What's happening
This bill requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching bicyclists on the roadway to enhance their safety.
Why it matters
Expands the legal definition of “due care”. for drivers, specifying that they must either move over to another lane when passing a bicyclist (when safe) or, if that's not possible, slow down—making clear what actions are expected, not just general caution.
Addresses situations with limited road space. , such as when it’s unsafe or illegal to change lanes (e.g., due to a solid yellow line), ensuring drivers are still required to reduce speed to protect bicyclists.
May impact driver behavior and liability. , as it clarifies and strengthens the responsibilities of motorists, potentially affecting fault and penalties in traffic incidents involving bicyclists.
Aims to create a safer environment for cyclists. by legally requiring more space or caution from motor vehicle operators, which could encourage more people to bike and reduce injuries or fatalities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Bicyclists from Cars
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
451
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the operation of vehicles when approaching bicyclists on the roadway
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 1146 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 333 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary. The due care required to avoid colliding with any bicyclist shall include, but not be limited to, the driver of a vehicle moving from the lane with the bicyclist, if safe to do so; provided, however, if the driver of the vehicle is unable to change lanes safely or would cross a yellow line to change lanes, the driver of the vehicle shall reduce their speed. For the purposes of this section, the term "domestic animal" shall mean domesticated sheep, cattle, and goats which are under the supervision and control of a pedestrian.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01085-01-5
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.