Bill Text: NY S02643 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to the operation of bicycles at stop signs and traffic-control signals.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION [S02643 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S02643-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          2643

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    January 23, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sens.  MAY, BROUK, GIANARIS, HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, JACKSON,
          LIU, RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed  to  be
          committed to the Committee on Transportation

        AN  ACT  to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the opera-
          tion of bicycles at stop signs and traffic-control signals

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  The  vehicle  and  traffic law is amended by adding a new
     2  section 1231-a to read as follows:
     3    § 1231-a. Special provisions  for  bicycles.  1.  Notwithstanding  any
     4  other  provision of law, a person operating a bicycle approaching a stop
     5  sign shall, before entering the intersection,  either  slow  down  to  a
     6  speed  reasonable for existing conditions, or shall stop if required for
     7  safety at a clearly marked stop line,  but  if  none,  then  shall  stop
     8  before  entering  the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or
     9  in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the  intersect-
    10  ing  highway  where  such  person  operating a bicycle has a view of the
    11  approaching traffic on the intersecting highway.  Such person  operating
    12  a  bicycle shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian legally cross-
    13  ing the highway on which they are operating  the  bicycle,  and  to  any
    14  vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely
    15  as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such person operat-
    16  ing  a  bicycle  is moving across or within the intersection.  Provided,
    17  however, that if such person operating a bicycle is involved in a colli-
    18  sion with a pedestrian in a crosswalk or a vehicle in  the  intersection
    19  after operating a bicycle past a stop sign without stopping, such colli-
    20  sion  shall be deemed prima facie evidence of their failure to yield the
    21  right of way.
    22    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except when directed to
    23  proceed by a police officer, every person operating a bicycle  approach-
    24  ing  a  steady circular red signal or red arrow signal of a traffic-con-

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00429-01-3
        S. 2643                             2

     1  trol signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none,  then
     2  shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the  inter-
     3  section, or in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the
     4  intersecting  highway  where  such  person has a view of the approaching
     5  traffic on the  intersecting  highway  and,  after  having  stopped  may
     6  cautiously    enter the intersection to proceed straight through or turn
     7  left or right unless a sign at such place prohibits  either  such  turn.
     8  Such  person  operating a bicycle shall yield the right of way to pedes-
     9  trians within a marked or unmarked crosswalk  at  the  intersection  and
    10  shall  yield  to  any  vehicle  which  has entered the intersection from
    11  another highway or which is approaching so closely on said highway as to
    12  constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such person  operat-
    13  ing a bicycle is moving across or within the intersection.
    14    §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
    15  have become a law.