Plus you can win a Visa gift card! spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rocheste...

Thank you to everyone who signed the Action Network campaign to ask for more transparency and accountability when deploying autonomous vehicles in New York! www.timesunion.com/capitol/arti...

What an interesting idea! Parking is one of the MANY headaches associated with driving that people don't consider. We hope to see this rolled out to help people make informed decisions. Of course, lets continue to expand public transit access and bike infrastructure to provide options.

We were happy to host DMV Commissioner Schroeder at our office, along with local transportation and traffic safety groups, to hear more details about Governor Hochul's proposed budget including investments in transportation.

Nice transit clue in the City Magazine crossword! When was the last time you tried RTS? They have great information on their website on how to ride www.myrts.com/monroe/enjoy...

Walkable communities are healthy! Most people don't think about infrastructure they just use what is provided. If we want less congestion, better air quality, and to fit exercise into our busy lives, why not just build for it?

One more week to fill out our transportation challenges survey! Get your answers in for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Thank you to Miguel Velázquez for sounding the alarm on the urgency for transit funding! spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-...

We’re excited to share our new Transportation Advocacy Toolkit, a comprehensive, step-by-step guide designed to help you understand how road projects work and how to effectively advocate for safer, more people-friendly streets in your neighborhood. Learn more: reconnectrochester.org/.../advocacy...

Agreed! This article from a non-cyclist is a great way to outline all of the ways removing cars benefits drivers. The best way to remove cars is to make biking safer and easier!

Car culture in the U.S. has done a lot to normalize cars zooming through our communities at high speeds with little accountability. Our media crash reporting toolkit explains some of the nuances that are too often missing in our common language. Read it here: reconnectrochester.org/wp-content/u...

Great article on the importance of expanding Complete Streets policies to push DOTs to consider walkability even when there is no historical context for it. www.cnu.org/publicsquare...

"Communities don’t improve because someone in an office decides they should but when residents start paying attention, asking questions, and imagining something better. A walk audit is the simplest way to begin that process." Great post from The Urban Phoenix! theurbanphoenix.com/2026/02/05/s...

Come see what the fuss is about. Join us (in person or virtually) for a virtual talk with @carterlavin.bsky.social next Thursday. Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

New Yorkers for Transportation Equity set up a campaign to send a letter to your legislators encouraging them to fund public transit! . All you need to do is fill in a few sentences on why public transit matters to you. actionnetwork.org/letters/full...

"'This shows New Yorkers are a hardy folk, who love biking year round, and that biking is a mainstream way of getting around the city,' Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas told Streetsblog."

"Rochester and its environs are full of places that I’m going to explore...I’m determined to do it car free and I’m determined to convince my family and friends to join me." Read Charles' Car Lite journey here: reconnectrochester.org/.../embracin...

Parents are eager for their teenage children to learn to drive so they don't have to continue to chauffeur them around but a lot of kids are nervous about getting on the road. Offering transportation choices would be a great way to solve this! www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-driver...

Always grateful for the leadership of @reconnectroc.bsky.social and Cody for his advocay, as we create safe transit options for everyone. We will build safer,denser walkable/bikeable neighborhoods with safe cars and kids walking /biking.

Thanks Jeremy and WXXI News for reporting on our hope for more transparency and accountability with the AV deployment. Don't forget you can sign on to our Action Network campaign to ask legislators to act on this actionnetwork.org/letters/smar... www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

It's hard to believe that we are starting our sixth (SIXTH!) Complete Streets Makeover project to create safer intersections in Rochester! Our fabulous project steering committee held a popsicle stick voting session to evaluate the potential from a pool of community nominated submission. More soon!

Cody and Henry spoke with an RIT Design Studies class last week about public transportation advocacy as students dig into creative projects aimed at improving Rochester's transit network.

Thank you to WHEC TV for sharing our letter about the need for transparency and accountability for New York's AV deployment! You can read more about our thoughts and join our letter writing campaign in our blog post here: reconnectrochester.org/2026/01/smar... www.whec.com/top-news/aut...

