Thanks to our friends and partners at Transportation Alternatives and New York Bicycle Coalition for some of the content that GObike and GO Buffalo Niagara have used to pull this Bicyclists Bill of Rights together.
Are you new to cycling? New to cycling in Buffalo or New York? We’ve put together some resources to help you out with what you need to know about getting around by bike, parking your bike, and more. Thank you to our friends and partners at Transportation Alternatives for getting us started.
Biking Basics
Familiarize yourself with bicycle maintenance, clothing, and more. Here are some quick tips to make the switch to bike commuting.
Know your ABCs (air, brakes, chain and cranks)? An ABC Quick Check will ensure your bike is safe to ride.
Learn to change a flat tire and gain independence from one of bicycling's greatest banes — it's easier than you might think.
Confused by all the tech banter at bike shops? Get to know your ride with this bike anatomy lesson. Come to GObike’s Open Shops to learn from our mechanics! (Every Tuesday 5P-8P at 98 Colvin, every Wednesday 5P-8P at 313 Broadway)
A reflective ankle strap, available soon at both our shops, will prevent your pants from getting greasy or snagged in the chain, while adding extra visibility. Or, if you're in a pinch, just roll up your right pant leg a lá mid-90s LL Cool J, whose style was apparently inspired by early NYC bike messengers.
Use a quality bike lock. When locking up, use bike racks or tall street signs — so your bike can't be hoisted up and over by thieves. Always avoid locking to the lateral bars of scaffolding, which can be easily unbolted, unless you're a firm believer in setting free the things you love!
Summary of NYS Bike Laws
Why these Laws Apply to Cyclists
NY Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) – §1231 – Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles – Every person riding a bicycle ….. upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.
Safe Passing Law: Motor Vehicles Passing Bikes
VTL 1146 – Drivers to exercise due care. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary. For the purposes of this section, the term “domestic animal” shall mean domesticated sheep, cattle, and goats which are under the supervision and control of a pedestrian.
VTL 1122 – The operator of a vehicle overtaking, from behind, a bicycle proceeding on the same side of a roadway shall pass to the left of such bicycle at a safe distance until safely clear thereof.
VTL 1120 – All motorists must drive on the right side of a roadway, except in the following situations:
When passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction;
When passing a cyclist, pedestrian, animals, or obstructions in the roadway.
RCNY 19-190 – Right of Way
Subdivision (a) provides that if a motor vehicle driver fails to yield to a pedestrian or bicyclist who has the right of way, the driver shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100, in addition to or as an alternative to the penalties that can be imposed for committing a traffic infraction as provided in the law. Subdivision (b) of Section 19-190 provides that if a driver violates subdivision (a) and the vehicle causes contact with the pedestrian or bicyclist, and thereby causes physical injury, the driver shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $250, in addition to or as an alternative to the penalties that can be imposed for committing a misdemeanor as provided in the law.
Bikes Passing on the Right
VTL 1123 – Overtaking on the right – The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:
When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn;
Upon a street or highway with unobstructed pavement not occupied by parked vehicles of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in each direction;
Upon a one-way street, or upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles.
(b) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the roadway, except as permitted by section eleven hundred thirty-one of this article.
“Doorings”
VTL 1214 – Opening and closing vehicle doors – “No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic, and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall a person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.”
RCNY 4-12-(c) – Getting Out of a Vehicle – “No person shall get out of any vehicle from the side facing on the traveled part of the street in such manner as to interfere with the right of the operator of an approaching vehicle or a bicycle.”
Bike Lanes and Road Position for Cyclists
VTL 102-a – Definition of Bicycle Lane – A portion of the roadway which has been designated by striping, signing and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles.
VTL 1234. Riding on roadways, shoulders, bicycle or in-line skate lanes and bicycle or in-line skate paths. (a) Upon all roadways, any bicycle or in-line skate shall be driven either on a usable bicycle or in-line skate lane or, if a usable bicycle or in-line skate lane has not been provided, near the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway or upon a usable right-hand shoulder in such a manner as to prevent undue interference with the flow of traffic except when preparing for a left turn or when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that would make it unsafe to continue along near the right-hand curb or edge.
Conditions to be taken into consideration include, but are not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, in-line skates, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or traffic lanes too narrow for a bicycle or person on in-line skates and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane.
**VTL § 1234 Does Not apply in New York City. It is specifically superseded by 34 RCNY 4-02 (e) **
RCNY 4-12 (p)(1) Bicyclists may ride on either side of one-way roadways that are at least 40 feet wide.
RCNY 4-12 (p)(3) Bicyclists should ride in usable bike lanes, unless they are blocked or unsafe for any reason.
RCNY 4-12 (o) Bicycles are prohibited on expressways, drives, highways, interstate routes, bridges, and thruways unless authorized by signs.
