NY State Senate Bill 2015-S4640

Senate Bill S4640

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Provides that bicycle operators and the businesses working as an independent contractor with such operators shall be liable for such operator's violation of the law

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cities Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to cities
Jun 09, 2015	reported and committed to rules
Apr 01, 2015	referred to cities

Votes

- Jun 9, 2015 - Committee Vote
  S4640
  
  4
  
  Aye
  
  1
  
  Nay
  
  2
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Committee Vote: Jun 9, 2015
      
      aye (4)
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Lanza
      
      Ortt
      
      Squadron
      
      nay (1)
      
      Funke
      
      aye wr (2)
      
      Peralta
      
      Savino

co-Sponsors

2015-S4640 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7021
Current Committee:: Senate Cities
Law Section:: New York City Administrative Code
Laws Affected:: Amd §§10-157 & 19-176, NYC Ad Cd
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S4528, A407
2011-2012: S419, A5587
2013-2014: S3461, A224
2017-2018: S5021, A8593
2019-2020: S4243, A7461
2021-2022: S3095
2023-2024: S4394

2015-S4640 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that bicycle operators and the businesses affiliated with such operators shall be liable for such operator's failure to carry an identification card or certain other violations regarding the use of a bicycle for commercial purposes; changes violations for the failure to carry an identification card or certain other violation procedures and fines by a commercial bicycle operator.

2015-S4640 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S4640

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the administrative code of the city of
New York, in relation to the use of bicycles for commercial purposes

PURPOSE:

To provide that businesses using bicycles for commercial purposes in
the city of New York shall be responsible for certain traffic
infractions of bicycle operators riding on their behalf. Also to
provide that motor-assisted bicycles are not permitted to be ridden on
sidewalks in the city of New York.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill designates it as the "Commercial Bicycle Safety
Act."

Section 2 of the bill amends section 10-157 of the Administrative Code
to facilitate enforcement of traffic laws with respect to businesses
using a bicycle for commercial purposes.

Subdivision a of section 10-157 is amended to make changes to the
definition of "bicycle" and "business using a bicycle for commercial
purposes," and to define "bicycle operator" for purposes of section
10157.

Subdivisions b through f, h, and i of section 10-157 are amended to
make various minor changes.

Subdivision g creates an affirmative defense to a business using a
bicycle fox commercial purposes if such business contracted with a
bicycle operator to provide delivery services.

Section 3 of the bill amends paragraph one of subdivision a of Section
19-176 of the administrative code of the city of New York to include
motor-assisted bicycles within the definition of "bicycle" for the
purpose of prohibiting bicycle riding on sidewalks.

Section 4 of the bill sets forth the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Bicycles are frequently used for commercial purposes in parts of the
city of New York, especially to make deliveries. While this can be an
efficient means of providing services to customers, many bicycle
operators working on behalf of businesses fail to follow basic traffic
laws, such as obeying traffic signals, and one way signs, and avoiding
riding on sidewalks. The city of New York has taken steps to improve
safety and compliance with the law, to protect pedestrians and the
bicycle operators themselves. These steps include local laws to make
commercial cyclists, and the businesses on whose behalf they ride more
clearly identifiable, requirements of reflective clothing and safety
features on bicycles, and training by city staff to promote
compliance.


However, success in addressing safety concerns has been limited by the
simple fact that businesses often put a premium on making deliveries
as quickly as possible and have little incentive to ensure that
bicycle operators working on their behalf follow traffic laws or avoid
reckless behavior. By assigning penalties to businesses using bicycles
for commercial purposes when bicycle operators violate certain traffic
laws, this bill will give authorities in the city the tools needed to
address this problem.

FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

Some increased revenue for the city of New York through better
collection of penalties.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the one hundred fiftieth day after it
shall have become a law.

