The complete guide to riding a bike in new york city. The state of new york does not allow registration of electric bikes. Keep chains clean and lubricated and periodically inspect brake pads. Current bike maps and information on citi bike and safe biking can be found on the city department of transportations bicyclists website. Whether youre an experienced rider or new to urban cycling, here are a few simple tips to help you feel more comfortable and confident. Bike new york is a notforprofit organization that promotes cycling as a practical, sustainable, and healthy means of transportation and recreation. Bike riding in new york city draws many to the streets en masse for its efficiency, excercise and excitement. Before riding at night, ask someone to help you check your visibility to motorists. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles or skating or gliding on inline skates. Wear an approved helmet if age one through years old. Safety tips new york state department of transportation. Leaning the bike frame toward the ground in the center of the loop with the wheels touching the ground just above the wire cut may help. Most importantly, bicyclists must obey and are protected by the rules of the road.
The helmet must conform to the standard established by the american national standard. Welcome to biking rules, your guide to cycling in new york city, brought to you by transportation alternatives biking rules is a new street code for nyc cyclists, following the simple principle that our responsibility to others on the street increases in relation to our potential to cause harm. The ny vehicle and traffic law does not expressly regulate sidewalk bicycling. Read this guide to nyc bicycle laws and youll be ready to explore. These highlights only cover statewide laws and are not comprehensive. Riding closer to the center of the lane also makes you more visible to motorists who may cross your path at driveways and intersections, and keeps you away. Ride in the street, not on the sidewalks unless rider is age 12 or younger and the bicycles wheels are less than 26 inches in diameter. Visit the website for all you need to know about biking around the big apple. Crosswalks leave crosswalks free and clear for safe walking.
This section equips the cyclist with all he or she needs to master the new york city streets on a bike. Where there is none, the bicyclist must ride near the right curb or edge of the road. Welcome to biking rules, your guide to cycling in new york city, brought to you by transportation alternatives. The leagues ride smart program also is a great resource for educational videos, classes, tips and other information about bike safety. We offer free bike education programs throughout the five. Download bike smart in english, arabic, bengali, chinese, haitian creole, italian, korean, polish, russian or spanish. Helmets are required for all riders on any motorized device or. About an hours drive east of downtown, laguna mountain sits at 6,000 feet above the sea on the edge of. A bicycle driven on public highways must be equipped with adequate brakes and a horn or bell that can be heard at least 100 feet 30 m away. Every person riding a bicycle or skating or gliding on inline skates 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 by this title. Bikes are subject to all the rules and rights of cars vtl 1231 bicyclists are granted all of the rights and are subject to all of the duties of the driver of a motor vehicle. A bicycle used at night must have a headlight visible from at least 500 feet 150 m ahead and a red taillight visible from at least 300 feet 90 m behind. Winter cycling can be some of the most scenic, refreshing and adventurous of the year, whether youre riding your own bike or using new york citys bike share system. New york city is currently pursuing a public bike share program of its own, with the goal of empowering new yorkers with a new option on the menu of transportation methods available in new york city.
Make sure that quick release wheels are properly secured. Riding closer to the center of the lane also makes you. Dont get distracted dont listen to music or talk on the phone while riding. The rules that dot is seeking to amend are contained within chapters 3 and 4 of title 34. The health benefits of cycling bike rental central park. Bike new yorks youth programs offer existing afterschool and summer programs free bike education experiences for their students, including a variety of single and multiweek sessions made to get kids excited about riding in their city. If the reason for your nerves is that you never learned how to ride a bike, you are in luck. Book your bike tours online for up to 80% off our regular price. Online superstars type more than ride time worrying about online arguments is time you could spend on the bike. To help foster a safe and polite bike riding culture, weve created the biking rules safety campaign. Bicycle safety tips intended to minimize crashes and injuries while bicycling include.
We need your help in making this street code catch on. You have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. He also writes for the new york bike forecast for transportation alternatives, a daily resource for new york city cyclists, and is the author of bike snob, bike snob abroad, the enlightened cyclist, and the ultimate bicycle owners manual. The 15 unwritten rules of nyc bike riding youre probably breaking. About bike rental central park faq central park location nyc bike rules our. However, ny general municipal law section 1806 states that ny municipalities can regulate bike riding on sidewalks. The state of new york ny defines an electric bike as a bike with a small motor attached. August 5, 2017 nyc bicycling short woman gets annoyed at me when shes in the bike lane. New york has the best bike shops, the prettiest routes and citi bikes, of course. New york city and updated bike maps can be downloaded at nyc dots bicycle maps page. Often a separate path exists on these facilities for bicycles. Obey any local laws or regulations concerning helmet use for adults. Rent your bike today and get discounts bike rental. Choose your tour explore a variety of nyc bike tours, ranging from central park to brooklyn.
No person shall ride a bicycle in any park, except in places designated for bike riding. Look for the rules of the road, bike riding safety tips for new york city riding, cycling maps of the five boroughs and more. Do a quick bicycle test check your brakes and your wheels. Bike riding safety video nhtsa how bikeable is your community. Bicycle riding is prohibited on the roadways of certain bridges, expressways and highways. Free online motorcycle license permit practice test for the state of new york. Jul 08, 2016 new york city biking rules, by bike rent nyc. Traffic rules are applicable to bicycles and their operators. Pedestrians rule pedestrians always have the right of way. Have an expert guide you through central park on a bike tour. To improve the visibility of the motorcyclist, we recommend that helmets have at least four square inches of reflective material on both sides.
