State Department Of Transportation Highlights Bicycle Safety Month And Encourages New Yorkers To Hit The Trails In The Finger Lakes Region

Contact: Joseph Leathersich, (585) 272-4818
Release Date: May 23, 2023

State Department Of Transportation Highlights Bicycle Safety Month And Encourages New Yorkers To Hit The Trails In The Finger Lakes Region

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez today announced the importance of bicycle safety during National Bicycle Safety Month and reminded everyone that roadway safety is a shared responsibility. The Finger Lakes Region, including Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, and Wyoming counties has a robust network of trails that the Department helps enhance, facilitate, and maintain. As part of its statewide active transportation network, the Department of Transportation has helped design and build thousands of miles of iconic bicycle paths and infrastructure across the state.

"May is National Bicycle Safety Month and New York State is home to some of the most scenic trails in the country," Commissioner Dominguez said. "This is the perfect time of year to get outside, take a bike ride and enjoy the great outdoors in New York. To ensure safety, cyclists should always stay alert, wear a helmet, make sure to wear reflective clothing and use flashing lights, and follow the rules of the road. And for motorists, look out for bikes, never drive distracted, and please share the road."

There were 938 bicyclist fatalities in 2020, which accounted for 2.4% of all traffic fatalities during the year. NHTSA early estimates show a 5% increase in bicyclist fatalities in 2021.

Motorists need to drive attentively, slow down and yield to bicyclists. Be sure to give bicyclists room. Don't pass too closely. Pass them as you would any other vehicle when it is safe to move over into an adjacent lane. In turn, bicyclists need to do their part. Ride with the flow of traffic, obey street signs, signals, and road markings. Stay focused and alert and ride defensively by trying to anticipate what others may do before they do it. Be sure to yield to pedestrians, and always wear a helmet, and visible/reflective clothing so that you can be seen.

The Department uses a complete streets approach to project design that enables safe access for all users - pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Additionally, the Department routinely coordinates with state and local partners to help facilitate the installation and enhancement of numerous trails across the region. Some of these include:

The Empire State Trail (Erie Canalway Trail)

New York State's network of trails that extends from Buffalo to Albany 365 miles along the Erie Canal, and from New York City to the Adirondacks.

The Genesee Valley Greenway Trail

A 90-mile rail trail that extends from Genesee Valley Park, Monroe County, to the Village of Cuba, Allegany County.

The Eastman Trail

A widened sidewalk along Ridgeway Avenue in the Town of Greece and City of Rochester, Monroe County, that extends from Latona Road to Mount Read Boulevard, enhancing connectivity into downtown Rochester.

The Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail

A paved shared-use, east-west path within the Town of Greece, Monroe County, and provides access to Charlotte.

The Brewery Line Trail

Recently completed, this project enhances connectivity in downtown Rochester by rehabilitating High Falls Terrace Park as part of continued ROC the Riverway Initiative investments.

In recent years, NYSDOT has implemented a number of multi-modal connectivity projects, including:

• The Route 390 Trail extension project in the town of Greece, Monroe County
• The Quaker/O'Neill Bridge over the historic Erie Canal conversion project
• The State Route 96 'road diet' in the towns of Brighton and Pittsford

For a more in-depth look at the trail network our region has, visit the Genesee Transportation Council's Regional Bicycling Map website.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Biking is an amazing recreational activity and something that should be enjoyed safely. Whether exploring a state park or the thousands of miles of scenic trails that New York State provides, it's important to always stay alert and wear a helmet."

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State's official traffic and travel information source.

Follow New York State DOT on Twitter at @NYSDOT and @NYSDOTRochester. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/nysdot.

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