I read that commute times in Rochester average about 20 minutes, which is phenomenally short compared to many other cities. There are often a number of different ways to get from point A to point B and it's wise to have two or three different routes in your head so you can take evasive action should a traffic problem occurs. Also, do not expect that the city is arranged in neat and orderly city blocks because it isn't and street patterns can be somewhat crazy. It would be helpful to you if you would become familiar with what streets are one-way only, or have one way sections on them.

My son-in-law manages a car dealership so I always buy my cars from his dealership. As far as I know most people use dealerships for new and used cars but I imagine there is a subset of people using newer alternatives. There are clusters of dealerships in Henrietta and Greece (suburbs of Rochester), so if you are trying out different types of cars you might try these locations. Don't forget Rochester has four seasons and you must consider how the care you are looking at will handle during the season of ice and snow. Features that improve winter handling will be a plus and increase your driving satisfaction.

My favorite memory of driving in Rochester is driving to the hospital to have my first baby. It was warm for mid march and it was raining. I thought the street lights looked like stars and the road was made of glimmering jewels. I was excited and scared and nervous to be driving in this state. At the same time it seemed like a magical drive toward an incredible treasure.

East Avenue.. My favorite stretch of road near and into Rochester is East Avenue from Pittsford into the city. The street is lined with very nice houses and as you proceed closer and closer to the city the houses get older and grander and there are some beautiful old trees as well. One of the houses on this street is the George Eastman House that has a grandeur and history that makes me admire it every time I pass. East Avenue is a very historic street in the city and worthy of driving on every day.

My advice to new drivers in Rochester is to be alert for sudden lane shifts. Lanes will end with literally no notice whatsoever, with the only indication you should move over being the highway concrete divider bending into your lane of travel.

West Henrietta road is very close to the city and is a road of almost only used car dealerships. It is a very big advantage negotiating here as you can always use the threat of shopping at their competitor, which is no more than a stone's throw away.

I moved here after grueling government training in Oklahoma. It was great to be heading to my first apartment. After the 21 hour drive, I ended up on I-490 into the city of Rochester. It was about 6pm and the sun was setting. I saw the city skyline for the first time, after a two-day drive, with the crest of the setting sun rising over the tallest building in the city. At this point I realized, "I made it".

I-490. After curving through hills on the surrounding highways, you take the exit to this road heading straight into the city. You pass under a very old bridge that looks like it will collapse any second. As you round the bend you see a beautiful stretch of road, 8 lanes wide, straight into the city. With the skyline in sight and sunset/sunrise often exposing itself over the skyscrapers you gun it straight to the city.