Rochester's first bicycle boulevards were installed over the weekend. This is the latest effort to make the city more bicycle-friendly. Portions of city streets were modified with signs and pavement markings to make them optimal for bike riding and pedestrian traffic.
City transportation specialist Erik Frisch says these are one-mile pilot routes that will be in place for a couple of weeks, and they've already received some good feedback.
"We certainly received overwhelming reports from residents along the routes, excited about the traffic calming aspect, excited about being able to get out with their friends and loved ones and bike in their neighborhoods and feel comfortable doing so."
Frish sees the routes appealing to a number of people. "And those are folks that maybe aren't as comfortable riding on the major streets, or again, families that want to get out. I think you're gonna continue to see an increase (in demand). It's a national trend and we're seeing it locally here."
One of the bicycle boulevards is in the 19th Ward. The route on the East Side is in the South Wedge from Averill Avenue to Meigs Street. Eventually, the city hopes to have more than 50 miles of these routes.
Public meetings are scheduled Wednesday evening from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at each East and West Side location where the bicycle boulevards are installed.
More information, including maps of the proposed routes, is available on the city’s website http://www.cityofrochester.gov/bikeblvd/
