A 4971: Establishes safety requirements for operators who use bicycles with electric assist for commercial purposes and the businesses that employ such operators.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4971 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 10, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN, HYNDMAN, GLICK, CUNNINGHAM, BRAUNSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing safety requirements for commercial bicycle operators and businesses The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new 2 section 1244 to read as follows: 3 § 1244. Bicycles with electric assist used for commercial purposes. 1. 4 For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the follow- 5 ing meanings: 6 (a) "commercial bicycle operator" shall mean an individual who is paid 7 to operate a bicycle with electric assist on behalf a business; and 8 (b) "business" shall mean a person, firm, partnership, joint venture, 9 association, corporation, or other entity that employs a commercial 10 bicycle operator. 11 2. A commercial bicycle operator shall: 12 (a) comply with all provisions of law pursuant to this article 13 pertaining to the operation of a bicycle including a bicycle with elec- 14 tric assist; 15 (b) use a white headlight and red taillight at night; 16 (c) wear retroreflective upper body apparel with the business's name 17 and such commercial bicycle operator's three-digit identification number 18 on the back in lettering at least one inch high; 19 (d) wear suitable headgear; and 20 (e) carry a business identification card at all times when riding on 21 behalf of the business, which includes the following information: 22 (i) the business's name, address and phone number; and 23 (ii) the commercial bicycle operator's name, photo and three-digit 24 identification number. 25 3. Any business that employs a commercial bicycle operator shall: EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00710-01-5 
 A. 4971 2 1 (a) assign to each of its commercial bicycle operators a three-digit 2 identification number and issue to each of its commercial bicycle opera- 3 tors an identification card that contains the name, identification 4 number and photo of the commercial bicycle operator and the name, 5 address and telephone number of such business; 6 (b) provide each commercial bicycle operator with suitable headgear. 7 Such headgear must meet the standards set forth by the consumer product 8 safety commission in part one thousand two hundred three of title 9 sixteen of the code of federal regulations and must be replaced at the 10 expense of the business if such headgear is missing any of its component 11 parts or is otherwise damaged so as to impair its functionality; 12 (c) maintain a roster of commercial bicycle operators that are 13 employed by such business which includes the following information: 14 (i) the name, residence address, date of employment and, where appli- 15 cable, the date of discharge from employment of each commercial bicycle 16 operator; 17 (ii) each commercial bicycle operator's unique three-digit identifica- 18 tion number; 19 (d) equip each commercial bicycle with electric assist with: 20 (i) a bell or other audible device; 21 (ii) a white headlight and a red taillight; 22 (iii) reflex reflectors; 23 (iv) brakes; and 24 (v) a metal or plastic sign in good condition at least three inches by 25 five inches with the business's name and a unique bicycle identification 26 number for each bicycle in lettering at least one inch high. The sign 27 must be affixed to the rear or both sides of the bicycle; and 28 (e) provide safety training. Such business shall provide a commercial 29 bicycle operator with a certificate of completion upon the completion of 30 such training. The curriculum of such training shall include, but not be 31 limited to: 32 (i) the laws governing the operation of bicycles; 33 (ii) appropriate traffic behavior and the laws governing such traffic 34 behavior; 35 (iii) identification and avoidance of hazards; 36 (iv) pedestrian and motor vehicle safety; 37 (v) bicycle safety inspection and maintenance; and 38 (vi) injury prevention. 39 4. A commercial bicycle operator who violates any provision of this 40 section shall be issued a notice of violation. The business that employs 41 such operator shall receive a fine of two hundred fifty dollars for the 42 first offense. For each subsequent offense such fine shall be increased 43 by fifty dollars. After the third offense, such fine shall be five 44 hundred dollars for each subsequent offense. 45 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 46 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or 47 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of 48 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed 49 on or before such effective date.