What's happening
This bill allows bicyclists to yield at stop signs and proceed through red lights after stopping and yielding when safe.
Why it matters
Increases cycling efficiency and encourages bicycle use. By allowing cyclists to yield at stop signs and proceed through red lights after stopping and yielding, the bill reduces unnecessary stops, making cycling a more attractive and practical mode of transportation.
Aligns traffic laws with real-world cycling behavior. The bill acknowledges that bicycles operate differently from motor vehicles, and adapts traffic control rules to safer, more efficient cycling practices observed in places with strong cycling cultures.
Potential safety implications. While meant to improve flow, the bill relies on cyclists’ judgment to yield appropriately, which could raise concerns about confusion or increased risk at intersections, especially where motorists and cyclists may interpret right-of-way differently.
Legal clarity for law enforcement and cyclists. By explicitly stating when cyclists are permitted to yield rather than stop, the law minimizes ambiguity, helping both police and cyclists understand what is legal, potentially reducing arbitrary enforcement and unnecessary fines.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Cyclists Roll Through 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 Bicycles Roll at Stops
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7026
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- 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 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the opera- tion of bicycles at stop signs and traffic-control signals
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would help cyclists share the roadways by giving them greater flexibility at intersections to yield safely at stop signs rather than having to make a hard stop. It would also allow cyclists to treat a red light as a stop sign.
Summary of provisions
The bill adds a new section 1231-a to the vehicle and traffic law to allow persons operating bicycles to treat stop signs as yield signs (after yielding to vehicles, other cyclists, and pedestrians) and to treat red lights as stop signs.
Justification
In many parts of New York State, cyclists and drivers share roadways. Policies that allow cars and bicycles to operate safely in close proxim- ity are necessary as we take steps to encourage more commuter traffic via bicycle. Vehicle traffic moves much faster and some times more unpredictably than cycle traffic. Cyclists can find themselves at a disadvantage in traffic with safety implications for all road users. The Idaho Stop, first enacted by the State of Idaho in 1982, allows more flexibility for cyclists by conserving their momentum and helping to keep them out of the way of heavy automotive traffic. Most importantly, the Idaho Stop works. A 2010 study by the University of California Berkeley found that cycling injuries in the state dropped by 14 percent after the law's enactment. Giving cyclists greater flexibility at stop signs and stoplights will enhance road safety for both cyclists and drivers.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
30 days after becoming law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.