BILL NUMBER: S5008
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the estab-
lishment in the city of New York of a bicycle lane safety program; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
To authorize and empower the city of New York to establish a bike lane
safety program that protects cyclists and holds encroaching motorists
accountable through bike lane cameras and monetary penalties.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the vehicle and traffic law to outline owner liability
for failure of an operator to comply with bicycle lane restrictions and
to authorize the city of New York to establish a bicycle lane safety
program. The city shall install bicycle lane photo devices within or in
close proximity to no more than fifty protected bicycle lanes and take
measures to protect the privacy of those whose identity may be captured
by such devices. Bicycle lane restrictions refer to a restriction on the
use of such protected lanes by motor vehicles other than bicycles. This
section also provides that monetary penalties for violating these
restrictions shall not exceed fifty dollars. The imposition and adjudi-
cation of liability is also described in this section, along with a
requirement that the city of New York submit a report on the results of
this program.
Section 2 relates to the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In the wake of unfortunate yet preventable cyclist fatalities in the
city of New York, more must be done to enforce bicycle lane restrictions
and ensure the safety of cyclists. Installing cameras on protected bike
lanes will not only deter motor vehicles from encroaching on those lanes
but also hold violators liable for monetary penalties not exceeding
fifty dollars. Given that this establishes a pilot program, cameras will
be installed at no more than fifty protected lanes, and the city will
submit a report on the results of the program. Cyclists should be
allowed to ride on their designated lanes without fear of colliding with
reckless motorists. With this additional enforcement mechanism in place,
cyclists can ride more confidently on the bike lanes created and demar-
cated specifically for their use.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.3304 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal): Died in Transportation
A.4637 of 2023-2024 (Mamdani): Died in Transportation
S.1398-A of 2021-2022 (Hoylman): Died in Transportation
A.10446 of 2021-2022 (Mamdani): Died in Rules
S.5717-A of 2019-2020 (Hoylman): Died in Transportation
A.6674-A of 2019-2020 (DenDekker): Died in Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Revenues collected through fines and penalties from this program shall
go to the general transportation account of the New York city transpor-
tation assistance fund.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the nineteenth day after it shall have
become a law and shall expire 5 years after such date the provisions of
this act shall be deemed repealed. Effective immediately 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 date.