1. BIKE SAFETY IN NEW YORK CITY
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2. Safety tips for bicycling in New York City
The New York City DOT reports that ridership
continues to rise steadily every year, which amplifies
the fact that NYC is one of the nation’s top cities for
people who ride bikes.
As a supplement to New York City’s biking laws,
we’ve collected some excellent tips on how you can
make bike riding safer and more enjoyable,
regardless of whether you commute to work on your
bike, ride for pleasure or as part of your job.
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3. Ride in the street and wear a helmet.
Do not ride on the sidewalks unless you are age 12
or younger and your bicycle's wheels are 26 inches
or less in diameter. Always ride with traffic, never
against it.
All riders age 13 or younger are required by law to
wear an approved safety helmet, as are working
cyclists. But helmets are a good idea for cyclists of
all ages, to protect against head injuries from a fall.
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4. Stop at all red lights and stop signs.
Obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement
markings, and watch out for pedestrians,
motor vehicles or other cyclists. Wait for the
green at red lights unless you see a sign that
says “BIKES USE PED SIGNAL.”
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5. Always be aware of your surroundings.
Don't wear earphones. The law allows
you to wear one earbud; but considering
all that swirls around you, keeping two
clear ears is much safer.
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6. Use marked bike lanes or paths when
they are available.
If the road is too narrow for a bicycle
and a car to travel safely side by side,
you can legally ride in the middle of your
travel lane. Bicycling is permitted on all
main and local streets throughout NYC,
even when there is no bicycle-marked
route.
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7. Ride in a straight line.
Do not weave in and out of traffic. Riding
consistently and predictably lessens the
chances of your colliding with a motor
vehicle, pedestrian or another cyclist --
or that they’ll crash into you.
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8. Look, signal, and look again before
changing lanes or making a turn.
As you approach an intersection, look first in
the direction traffic is coming from, then the
other, then toward traffic again before
proceeding through the intersection. Establish
eye contact with drivers. And make certain
they see you before executing a turn or riding
in front of a turning car.
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9. Watch out for car doors!!!
Be prepared for a car door to suddenly
open in your path. When possible, leave
room between yourself and parked cars
(hopefully, at least three feet) to avoid
car doors that open unexpectedly.
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10. Be seen and heard.
Stay visible. Wear brightly colored clothing for
daytime riding. At night, wear garments with reflective
materials and lights.
Use your bell. It alerts drivers, pedestrians and other
cyclists of your presence. Having a bell on your bike
is required by law.
Use a white headlight and a red taillight. These
help at night, especially at dusk when it is most
difficult to see others.
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11. Children on Bicycles
Children under age one (1) cannot be carried
on a bicycle.
Children must be carried in a properly affixed
child carrier.
Child cyclists under age 13 must wear an
approved helmet.
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12. Commercial Cyclists
Bike riders inexpensively, quickly, and
efficiently deliver documents and parcels.
In addition to the biking laws, you should also
know NYC’s laws and rules that govern
commercial bicycling.
Click here for more safety tips for commercial cyclists.
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13. For Further Information
If you’ve been hit by a negligent driver while
you were riding your bicycle, the professionals
at Kaplan Lawyers PC are available to answer
your legal questions. Contact us to arrange a
free case evaluation.
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