Some insights to date from my time running all the roads and trails in the City of Rochester. Insights from the first 10th of the City. There are 545 miles of roads.
1. It’s not what you expect. No matter what you think the City of Rochester is, and I have lived in it for almost 40 years, it’s not.
2. It is beautiful, and its beauty varies.
3. It is constantly surprising. You never really know what the next turn will be.
4. The railroad and rail lines play a much bigger part in our urban design than you would ever realize.
5. No matter how many dead ends you think there may be in the City, you are underestimating.
6. All dead ends are unique.
7. Urban pollution is not what you think it is.
8. There are way more industrial sites in the City than you would think there are.
9. There are way more active industrial sites in the City than you would think there are.
10. Noise pollution, particularly highway noise pollution, is a largely underappreciated issue and ruins entire neighborhoods.
11. Cars and drivers ruin parts of the city.
12. Good design is incredibly important
13. There are a lot more bike lanes than I, an active bicyclist, ever thought there were.
14. Good food abounds, so does bad food.
15. People are nice in the City.

© words by Dan DeMarle 9/26/22