NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A547A
SPONSOR: Steck TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to operators of
a vehicle overtaking a bicycle from behind
PURPOSE:
To amend the vehicle and traffic law to allow a safe passing distance
for motorists from bicyclists who share the roadway.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Section 1122-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by
chapter 413 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1122-a. Overtaking a bicycle.
The For cities having a population of
less than one million and towns and villages, 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 of
not less than three feet until safely clear thereof.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.
JUSTIFICATION:
With the Department of Transportation actively installing bike lanes on
state roadways throughout the state, this legislation is timely and
necessary to support the increased bicycle traffic. A specific distance,
three feet, was chosen in order to provide an easily understood distance
for motorists. Specifying three feet as the minimum passing distance
provides adequate space for bicyclists to safely travel on the road.
This legislation exempts cities of over 1 million or more as well as
makes
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2016
2017/18
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Shall take effect the 180th day after becoming law.
