S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5608
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 18, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. ZINERMAN, BURDICK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
   A. LEVENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transporta-
   tion
 
 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 SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DISCRETION,
 TO DEVELOP 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09165-01-5
              

 A. 5608                             2
 
 SECTION. ALL 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.
   5.  SUCH  SAFETY COURSE MAY BE TAKEN ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
 THIS SECTION BUT SHALL BE TAKEN NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER SUCH EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OR ONE YEAR AFTER A PERSON SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 SECTION  BEGINS  USING  A BICYCLE AS A PRIMARY METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION,
 WHICHEVER IS LATER.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.