2015-S4640 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  4640

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              April 1, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities

AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the  city  of  New  York,  in
  relation to the use of bicycles for commercial purposes

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Commercial
Bicycle Safety Act".
  S 2. Section 10-157 of the administrative code  of  the  city  of  New
York,  as amended by local law number 56 of the city of New York for the
year 2012, paragraph 3 of subdivision e as added by local law number  54
of  the  city  of  New York for the year 2012, subdivision i as added by
local law number 52 of the city of New York for the year 2012,  subdivi-
sion  j  as added by local law number 55 of the city of New York for the
year 2012, and subdivision k as added by local law number 41 of the city
of New York for the year 2013, is amended to read as follows:
  S 10-157 Bicycles used for commercial purposes.  a.  For  purposes  of
this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
  (1) "bicycle" shall have the same meaning as in section 19-176 of this
code,  and  shall  also mean any wheeled device propelled exclusively by
human power as well as any motor-assisted device that is not capable  of
being registered by the New York state department of motor vehicles;
  (2)  "business  using  a bicycle for commercial purposes" shall mean a
person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association,  corporation,  or
other  entity  which  engages  in  the course of its business, either on
behalf of itself or others, in  delivering  packages,  parcels,  papers,
FOOD,  GROCERIES,  or articles of any type by bicycle. Nothing contained
in this section shall be construed as applying to persons under the  age
of  sixteen who use a bicycle only to deliver daily newspapers or circu-
lars[.];

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03347-01-5

S. 4640                             2

  (3) "BICYCLE OPERATOR" SHALL MEAN A PERSON  WHO  RIDES  A  BICYCLE  ON
BEHALF  OF A BUSINESS USING A BICYCLE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, AND IS AN
EMPLOYEE OF SUCH BUSINESS OR RECEIVES  DIRECT  COMPENSATION  OR  PAYMENT
FROM SUCH BUSINESS AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
  b.  A  business  using a bicycle for commercial purposes shall provide
identification of such business by requiring every bicycle to be identi-
fied by affixing to the rear of each bicycle, bicycle seat or both sides
of the delivery basket, a metal or plastic sign measuring no  less  than
three inches by five inches, with the name of [the] SUCH business and an
identification number unique to that particular bicycle in lettering and
numerals no less than one inch in height so as to be plainly readable at
a distance of not less than ten feet and maintaining same in good condi-
tion thereon. A sign is no longer in good condition if it is missing any
of its component parts or is otherwise damaged so as to impair its func-
tionality.
  c.  Every business using a bicycle for commercial purposes must assign
to every bicycle operator [employed by  such  business]  a  three  digit
identification  number. Such business must issue to every bicycle opera-
tor an identification card which contains the name,  three  digit  iden-
tification  number  and  photo  of  the  bicycle  operator and the name,
address and telephone number of [the] SUCH business [by which the  bicy-
cle  operator  is  employed]. Such business shall ensure that such iden-
tification card is carried by the bicycle operator  while  such  bicycle
operator  is  making deliveries, or otherwise riding a bicycle on behalf
of the business, and such bicycle operator shall carry such  identifica-
tion card while [operating] RIDING a bicycle on behalf of such business.
Such  bicycle  operator shall be required to produce such identification
upon the demand of an authorized employee of the  police  department  or
department of transportation or any other person authorized by law.
  d.  Every business using a bicycle for commercial purposes shall main-
tain a roster of EVERY bicycle  [operators  employed  by]  OPERATOR  WHO
RIDES  A  BICYCLE  ON BEHALF OF such business. Such roster shall include
the name and place of residence address of every [employee  operating  a
bicycle  on behalf of such business] SUCH BICYCLE OPERATOR, the date [of
employment and discharge of each such] SUCH BICYCLE OPERATOR BEGINS  AND
ENDS  RIDING A BICYCLE ON BEHALF OF SUCH BUSINESS WHETHER AS AN employee
OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, every such  [employee's]  BICYCLE  OPERATOR'S
three  digit  identification number, and whether such [employee] BICYCLE
OPERATOR has completed the bicycle safety course required  by  paragraph
[3]  THREE  of  subdivision e of this section. The owner of any business
using a bicycle for commercial purposes shall be responsible  for  main-
taining  such roster. Such roster shall be made available for inspection
during regular and usual business hours or any other  [such]  time  that
such  entity is open for business upon request of an authorized employee
of the police department or department of transportation  or  any  other
person authorized by law.
  e.  (1)  The  owner  of  any  business  using a bicycle for commercial
purposes shall provide, at its own expense, protective headgear suitable
for each bicycle operator. Such headgear shall:
  (i) meet the standards  set  forth  by  the  consumer  product  safety
commission in title 16, part 1203 of the code of federal regulations;
  (ii) be readily available at each site of the business using a bicycle
for commercial purposes for use by each bicycle operator; and
  (iii)  be  replaced  if  such headgear is no longer in good condition.
Headgear is no longer in good condition if it  is  missing  any  of  its

