What's happening
This bill allows bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and permits cautious turns or proceeding through red lights after stopping.
Why it matters
Prioritizes safety over strict compliance. The bill requires bicyclists to slow and yield at stop signs and red lights, but only demands a full stop if it’s necessary for safety, allowing more practical and context-sensitive riding.
Reduces unnecessary stops for cyclists. By letting cyclists proceed through stop signs and red lights after yielding and when safe, the law acknowledges the physical effort involved in biking and may improve traffic flow without sacrificing safety.
Clarifies responsibility in intersections. Cyclists must yield the right-of-way to vehicles, pedestrians, and other cyclists when crossing intersections, making it clear that the new flexibility does not override the safety of others.
Potentially encourages cycling. By making the rules of the road more accommodating for bicycles, the legislation may promote cycling as a viable transportation option, which could have positive effects on public health, traffic congestion, and the environment.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Bicycles Roll at Stops
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Cyclists Roll Through Stops
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Rachel May
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9123
IN ASSEMBLY
January 21, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the operation of bicycles at stop signs and traffic-control signals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1231-a to read as follows:
§ 1231-a. Special provisions for bicycles. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person operating a bicycle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or injunction of highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way to vehicles, other persons operating a bicycle and pedestrians if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person operating a bicycle approaching a steady red traffic-control signal shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has stopped, the person may proceed through the steady red traffic-control signal with caution. Provided, however, that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red traffic-control signal after stopping and yielding to other traffic.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13771-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.