BILL NUMBER: S8948A
SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to equipping
bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters with lights
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
In order to ensure safety uniformity, businesses selling or leasing
bicycles with electric assist or electric scooters must equip such
devices with front and rear lighting prior to sale or lease.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1242 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
paragraph (c) to subdivision 11 which would prohibit persons, firms,
associations or corporations engaged in the business of selling or leas-
ing bicycles with electric assist from doing so unless such bicycles
with electric assist are equipped with a front lamp emitting a white
light visible during hours of darkness from a distance of at least five
hundred feet, and a red or amber rear light visible to the rear for
three hundred feet. At least one of the lights must be visible for two
hundred feet on each side.
Section 1282 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
paragraph (c) to subdivision 9 which would prohibit persons, films,
associations or corporations engaged in the business of selling or leas-
ing electric scooters from doing so unless such electric scooters are
equipped with a front lamp emitting a white light visible during hours
of darkness from a distance of at least five hundred feet, and a red
rear light visible to the rear for three hundred feet. At least one of
the lights must be visible for two hundred feet on each side.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The amended bill would apply to sellers and lessors of bicycles with
electric assist and electric scooters.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sets the federal standard
for all new bicycles, including e-bikes. These federal rules govern the
mandatory reflectors that must be installed by the manufacturers.
Motor-driven cycles and motorcycles require manufacturer-installed
lighting. However, most states, including New York, currently put the
onus on the operator for complying with a state law requiring the use of
front and rear lights when operating an e-bike or e-scooter after dark.
To ensure enhanced statewide safety standards for operators, pedestri-
ans, and other motor vehicles, sellers and lessors of e-bikes and
e-scooters should sell or lease only those devices which are equipped
with front and rear lights.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S8948: 1242 vehicle and traffic law, 1285 vehicle and traffic law
S8948A: 1242 vehicle and traffic law, 1242(11) vehicle and traffic law, 1282 vehicle and traffic law, 1282(9) vehicle and traffic law