Assembly Bill A6550

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6550
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 19, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
   commuter bicyclists to complete a bicycle safety course
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  The  vehicle  and  traffic law is amended by adding a new
 section 1244 to read as follows:
   § 1244. COMMUTER BICYCLISTS. 1. ANY PERSON USING A BICYCLE AS A PRIMA-
 RY METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT  SHALL
 COMPLETE AND PASS A BICYCLE SAFETY COURSE.
   2.  (A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL INITIATE AND PUT INTO EFFECT SUCH BICY-
 CLE SAFETY COURSE, THE CURRICULUM OF WHICH SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED TO:
   (I) THE LAWS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF BICYCLES;
   (II)  APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC BEHAVIOR AND THE LAWS GOVERNING SUCH TRAFFIC
 BEHAVIOR;
   (III) IDENTIFICATION AND AVOIDANCE OF HAZARDS;
   (IV) PEDESTRIAN AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY;
   (V) BICYCLE SAFETY INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE; AND
   (VI) INJURY PREVENTION.
   (B) IN DEVELOPING SUCH CURRICULUM, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSULT WITH
 THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION,  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  THE  STATE
 POLICE,  THE  COMMISSIONERS  OF TRANSPORTATION AND POLICE OF THE CITY OF
 NEW YORK, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND BICYCLE SAFETY ADVOCATES.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED, AT HIS OR HER DISCRETION, TO DEVEL-
 OP A METHOD FOR APPROVING INTERNET-BASED BICYCLE SAFETY  COURSES  AS  AN
 APPROPRIATE  AND  EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND COMPLETION
 OF TRAINING IN THE SAFE OPERATION  OF  BICYCLES,  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF
 AWARDING  A  BICYCLE  SAFETY  CERTIFICATE  PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. ALL

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09872-01-1
              

 A. 6550                             2
 
 APPROVED INTERNET-BASED BICYCLE SAFETY COURSES SHALL EMPLOY  METHODS  TO
 ENSURE ATTENDANCE OF THE STUDENT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.
   4.  THE  COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM
 FOR TRACKING AND REPLACING BICYCLE SAFETY  CERTIFICATES  ISSUED  BY  THE
 COMMISSIONER. THE COMMISSIONER IS FURTHER AUTHORIZED TO REQUIRE THAT ANY
 OTHER ENTITY APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO PROVIDE COURSES OF INSTRUC-
 TION AND AWARD BICYCLE SAFETY CERTIFICATES ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FOR TRACK-
 ING  AND  REPLACING  BICYCLE  SAFETY  CERTIFICATES  SO  AS TO ENABLE THE
 REPLACEMENT OF LOST OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES TO THOSE WHO HAVE  PREVIOUSLY
 BEEN AWARDED SUCH CERTIFICATES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall  have become a law; provided, however, that the bicycle safety
 course required by section one of this act may be taken on or after  the
 effective date on this act and that persons subject to the provisions of
 this  act  shall  have one year to complete such course. Effective imme-
 diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective  date  are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.