ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester is considered an easy place to get around by most, but not all.

Now one group is helping the city better understand how it can make it a place where everyone finds it easy to get where they're going.

After fighting in two wars overseas, Nicole Neighbors came home to the fight of her life at a relative’s house in Niagara Falls.

“She was dealing with someone who was violent," said Neighbors. "I was unaware of it. And the man entered into the home, and I watched him kill her and he attempted to kill me.”

The attack left her paralyzed. But 16 years later, Nicole says she’s thriving.

“I’m a licensed master social worker," Neighbors said. "I own my own private practice, Grace and Peace Counseling. And I enjoy providing people with a safe space. Because I’ve been through so much turmoil in my life.”

Still, despite enjoying spending time out in her neighborhood, Nicole says there are challenges.

“The city has done a really good job of making sidewalks accessible, but there are still places where they aren’t," said Neighbors. "Or where construction is happening and no provisions are being made whatsoever.”

And that’s to say nothing of winter.

“People who live in the inner city, I ride down those streets on ACCES-VR or on a bus, and that snow stays there," Neighbors said. "It doesn’t go anywhere, so they’re not able to come out of the house. So sidewalks have to be kept clear.”

It’s this kind of feedback the city of Rochester is looking for, working with Blaque Out Consulting to develop the ROC Active Transportation Plan to transform infrastructure in the city.

“There are many families in this community who don’t have access to cars," said Tamara Leigh of Blaque Out Consulting. "But those people are rarely the ones that are polled when you look to see why Rochester’s transportation system looks the way that it does.”

The firm is using various stakeholders to engage with different communities, from the disabled to the LGBTQ+ community. Then the data they collect will be passed on to the city for action.

Nicole says people like her need a seat at the table.

“It’s our environment that disables us," said Neighbors. "So if our environment was equitable, then we would have independence that would empower us to have the same autonomy everyone else has.”

She believes the active transportation plan is a good first step.

“We have to do better," Neighbors said. "We have to do better, and I think we can do better. I think we can make the city of Rochester equitable.”

To share your ideas on the ways that Rochester can improve its active transportation plan, you have until Sunday to take their survey. You can find it by clicking here.