Rochester is one of the most beautiful cities in New York, offering views of stunning natural scenery and a thriving downtown. However, it is also one of the most congested cities in the US, making driving a headache for residents and visitors alike. Fortunately, there are plenty of reasons to leave your car behind and start walking instead. From mental health benefits to reduced carbon footprint, Rochester’s sidewalks offer many advantages that cars don’t.
Save On Maintenance Costs
If you already own a car, you might still need to shell out money for maintenance. For instance, modern cars need oil changes every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. For those of us who don’t drive a lot, this can mean spending hundreds of dollars for maintenance every few months. By contrast, walking does not require any costly repairs or upkeep, and you don’t need to worry about paying those hefty insurance premiums either.
Improves Mental Health
Going for a walk has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve memory and focus, and alleviate depression. Walking in Rochester is especially beneficial because of its picturesque natural settings. Whether it’s along the Genesee River or through one of the city’s many parks, there are plenty of opportunities to get out into nature and clear your head.
In addition, an estimated 1% of new cars, or 150,000 cars every year, are lemons, meaning they can’t be easily fixed due to manufacturing issues. Instead of stressing about your car, you can forget about it and reap the mental health benefits of walking.
Reduces Carbon Footprint
Cars are one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, yet many people still rely on them for transportation. By choosing to walk instead of driving, you can make a big difference in Rochester’s carbon footprint. Every mile not driven is one less mile of harmful emissions. Plus, walking is a more sustainable form of transportation that requires no additional resources or energy.
If your commute is a bit longer, there’s also the option of biking. Biking has many of the same benefits as walking, with the added bonus of increased speed.
Reduce Chances of Costly Car Accidents
According to the latest figures, auto accidents can cost drivers between $15,000 and $63,000, with the average cost being $30,000 to $40,000. However, if you’re a pedestrian, you don’t have to worry about fender benders or expensive medical bills. Walking is a much safer form of transportation that reduces the risk of a costly accident.
Socialize With Others
Instead of being stuck in your car all day, consider talking to other Rochester residents as you walk. There’s something wonderfully social about walking together down a city street, talking and sharing ideas with other people who live in the same area. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new people and build relationships!
Improve Physical Health
Walking is a great way to get in shape and stay healthy. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight or get some exercise, walking is an excellent way to work out without purchasing expensive gym equipment or paying for a membership.
Not only does it burn calories, but it also helps improve your cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Start out by going for short walks around your neighborhood, and then gradually increase the distance as you become more comfortable.
If you’re looking for an affordable and sustainable way to get around Rochester, start walking! Not only will it save you money on maintenance costs and reduce your carbon footprint, but it also offers many mental health benefits and reduces the chances of an expensive car crash. Put on your comfortable shoes and take advantage of all that walking offers!
Thinking about selling your home in Rochester? Doing so can be an excellent decision, especially if it’s a place you seldom use and are tired of the upkeep that comes with it. In order to maximize your sales profits and ensure a smooth transition of real estate, there are five things to do first.
1. Calculate the Fair Market Value
To know whether or not selling your property is worth it, you’ll need to calculate its fair market value. Look at the recent selling prices of properties in your neighborhood, divide by square footage, then multiply that by your own home’s square footage. Using an appraiser is a good idea.
Market value is crucial when it comes to determining what people will be willing to pay. Take a close, hard look at the type of area your property is in and how people spend their time there. For example, the average selling price of a timeshare in America falls around $20,040, whereas houses and condos can go for over $1 million depending on location.
2. Determine What You Can Do to Increase the Property Value
Once you have a clear idea of your real estate’s value, it’s time to see what you can realistically do to increase that value. Of course, this will largely depend on how much work, time, and money you’re willing to spend on doing so. Common ways to do this include the list below.
Add fresh coats of paint
Repair any damaged areas
Do landscaping for curb appeal
Consider renovating outdated areas
Make the property more energy efficient
3. Choose a Real Estate Agent
It can be tempting to try to sell your property yourself in order to avoid paying realtor fees. However, this is both highly risky from a legal sense and may also prevent you from getting the price you deserve. Always talk to different real estate agents in your area and get a feel for their style and experience. The right one for you will have experience selling vacation properties and will be willing to put in the time and effort it takes to help you get the best price possible.
4. Consider Taxes
You’ll have to pay tax on the sale of your home, as it will be considered a type of income. Rather than leave yourself open to some unwelcome surprises later on, you’ll want to calculate the taxes you’ll owe and build them into your planned costs for the sale as a whole. The average person already spends some 11 hours calculating what they owe at tax time. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare for this.
5. Get the Home Showroom Ready
First and foremost, a property must be emptied of your personal stuff and cleaned prior to taking listing photos and scheduling showings with potential buyers. Not only will it look its best when clean, but buyers and realtors will feel more comfortable. Even basic furniture and personal items like computers can be host to a whopping 21,000 germs per square inch!
In addition to cleaning, you may want to work with your real estate agent to stage the property by adding accent furniture that doesn’t get in the way, fresh curtains, a new welcome mat, etc. The ideal props used here will depend on your home’s location. A parlor palm can look appealing in tropical locations, for example.
Selling any real estate property can feel overwhelming. It helps to sit down and make a list of all the things you need to do before, during, and after the process. Additionally, the right time to sell depends both on the market and your personal needs. If things are feeling off, it may be best to reevaluate the situation and wait until the timing is better for you. Likewise, enlisting the right real estate agent in the first place will go a long way in ensuring you get the best outcome.
