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A simple short distance walk in Rochester can take about thirty minutes to complete, which frankly is not an option for a lot of people. Being a non US native, the only reason I had visited the United States before was tourism, having only visited places like Los Angeles. Coming to Rochester, New York, for my studies, I knew things were going to be different, just not how much.
Attending the Rochester Institute of Technology means I will not be close to the city of Rochester itself, limiting my access to the city. Exploring Rochester has been difficult since most places are far apart and without access to a car, I have to rely on walking. I even put off the errands until I desperately needed a haircut. So one day I took an Uber to a barbershop that had been recommended to me, but the price for a ride was extremely high, so I was determined to walk back as I saw several trails that seemed to lead back home.
After my haircut I started walking back and walked through a nice neighborhood which led me to the Erie Canalway Trail. At first the walk back was very peaceful, being able to listen to music surrounded by beautiful yellow trees. However, the trail led me onto the highway. I was confused, the route Google Maps showed was through the highway. After much deliberation between walking on the edge of the highway or paying about twenty-five dollars. I decided to walk the remaining distance to campus. It was merely a thirty minute walk but a five minute car ride. Some parts of the highway were extremely dangerous. There were moments where I was genuinely scared, but a kind person decided to stop on the side of the road for me. I recognized him as the uber driver who had taken me to the barbershop. He offered me a ride back to campus, which I accepted as it was very dangerous to continue walking there. I learned he also spoke Spanish and we discussed the lack of safety regarding pedestrians. It was a noticeable concern for him as well.
Back on campus I connected my experience to the urban planning topics and safety concerns I have discussed in one of my classes. I realized how reliant the Rochester area is on cars, and how urban sprawl contributes to this issue as driving is the most practical method to travel around the area.
There is a larger problem than simply having to walk long distances without safety measures, this particularly affects students who do not have means of transportation other than walking. Many college students rely on walking and public transportation to get around the area. Although distances may be short it is largely dangerous, and without pedestrian infrastructure and a confusing public transportation system commuting short distances becomes extremely complicated.
The dependency on cars is evident around the area, several plazas and stores are not walkable distances, generally they don’t have proper means of getting there. This is not solely a transportation issue but also an environmental one, cars are one of the largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions which strongly contribute to climate change. Of course, Rochester is not densely populated and cars are still a necessity for many, and improvements can be quite expensive. The goal would not be to remove cars but find ways for pedestrians to travel safely and practically. This does not mean that a viable solution would be making the places closer. This is an unrealistic expectation, instead the city of Rochester should focus on connecting places and providing more safety and accessibility for pedestrians, which includes improving sidewalks making them more continuous, safer pedestrian crossing and also providing a clearer, more accessible public transportation system which would give people simpler and affordable means of transportation while also mitigating car usage and also greenhouse gas emissions in the Rochester area.
Ultimately my experience helped me realize that transportation is not getting from one place to another as quickly as you can, but is the method to get there safely and accessible. I was very lucky that someone wanted to stop and aid me, but what if someone does not have the luck I have they could possibly get injured or worse. People should not have to decide between spending money which can take a larger toll on their lifestyle, or risk their safety just getting home. I am not saying Rochester should become a huge city full of public transportation like New York but the community of Rochester should not rely solely on having access to a car.
Oscar de Leon
Rochester Institute of Technology student
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