BILL NUMBER: S5008A
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 OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
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 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 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
bike lanes by motor vehicles other than bicycles. This section also
provides maximum monetary penalties for violating these restrictions.
The imposition and adjudication 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 sets 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 bike lanes will
not only deter motor vehicles from encroaching on those lanes but also
hold violators liable for violating local laws meant to protect
cyclists. Given that this establishes a pilot program, cameras will be
installed at no more than fifty 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 motor-
ists. With this additional enforcement mechanism in place, cyclists can
ride more confidently on the bike lanes created and demarcated specif-
ically for their use.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A. 4637 of 2023-2024 (Mamdani): Died in Transportation
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 City of New York.
 
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.