S. 4640                             3

component parts or is otherwise damaged so as to impair its functionali-
ty.
  (2)  Each  bicycle  operator shall wear protective headgear that meets
the requirements of paragraph [1] ONE of this subdivision  while  making
deliveries  or otherwise operating a bicycle on behalf of such business.
The term "wear such  protective  headgear"  means  having  the  headgear
fastened securely upon the head with the headgear straps.
  (3)  Each  bicycle  operator  shall  be required to complete a bicycle
safety course. For purposes of this  section,  "bicycle  safety  course"
shall  mean  information  provided  by the department of transportation,
regarding safe bicycling and adherence to traffic and commercial bicycle
laws. Such requirement shall include, but not be limited to, the follow-
ing:
  (i) Each bicycle operator shall complete a bicycle safety course prior
to operating a bicycle on behalf of  a  business  using  a  bicycle  for
commercial purposes;
  (ii) Each business using a bicycle for commercial purposes shall indi-
cate  on  the  roster required to be maintained by subdivision d of this
section that each bicycle  operator  [employed  by  such  business]  has
completed such bicycle safety course;
  (iii)  The  owner  of  any  business  using  a  bicycle for commercial
purposes shall ensure that all bicycle operators [employed by such busi-
ness] shall complete such bicycle safety course  prior  to  operating  a
bicycle on behalf of such business, shall maintain records of such oper-
ators'  completion  of  such  bicycle safety course, and shall make such
records available for inspection during regular business  hours  or  any
other time such business is open for business upon request of an author-
ized  employee  of the police department or department of transportation
or any other person authorized by law; and
  (iv) The commissioner of transportation shall post on  the  department
of  transportation's  website  the  content of the bicycle safety course
required by this section  on  or  before  the  effective  date  of  this
section.
  f.  The owner of any business using a bicycle for commercial purposes,
notwithstanding that a bicycle may be provided by [an employee  thereof]
A  BICYCLE  OPERATOR,  shall  provide at its own expense and ensure that
each bicycle is equipped with a lamp; a bell or other device capable  of
giving  an  audible signal from a distance of at least one hundred feet,
provided however that a siren or whistle  shall  not  be  used;  brakes;
reflective  tires  or,  alternately,  a  reflex reflector mounted on the
spokes of each wheel; as well as other devices or material in accordance
with section [1236] TWELVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX of the vehicle and traffic
law.
  g. Any business using a  bicycle  for  commercial  purposes  shall  be
responsible  for  the  compliance  with  the provisions of this section,
SECTION 19-176 OF THIS CODE, AND SECTIONS ELEVEN HUNDRED ELEVEN,  ELEVEN
HUNDRED  TWENTY-SEVEN,  TWELVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX, TWELVE HUNDRED FORTY,
AND TWELVE HUNDRED FORTY-ONE OF THE  VEHICLE  AND  TRAFFIC  LAW  of  any
[employees]  BICYCLE  OPERATORS it shall retain. Violation of any of the
provisions of this section by any such business, or of any of the  rules
or  regulations  that  may  be  promulgated  pursuant hereto, shall be a
violation triable by a judge of the criminal court of the  city  of  New
York  and  upon  conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not
less than one hundred dollars [nor] AND NOT more than two hundred  fifty
dollars  [or  imprisonment  for  not more than fifteen days or both such
fine and imprisonment]. In addition, any business using  a  bicycle  for

