BILL NUMBER: S2529
SPONSOR: FELDER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
a bicycle and electric scooter operator's safety manual and licensing
requirement
 
PURPOSE:
Requires all bicycle and electric scooter operators in NYC to be trained
and licensed
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Vehicle and Traffic law by adding a new article
12-E "Bicycle and Electric Scooter Safety Education Course and License".
The Department of Motor Vehicle shall develop a safety manual for the
safe operation of Bicycles and Electric Scooters. It also provides for
the license to operate a bicycle or electric scooter in New York State
Section 2 allows for a driver's license to have a mark indicating some-
one has a bicycle or electric scooter license.
Section 3 requires everyone operating a bicycle or bicycle with electric
assist to have a license.
Section 4 requires everyone operating an electric scooter to have a
license.
Section 5 sets forth the effective date of this legislation.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 1924 New York State began requiring all drivers to be licensed. The
next year, driver testing began and were administered by the newly
created Bureau of Motor Vehicles(1). Almost 100 years later, it is time
for New York to consider requiring all individuals who operate on the
roadways to be knowledgeable of the rules of the road and be licensed.
Operators of bicycles, E-bikes and E-scooters have all the same rights
and are subject to all of the duties and regulations applicable to driv-
ers of motor vehicles. Drivers of motor vehicles have to study and pass
a permit test about the rules of the road, have 50 hours of supervised
driving practice, take an education course and THEN pass a road test.
To operate a bicycle, E-bike and E-scooter on the same roadway as a
motor vehicle, a person simply needs to jump on and start pedaling or
pressing the throttle. As more and more individuals operate these types
of vehicles, our roadways are becoming more dangerous because many of
these operators don't know the rules of the road. By simply having an
operator of a bicycle, E-bike and E-scooter study the rules of the road
and get a license before they start driving on traffic-congested
streets, it would save hundreds of lives.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021/22: S7204 - Transportation
2023/24: S1376 - Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 120 days after it shall become law.
1. https://www.automobilemag.com/news/ fast-facts-the-113-year-histo-
ryofthe- drivers-license-110875/

Statutes affected:
S2529: 504 vehicle and traffic law, 504(1) vehicle and traffic law