Have the freedom to explore all new york city has to offer aboard a hopon hopoff tour bus tour, available with downtown and uptown. The commissioner of the new york city department of transportation dot is authorized to issue rules regarding parking and traffic operations in the city pursuant to section 2903a of the new york city charter. Nyc biking rules of the road new york city bike shop. Always wear your helmet bicyclists 14 years old and younger are required to wear a helmet when operating a bicycle. Obey traffic signs and signals bicycles must follow the rules of the road like other vehicles always wear your helmet bicyclists 14 years old and younger are required to wear a helmet when operating a bicycle. Wear bright, highly visible clothing, preferably with reflective tape or patches. Biking rules is a new street code for nyc cyclists, following the simple principle that our responsibility to others on the street increases in relation to our potential to cause harm. Nyc dot distributes up to 325,000 copies per year of the new york city bike map, which contains the most important rules of the road highlighted in the bike smart guide. Nyc bike riding rules and laws bike rental central park.
The following information highlights areas of law that may minimize that risk and have the potential to reduce conflicts between bikes and cars and other traffic. One of these lights must also be visible from at least 200 feet 60 m away on each side. Bicycle riding is permitted on arterial and local streets throughout the city even though no designated route exists. Nyc is a fast moving city, and so knowing where to ride and how will keep you safe. Jul 25, 2017 why riding a bike to school is often illegal. Wrongway cycling is a leading cause of car bike crashes.
The leagues five rules of the road prepare you for safe and fun bicycling no matter where youre riding. This translation application tool is provided for purposes of information and convenience only. Every youth class is free and open to the public with bikes provided part of our mission to help new yorkers of all ages experience the joy and freedom of cycling. Central park, or brooklyn bridge bike ride or tour. Cyclists have all the rights and are subject to all of the duties and regulations applicable to drivers of motor vehicles. American bicyclist 17 ooks, not bicycles, comprise. Ny vehicle and traffic law vtl 1231 traffic laws apply to persons riding. A bike in the crosswalk can take up as much space as a car.
Every two or three wheeled device upon which a person or persons may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, a chain or gears, with such wheels in a tandem or tricycle, exceptthatitshall notincludesuch a device having solid tires and intended for use only on. Bicycle habitat is your source for cycling knowledge in the new york city area. A nervous bikers guide to cycling in new york city the. So, when youre biking anywhere in the city, including central park, bicycle rules are important to help you enjoy and stay safe. Read up on these three simplified, allinclusive sections on the laws that pertain to you as a rider in new york city. They cannot require that bicyclists use a sidewalk instead of a public roadway, but they can impose limits to sidewalk bicycling. With biking rules, nyc cyclists are taking the lead to create safer, saner streets.
While riding a bicycle on a sidewalk is not prohibited by new york statutes. Roadway position explained 5a any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the righthand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations. The rules that dot amends are contained within chapters 3 and 4 of title 34 of the rules of the city of new york, relating to its. Rent your bike today and get discounts bike rental central. For many cyclists, the arrival of winter marks the end of their season. Oct 10, 2018 the complete guide to riding a bike in new york city. Avoid busy roads and peak traffic times on your route. Safe bicycling in new york city bicyclists have all. So if you are thinking about getting on a bike in nyc, whether on your own wheels or on a citi bike, here are 15 rules to keep you and those around you safe, legal, and from drawing the ire of. Essential tips for what, when, where, and how to ride in the big city. For a download of all these laws, check out transportation alternatives biking rules. Cycle along scenic paths at a casual pace as you see many famous landmarks and attractions. Obey traffic signs and signals bicycles must follow the rules of the road like other vehicles. One of the primary benefits of riding a bike is the workout that it provides.
An interactive online bike map is available through ride the city. Fortunately, cycling is an activity that one can return to with relative ease, as most people who know how to ride a bike can quickly get back into the habit, even if they havent been on one in several months or years. A summary of ny state bike laws new york bicycling coalition. A class is a 2hour bike education session that teaches young cyclists the basics of riding a bike. Winning awards and gaining millions of viewers, has become an online cycling mecca. If you will be riding in an unfamiliar area, check out local laws and rules first. About bike rental central park faq central park location nyc bike rules our guides 212 664 9600 212 664 9600. You can drive a motorcycle in new york if you are a resident of another state or country and have a valid. Whether youre an avid mountain bicyclist, a road bike warrior, or a breezy beach cruiser, there are plenty of paths, trails and roads in san diego to explore on two wheels. The rules that dot is amending are contained within chapter 4 of title 34 of the rules of the city of new york, relating to the traffic rules and. A nervous bikers guide to cycling in new york city. With more than 1,000 miles of bike lanes, cycling in the city is more convenient and safe than ever. To operate a motorcycle in new york state, you must have a motorcycle operators license class m or a motorcycle junior operators license class mj.