On Transit Equity Day we recognize the role of public transit in ensuring no one is left out of access to jobs, education, or healthcare. We're proud to collaborate with New Yorkers for Transportation Equity to fight for strong investment in public transit while elevating black voices.

Join us on Feb 19th for a Virtual Book Talk with @carterlavin.bsky.social, author of If You Want to Win You've Got To Fight, to show how to turn big ideas into real change. While he will be speaking virtually, you can join us at our offices or on zoom! Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We'd like to address this critique about the Monroe Ave project. We don't disagree there's a better outcome for cyclists, but it's not the project in front of us today. We have advocated for separated/protected bike lanes on Monroe since it was the 2021 Complete Streets design rendering winner. 🧵

Hey transit fans, want to learn more about the history of Rochester's subway? Our friends at The Little Theatre are screening a documentary that digs into the history on February 15th. Grab tickets fast as the first screening already sold out! thelittle.org/end-of-the-l...

In New York, Governor Hochul’s proposal says vehicles must remain compliant with traffic law but does not provide a framework to incentivize safe operation. reconnectrochester.org/2026/01/smar...

Great Streetsblog USA post on the importance of public transit for affordability written by RTS CEO Miguel Velázquez! Transit users can save on the high cost of car ownership while also relieving congestion BUT it has to be properly funded. empire.streetsblog.org/upstate-publ...

The scaled AV deployment outlined in the Governor's budget could nearly double vehicle miles traveled, reduce transit ridership, and hinder emergency response operations. We encourage the legislature to act with caution and ensure certain nuances are addressed. reconnectrochester.org/2026/01/smar...

We love hearing from Monroe County residents on the joys and barriers to a multimodal lifestyle! What are some things you enjoy about biking or public transit? What are some elements that may prevent you from leaving your car at home?

Nice description of the Monroe Ave project coming up in Brighton. If you missed the open house last week, please consider sending a letter via our Action Network campaign (link in next post). We want to show NYSDOT there is a strong appetite for safe streets! www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

To send a letter to NYSDOT and your local elected officials, click here: actionnetwork.org/letters/make...

We have a new car lite blog post from Leverett "Coach" Copeland! Coach has been living car lite for twenty years and shares how it has been pivotal for him to stay connected with his community. Read more from him here: reconnectrochester.org/2026/01/20-y...

"all the urbanized land we devote to roads is worth $4.1 trillion...that's a goldmine of potentially re-developable parcels — if policymakers only recognized the shocking opportunity costs of dedicating so much space to drivers." usa.streetsblog.org/2024/08/26/a...

Bridal train? ❌ Bus route? ✔ From grocery trips to wedding gowns RTS gets it done!

"What we hope that policymakers can take away from this study is that there are people who would like to see more mixed land use, to see better walkability, to see better bikebility — anything that allows them to move without a car," usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/21/s...

We’re happy to be a part of #rocvisionzero and excited for the plans for 2026, especially beginning g the legal and engineering work to lower the citywide speed limit to 25 mph. Read more here: www.cityofrochester.gov/VisionZero

Do you have transportation challenges getting to work or job training opportunities? We are looking into solutions and we want to hear more about your needs and what might help. Take this 5 minutes survey and you’ll be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! docs.google.com/forms/d/15TV...

Safe streets, public gathering spaces, frequent transit, and mixed use zoning for walkable communities are essential for independence at all ages; particularly for those who can't yet or can no longer drive. Plus they're very popular! www.planetizen.com/features/136...

“8,000 drivers have prioritized their own convenience over children’s safety.” Mayor Evans. Enforcement for drivers who pass stopped RCSD school buses with stop signs extended begins TODAY. Thank you @cityofrochester.bsky.social for making this happen.

Today begins enforcement for cars who illegally pass stopped RCSD school buses (select suburban districts are following suit as well) with flashers and a stop sign. Thank you Monroe County, NY and City of Rochester, NY for enforcing this important street safety measure.

This is today!