A 5608: Requires commuter bicyclists to complete a bicycle safety course; directs the commissioner to initiate and put into effect curriculum for such course.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5608 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 18, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN, BURDICK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LEVENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transporta- tion AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring commuter bicyclists to complete a bicycle safety course 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. Commuter bicyclists. 1. Any person using a bicycle as a prima- 4 ry method of transportation to and from their place of employment shall 5 complete and pass a bicycle safety course. 6 2. (a) The commissioner shall initiate and put into effect such bicy- 7 cle safety course, the curriculum of which shall include, but not be 8 limited to: 9 (i) the laws governing the operation of bicycles; 10 (ii) appropriate traffic behavior and the laws governing such traffic 11 behavior; 12 (iii) identification and avoidance of hazards; 13 (iv) pedestrian and motor vehicle safety; 14 (v) bicycle safety inspection and maintenance; and 15 (vi) injury prevention. 16 (b) In developing such curriculum, the commissioner shall consult with 17 the commissioner of transportation, the superintendent of the state 18 police, the commissioners of transportation and police of the city of 19 New York, medical professionals and bicycle safety advocates. 20 3. The commissioner is authorized, at such commissioner's discretion, 21 to develop a method for approving internet-based bicycle safety courses 22 as an appropriate and effective method for the administration and 23 completion of training in the safe operation of bicycles, for the 24 purposes of awarding a bicycle safety certificate pursuant to this EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09165-01-5 
 A. 5608 2 1 section. All approved internet-based bicycle safety courses shall employ 2 methods to ensure attendance of the student throughout the course. 3 4. The commissioner is authorized and directed to establish a system 4 for tracking and replacing bicycle safety certificates issued by the 5 commissioner. The commissioner is further authorized to require that any 6 other entity approved by the commissioner to provide courses of instruc- 7 tion and award bicycle safety certificates establish a system for track- 8 ing and replacing bicycle safety certificates so as to enable the 9 replacement of lost or stolen certificates to those who have previously 10 been awarded such certificates. 11 5. Such safety course may be taken on or after the effective date of 12 this section but shall be taken no later than one year after such effec- 13 tive date or one year after a person subject to the provisions of this 14 section begins using a bicycle as a primary method of transportation, 15 whichever is later. 16 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 17 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 18 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 19 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 20 completed on or before such effective date.