Alternative Transportation A man rides his bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com))
The greater Syracuse area is a car-centric region, it’s true. But it’s not the only way to get around, particularly in the city.
If you don’t have access to a car, don’t drive, or are evaluating the environmental impact of car travel, what are the alternatives?
Your options include:
• Public transportation (buses)
• Ride hailing (Lyft and Uber)
• Micromobility (light, low-speed, typically electric powered devices such as Veo e-bikes and electric scooters)
• Active transportation (walking, biking, skating).
Here’s everything you need to know about walking, skating and cycling around Syracuse and beyond.
Cycling in Central New York
Syracuse and Central New York had its first substantial snow of the season One mode of transportation in the snow is bicycling in Thornden Park in Syracuse. Syracuse and Central New York had its first substantial snow of the season Nov. 12, 2019. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracise.com (Dennis Nett/Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com) What exists
Designated bike lanes began appearing in the city in 2006 thanks to requests from neighborhoods on Syracuse’s Eastside.
In 2014, the Syracuse Common Council adopted an updated version of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which included a detailed report on the benefits of improved bicycle infrastructure, and identified opportunities for improvement and expansion.
The goal is to connect existing bike infrastructure to more neighborhoods and increase safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. There are approximately 38 miles of infrastructure within the city.
Green-painted bike lanes and sharrows (painted symbols that guide bicyclists) have been added to mostly secondary neighborhood streets, though some major transportation corridors like Salina Street were improved.
Summer photos around CNY A cyclist cruises on the Long Branch Road Bridge on July 23, 2025. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com/Dennis Nett )
In the 2024-2025 season, Syracuse installed nearly 50 blocks of new bicycle infrastructure, including traffic calming efforts, larger buffered bike lanes, lowered speed limits in several areas, improved wayfinding and changes that improve intersections.
Andy Bowes occasionally bikes to his downtown job from Baldwinsville, taking advantage of the Onondaga Lake Trail and the Creekwalk.
Bowes appreciates the environmental benefits and the fact that he’s not operating a “two-ton piece of steel.”
Cycling sparks ideas, too, he said. One of his favorites: towing a canoe along Onondaga Creek to roll straight to the water and meet up with others.
“With a bike, I can pull right up and I’m on the shore,” said Bowes, a Creek Rats member who paddles regularly.
The improvements benefit bicycle and e-bike riders alike.
Downtown resident Baxter Hankin can go up to 20 mph on his two-seater e-bike. He reaches city limits within 15-20 minutes and goes as far as Green Lakes and back — taking bike lanes and trails like the Empire State Trail whenever possible.
“They are generally better than riding on the road,” said Hankin, who is also president of the Syracuse Urbanism Collective, which strives to build access to human-centered, walkable communities.
How to ride
Map out your ride and go.
Think about locations of bike lanes, traffic patterns, weather and a place to store/lock your bike at your destination.
If you don’t have a bicycle or are in the market for a new one, there are several bike shops in Syracuse and the suburbs, and most carry e-bikes. These shops also offer repairs, maintenance and tune-ups.
Meet and connect with volunteers who help periodically with tune-ups, lights, locks, brakes and tires at the 713 Marcellus St. Bike Depot on the Near Westside.
If riding for you is just as much about community as it is about commuting, join Syracuse Bike Party.
syracuse bike party Erin Hassett hops off her bike to head into Salt City Market after a five and a half mile bike ride through Syracuse. She is a first-time attendee of the Syracuse Bike Party and despite the freezing temperatures on Saturday, she is looking forward to the next one (Melissa Newcomb|mnewcomb@syracuse.com). (Melissa Newcomb/Melissa Newcomb) What’s coming
Advocates continue to push for safer roads for cyclists.
In March, the Syracuse Urbanism Collective held a workshop about crowdsourcing bike routes using open source software OpenStreetMap.
An update to the Bicycle Plan is being developed by the City of Syracuse Department of Public Works to continue improving connectivity between neighborhoods and expand access to businesses and recreation. The city’s website includes documentation of what has happened and what’s in the works.
DPW is increasingly focusing on expanding neighborhood greenways, long corridors that prioritize cycling and other travel options on local streets where there is minimal car traffic.
Greenway features include wayfinding signage and painted markings on pavement, speed humps and traffic-calming intersection treatments.
getting around Syracuse without a car A Centro bus heads north on Salina Street in downtown Syracuse next to a green bike lane that includes a buffer to the right. (Amy Bleier Long/This is CNY)
The DPW is collaborating with Onondaga County to include bicycle infrastructure wherever possible in upcoming paving projects, such as the coming Teall Avenue restoration and Onondaga Boulevard repaving.
DPW also reviews development proposals and construction permits, and typically requires bike parking at new developments, said Sol Muñoz, spokesperson for the City of Syracuse.
She also said the most recent zoning code update included bike parking requirements for cyclists to lock up their rides.
In one of the largest road projects, the city is partnered with New York State Department of Transportation to make sure pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is central to the design of the Community Grid.
Hot day in Syracuse A child rides a bike across Washington Square Park on Syracuse’s North Side. High temperatures in the 90-degree range forced city schools to close for a half day on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Katrina Tulloch) (Katrina Tulloch/This is CNY)
As part of the I-81 Viaduct Project, protected bike lanes and paths will be included on replaced bridges at Court, Butternut and Spencer streets. Cycle tracks, which provide a buffer from traffic, will be installed heading into downtown along Erie Boulevard East, North Salina, North Clinton and Almond streets and Creekwalk extensions.
To share ideas or requests with the City of Syracuse, residents are encouraged to reach out to their common councilors or the mayor’s office directly.
Muñoz suggested community members attend their local TNT (Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today) meetings when city staff attend to present upcoming projects.
The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council hosts a quarterly online Forum on Active Transportation that anyone can join to learn more about transportation planning.
Employers or private property owners who want to support sustainable, low- or no-cost commuting options or bike parking infrastructure are welcome to reach out to the city for support, too.
Walk sign A “walk” sign at a downtown Syracuse intersection. (Marie Morelli | mmorelli@syracuse.com) (Marie Morelli/Marie Morelli | mmorelli@syracuse.com)
Walking and skating are also options in many cases.
On roller skates, it means avoiding hills or at least knowing how to navigate them, said Joey DiStefano, a member of Syracuse Skate Gang.
“Once you get a handle on going up and down slopes, it’s really, really easy,” he said.
In 2021, the City of Syracuse began the Municipal Sidewalk Program to annually improve and expand the network of sidewalks for safety and accessibility. Priorities include high-traffic areas and locations near schools, grocery stores, amenities and neighborhood connections.
Voicing your transportation needs can help make them a reality. Input from the public and advocacy groups led to improvements like new bike lanes, safer crosswalks and better public transportation.
As a longtime supporter of car-free transportation, DiStefano offered this succinct advice: “Ask for what you want.”
Christine Dunne contributed to this article.
Alternative Transportation People board the Centro bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation The Centro Bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A man rides a VEO E-Bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation Someone gets on a Centro bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A man rides his bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation The Centro Bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A Centro bus stop on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A man rides a VEO E-Bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A bike lane on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation People flag down a Centro bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation The Centro Bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) Alternative Transportation A man rides his bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com))