Bringing "green" transportation to Rochester, 131st district

HARRY DAVIS ON THE ISSUES

"Stop Mortimer Street Bus Barn/Create Amtrak Inter-Modal"
http://bit.ly/bgUGuy

We Must Oppose Rochester's Arrogance!
http://www.harrydavis2010.com/node/427

Bringing "green" transportation to Rochester, 131st district

Ever try to walk to the store and encounter areas where there is no sidewalk, leading to you walking in the road and placing yourself in a dangerous situation with cars zooming by?

Or do you use your bike as a mode of transportation, only to find that some (if not most) streets in the city are not suitable for bikes?

This is a problem faced not only by those in the city of Rochester, but by those who live in villages and towns of Monroe County and all over the USA. These can be described as so-called "walk ability" issues. Meaning, you could live within walking distance to a store or venue, but riding your bike and walking aren't safe modes of travel.

Just how unsafe is it? I am living proof. Last year, I was hit while riding my bike and suffered a fractured vertebrae as a result. I was in a crosswalk and the driver that hit me did not yield. And while crosswalks are a good step (when they are respected), we need more.

Earlier this year, we asked for and received bike lanes on the new Broad Street project. But we need to advocate for more of these projects. Whenever a renovation occurs, especially on a major avenue or street, we should install sidewalks and bike lanes for those who walk to complete errands or for those who ride a bike to do the same. And we can bring this to rural and suburban areas as well, where some main roads or streets lack bike lanes or sidewalks that would assist bicyclists and walkers with their safe transport.

So why is this important? Other than safety, it also helps promote green transportation. Instead of getting in your car and driving to the store that might be a block away, you can walk or bike there. Why waste gas (and money) and why pollute the air with car exhaust just to go to the store for bread and milk? If you are guaranteed safe travel because of sidewalks and bike lanes, that is a much cleaner option.

This is all part of President Obama's "Livability Initiative" with an emphasis on sustainable transportation. I have talked about high speed rail before, but bike lanes and sidewalks play into this too. We need to provide more than just streets for cars. We need to look at other options. That is why if we are going to rebuild a street, we should make that street has a bike lane. And if we are going to widen streets, sidewalks should be installed for walkers.

I, along with others, asked the Rochester City Council to give up their automobiles. That question fell flat. Some of those members acted as if giving up their car for one week would be a huge inconvenience. The tables have turned. Maybe they can realize that not all of us can afford to drive our cars everywhere and we need to ride a bike or walk to go to the Post Office or pick up something at the store. While they might live a life of convenience, sometimes bikes are actually more convenient! Maybe if they gave up their cars and used alternative means of transportation, they would understand this.

Our goal is to make Broad Street a starting point. From there, we will fight for bike lanes and other means of sustainable transportation every time a new project arises to renovate an already existing street.