A wedding is one of the life events that most people want to plan for in order to execute perfectly. If you have a wedding in western New York that you need to plan for, read on. Outlined are some helpful tips that could make it easier for you to plan for it, giving it a good chance of making a lasting impression.
Everyone values a bright smile. Of course, there is a large majority of people that were not born with a smile they feel confident in. Luckily, there are plenty of treatment options available that can give you that million-dollar smile that you feel proud of. However, if you live in the city, you may notice an influx of providers. It can be difficult to find a dentist that meets all of your needs. Use these tips when searching for a new dentist in Rochester!
Since a car is an expensive investment, it’s important to take the best care of it that you possibly can. Here are tips to help you do this and get the best service out of your car in Rochester for a good part of its lifespan.
Covid-19 has become a nightmare, affecting society in different ways. Rochester has not been any different, with Covid-19 bringing its social, economic, and political fabric to its knees. These effects have called for concerted measures to help the region get back on track. The following are a few insights into how Rochester is recovering from Covid-19.
If you’re planning on doing a home improvement, it’s important to pick the right one and know how to go about doing it so you get great results. Use these five tips to guide you on your next Rochester home improvement.
You may be thinking about skipping out on that oil change or getting those brakes checked, but you should not. You should never skip out on your scheduled car maintenance in Rochester. The fact is, having reliable transportation in Rochester is a must, and skipping out on maintenance puts that reliability at risk. All the vehicles in the United States, including Rochester, travel trillions, yes trillions of miles, every single month. The reliability of your vehicle to take you the miles you need to go is directly related to how well you maintain your vehicle.
There are many reasons to choose a private school in Rochester for your children. Rochester has many private schools for elementary school children aged Pre-K to 12 years old. Many schools have middle school and high school curriculums for older students. Some of the schools are college prep schools, independent, or associated with a church or religious group.
If you have remodeling plans for your Rochester home, you’ll need to plan. Your home is one of the best things to invest in. You add value to your property, and, of course, you can improve your lifestyle with a few remodeling projects around the house. However, there are some things you need to know about home remodeling in Rochester before you get started.
A car accident is never easy to deal with, whether it is a simple fender bender or something more serious. Knowing what to do after a car accident in Rochester can help you to be prepared for every type of car accident. Regardless of the circumstances, you can better handle a car accident in Rochester if you follow these steps.
If you are planning on visiting Rochester soon, there are three shops that you will want to make sure that you visit. Rochester is a great place to visit and there is a lot to do. There are plenty of shops to visit while you are on your weekend getaway but there are three that you must visit.
When you consider selling your home, it’s important to take steps to ensure that the process goes through without complications. One way to do this is to ensure you’ve done all the necessary contracting work. Keep reading to learn what you need a home repair contractor for.
Custom items are always fun and a fantastic way to get a piece that you or a loved one will love forever. Finding these pieces can be difficult, especially in an area that you might not be overly familiar with. We have found three great places to get custom items in Rochester that are sure to make your day.
If you live in Rochester, it’s good to do what you can to save every possible coin with sustainable heating practices. Have a look at some of them below and improve your home’s heating efficiency while leaving a smaller carbon footprint at the same time.
Snowsports in Rochester are meant to be exciting and memorable. Ice hockey is filled with intensity and speed, while cross-country skiing will leave you feeling breathless, exhilarated, and eager for more fun. When you come to Rochester, be sure to visit these five locations. These are the best places to participate in snow sports while you’re in Rochester.
Crafting has taken on a whole new life. People are finding that they can make desired goods that will make them a little money along the way. Plenty of crafting groups have sprung up on social media that specifically look at helping people in the Rochester area find ways to sell their lovely products, but it goes beyond that as well. There are many great places in the physical space of Rochester that are also great for selling products and making some extra money.
Rochester is no different than any other city in the U.S. when it comes to pedestrian safety. Pedestrian safety is given a high priority position in Rochester to help protect citizens. The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP, see below for more information) is an NYS DOT plan to improve pedestrian safety on Long Island and Upstate, which includes some changes in Rochester. What can you do both as a motorist and as a pedestrian to improve pedestrian safety in and around the City of Rochester?
For homeowners living in and around the Rochester area, there are plenty of options available when plants, lawn, and garden care needs arise. Local landscaping professionals, greenhouses, and nurseries can provide not only access to appropriate plants but also access to valuable professional insight and guidance. Enjoying plants and working them into your daily life is easy when you know where and how to get started. Rochester residents are fortunate to have an abundant supply of plant experts right in their local area.
Helping Rochester small businesses is an easy way to give back to your community. During the cold winter, many families struggle to heat their homes and put good food on the table. Read along to find the best ways to support these local companies.
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After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the “subway”) was built in
its place as a link between the five different railroads and interurban trolley
lines that served the Rochester area. As the industrial landscape of Rochester
changed, and highways replaced the railroads, the Rochester subway gradually
became a relic of a bygone era. In 1956 the subway was abandoned and much of
its route was converted into Interstate 490 — built to connect Rochester
with the New York State Thruway (I-90). Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway.
RochesterSubway.com exists to help spark
public dialogue around how we can better connect the neighborhoods of Rochester
NY, surrounding communities, and their cultural offerings. Rochester’s
future is written in her past. Let's rediscover it.
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