Interested in donating a bicycle? Do you want to request a donated bike?

Visit the Rochester Police Department website to learn more about the Bike Donation/Request Program.

The City of Rochester has three bike racks (offering up to 16 parking spaces) available for the community to rent free of charge for various community events. The bike racks are also available to community organizations, businesses, nonprofits, etc. who would like to pilot bike parking in front of their establishment. This provides an option to test the use of bike parking before committing funds to permanent bicycle infrastructure. To request use of a bike rack, please fill out this form.

The Rochester Police Department encourages owners to register their bicycles. If a theft occurs, having your bike registered will increase the chances of it being returned if it is recovered. Bicycle registration is free. 

How to participate: Complete the online registration form. You will need the make, model and serial number of your bicycle.

Bicycles are good for businesses and their employees. The Bicycle Friendly America Program provides recognition and guidance for states, communities, universities and businesses to showcase and enhance their bicycle-friendliness. The program provides a practical blueprint, hands-on assistance, and resources to help make places better for bicycling. Through the Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB℠) program, businesses and employers are recognized for their efforts to encourage a more welcoming atmosphere for bicycling employees, customers and the community.

How can I apply?

The League of American Bicyclists facilitates this application: more information about becoming a Bike Friendly Business is available on their website.

Why should my business apply to become a Bicycle Friendly Business?

When bicycling is infused in an office or corporate culture, great things happen. People who are encouraged to commute by bike to and from work, run errands by bike, take a spin at lunchtime, or bike in their leisure time perform better at their jobs because they’re energized and alert.

Studies have shown that people who lead an active lifestyle have significantly lower costs for health care. Since employers typically pay a significant portion of health care costs, it benefits employers and the employees to promote healthy living. A healthy workforce also reduces the rate of absenteeism.

Businesses that promote bicycling are recognized for being green and socially responsible. They are conscious of their carbon footprint, aware of their impact on the environment, and are willing to think and act creatively in order to improve the quality of life for employees, their families and the greater community. A Bicycle Friendly Business attracts and retains employees, because people want to be part of a positive environment.

The Bicycle Friendly Business program also provides technical assistance on how to become more bicycle friendly. The program offers great resources to help improve a business’s bicycling accessibility, promotion and awareness within the workplace.

Rochester community members and local leaders can organize their own bike and walk audits! Local leaders and residents can help make their neighborhoods more walkable by conducting “walk audits” and “bike audits” to identify the roads and intersections that should be walkable and crossable but are instead dangerous (by design) for people who walk, bike, and roll. These community-led audits can help inform local decision-making by prioritizing areas in need of improvement and educating community members about the importance of street and sidewalk design. The results of a community walk and bike audit can educate local decision-makers and provide them with the needed data, solutions and strategies for achieving change.

AARP has created a free step by step approach for anyone to learn how to assess and report on the safety of their neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and crossings.

1. Walk Audit Tool Kit
2. Bike Audit Tool Kit

The mission of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) in the City of Rochester is to respond to requests for traffic calming in order to influence the behavior of drivers, improve the safety and quality of life in neighborhoods, and to create more quiet and livable local streets.

How it works: The Rochester Public Works Division works closely with neighborhood residents to identify various traffic concerns, conduct appropriate studies to quantify any problems, develop criteria for prioritizing projects, and implement solutions in order to rectify safety concerns and lower traffic speeds. Traffic calming will improve the safety of all road users, and create more pleasant neighborhoods for the residents of Rochester.

More information can be found here: Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

Since 2019, Lime has provided the City with shared micromobility sharing services. For more information or troubleshooting when using a Lime scooter or e-bike, please visit Lime's webpage.

Riding Rules:

Where to ride: Scooters and e-bikes cannot be used on public sidewalks. Scooters and e-bikes must be used in the roadway, in a bicycle lane, or on a multi-use trail. Furthermore, use of these vehicles is prohibited in the skyway system.

Where to park: All Scooters and E-bikes need to follow parking rules and restrictions on public right-of-way. Scooters and bikes must be parked upright and stabilized with the kickstand. Scooters and bikes need to be left in designated areas where noted above, and in other cases on the boulevard area between the sidewalk and the curb.

All Lime scooters and e-bikes have a QR code located on the vehicle frame, which allows anyone with a smartphone to report an abandoned vehicle. Lime's goal is to collect reported devices within 72 hours. Residents are encouraged to assist the City and Lime in reporting misplaced vehicles that appear abandoned for long periods of time. 

You can view more detailed instructions via this PDF.