Riding Single File or No More than 2 Abreast
VTL 1234 (b) Persons riding bicycles or skating or gliding on in-line skates upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast. Persons riding bicycles or skating or gliding on in-line skates upon a shoulder, bicycle or in-line skate lane, or bicycle or in-line skates path, intended for the use of bicycles or in-line skates may ride two or more abreast if sufficient space is available, except that when passing a vehicle, bicycle or person on in-line skates, or pedestrian, standing or proceeding along such shoulder, lane or path, persons riding bicycles or skating or gliding on in-line skates shall ride, skate, or glide single file. Persons riding bicycles or skating or gliding on in-line skates upon a roadway shall ride, skate, or glide single file when being overtaken by a vehicle.
Stop Before Entering Roadway
VTL 1234 (c) Any person operating a bicycle or skating or gliding on in-line skates who is entering the roadway from a private road, driveway, alley or over a curb shall come to a full stop before entering the roadway.
Cars Blocking or Obstructing Bike Lanes in Buffalo is illegal as of 2022
City of Buffalo Charter Chapter 479, Section 15 (24) No Parking.
Cars, trucks, delivery vehicles and city vehicles may not park, stand, idle, drive in the bike lane. They may not open their door into the bike lane if a cyclist is approaching.
The only vehicles lawfully allowed in a bike lane are those that are actively responding to an emergency.
If a vehicle is blocking the bike lane and you fall or are hit by a car while dodging that vehicle, the driver of the illegally-parked vehicle is at fault.
Equipment
VTL 1236. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (a) Every bicycle when in use during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible during hours of darkness from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red or amber light visible to the rear for three hundred feet. Effective July first, nineteen hundred seventy-six, at least one of these lights shall be visible for two hundred feet from each side.
(b) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.
No Brakeless “Fixies” in NY
VTL 1236 (c) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
VTL 1236 (d) Every new bicycle shall be equipped with reflective tires or, alternately, a reflex reflector mounted on the spokes of each wheel, said tires and reflectors to be of types approved by the commissioner. The reflex reflector mounted on the front wheel shall be colorless or amber, and the reflex reflector mounted on the rear wheel shall be colorless or red.
VTL 1236 (e) Every bicycle when in use during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise shall be equipped with reflective devices or material meeting the standards established by rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner; provided, however, that such standards shall not be inconsistent with or otherwise conflict with the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (d) of this section.
Two (2) Earphones Are Unlawful
VTL 375 24-a – Use of earphones while driving or riding a bicycle – It shall be unlawful to operate upon any public highway in this state a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or bicycle while the operator is wearing more than one earphone attached to a radio, tape player or other audio device.
Hands on the handle bars
VTL 235 – Carrying articles – No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars. No person skating or gliding on in-line skates shall carry any package, bundle, or article which obstructs his or her vision in any direction. No person operating a skate board shall carry any package, bundle, or article which obstructs his or her vision in any direction.
RCNY 4-12 (e) – Cyclists must have at least one hand on handlebars at all times.
Seats and Pedals
VTL § 1232 Cyclists must ride on a permanent seat, feet must be on pedals, and bike must carry only the number of persons for which it is designed and equipped.
Children on Bikes
VTL 1238 – Helmets and carrying children
A child under age one is not permitted to ride on a bicycle.
A child one or more years of age but less than five years of age must wear an approved helmet and be carried in a properly affixed child carrier.
A child five or more years of age but less than fourteen years of age must wear an approved helmet.
Legal Help
Have you been involved in a crash while riding your bike? We’re so sorry this has happened to you and wish you a full recovery. When it comes to compensation from the driver who hit you, look no further.
GObike is frequently asked to connect injured cyclists and pedestrians with legal counsel. While we do not endorse any particular lawyer, those listed below may be able to help:
Mark Davis
Cellino Law
mark.davis@cellinolaw.com
585.789.6060
Rules of the Road for Cyclists to Follow
Brush up on the rules of the road. Remember, cyclists are subject to many of the same traffic laws as automobiles — like stopping at red lights, riding in the direction of traffic, and giving right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Pedestrians: Pedestrians always have the right of way. Always yield to pedestrians. As our potential to cause harm increases on the street, so does our responsibility to others. Slowing down and giving someone the respect they deserve will go a long way towards fostering a sense of shared responsibility that will ultimately make NYC streets better for cyclists, pedestrians and even drivers.
Crosswalks: Don’t stop in the crosswalk. Leave them clear so pedestrians can cross easily.
Sidewalks: You hate to see cars in bike lanes. Pedestrians hate to see bikes on the sidewalk. (Law in City of Buffalo)
Salmoning: Ride in the direction of traffic -- and make no mistake, when you’re on a bike, you are traffic!
Red Lights & Stop Signs: No one can see how good-looking your bikes is if you ride through intersections without stopping. And new cyclists will follow your example.
(We are working on getting a bill passed in Albany to allow the Idaho Stop (yield at Stop Signs, Stop and Go when clear at Stop Lights. But until then, the law is the law.)Lights and Bells: Front and rear lights are required if you’re riding at night. (Law: VTL §1236) Having a bell lets people know you’re approaching -- and they’re required on all bikes being operated in New York.
Helmets: Helmets are a good idea, and they’re required by law in the State of New York if you’re under the age of 14.