S. 4640                             4

commercial  purposes that violates any of the provisions of this section
or any of the rules promulgated pursuant hereto shall be  subject  to  a
civil  penalty of one hundred dollars. Any such business that violates a
provision  of this section or rule promulgated pursuant hereto more than
thirty days AND NOT MORE THAN TWO YEARS after such business has  already
violated  the  same  provision or rule shall be subject to an additional
civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars.  Such civil penalties may be
in addition to any criminal penalty imposed, and  shall  be  recoverable
against  such business in an action or proceeding in any court or tribu-
nal of competent jurisdiction or the environmental control  board.    IT
SHALL  BE  AN  AFFIRMATIVE  DEFENSE  TO A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION BY A
PERSON, FIRM, PARTNERSHIP, JOINT VENTURE, ASSOCIATION,  CORPORATION,  OR
OTHER  ENTITY AS TO ANY PROVISION APPLICABLE TO A BUSINESS USING A BICY-
CLE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, THAT SUCH PERSON OR ENTITY DID  NOT  EMPLOY
OR  PROVIDE  DIRECT  COMPENSATION  TO  A  BICYCLE  OPERATOR,  BUT RATHER
CONTRACTED WITH A BUSINESS OTHER THAN SUCH BICYCLE OPERATOR  TO  PROVIDE
DELIVERY SERVICES.
  h. Any [person who makes deliveries or otherwise] BICYCLE OPERATOR WHO
operates  a bicycle [on behalf of a business using a bicycle for commer-
cial purposes] without carrying  the  identification  sign  required  by
subdivision  b  of  this  section or without carrying the identification
card required by subdivision c of this section or who fails  to  produce
such  identification  sign or card upon demand pursuant to such subdivi-
sions, or who fails to wear protective headgear required by  subdivision
e  of  this section or the retro-reflective apparel required by subdivi-
sion i of this section, shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and upon
conviction thereof shall be liable for a fine of not less  than  twenty-
five  dollars  nor  more  than fifty dollars. It shall be an affirmative
defense to such traffic infraction that such business  did  not  provide
the  protective  headgear,  the  identification  or the retro-reflective
apparel required by subdivisions b, c, e or  i  of  this  section.  Such
traffic infraction may be adjudicated by such an administrative tribunal
as is authorized under article two-A of the vehicle and traffic law.
  i.  A  business  using a bicycle for commercial purposes shall provide
for and require each bicycle operator [employed  by  such  business]  to
wear  and each such bicycle operator shall wear a retro-reflective jack-
et, vest, or other wearing apparel on the upper part of such  operator's
body  as  the  outermost  garment  while making deliveries, or otherwise
riding a bicycle on behalf of such business, the  back  of  which  shall
indicate  such  business'  name  and  such bicycle operator's individual
identification number as assigned pursuant  to  subdivision  c  of  this
section in lettering and numerals not less than one inch in height so as
to be plainly readable at a distance of not less than ten feet.
  j.  The  provisions of this section shall be enforceable by an author-
ized employee of the police department or department  of  transportation
or any other person authorized by law.
  k.  A  business  using  a  bicycle  for  commercial purposes shall not
possess any motorized scooter and shall not permit any employee of  such
business to operate such a motorized scooter on behalf of such business.
A  business  using a bicycle for commercial purposes shall be liable for
any violation of SUBDIVISION B OF section  19-176.2[(b)]  of  this  code
committed by an employee of such business while such employee is operat-
ing a motorized scooter on behalf of such business. For purposes of this
section,  "motorized scooter" shall be as defined in section 19-176.2 of
this code.

S. 4640                             5

  S 3. Paragraph 1 of subdivision a of section 19-176 of the administra-
tive code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 6 of the
city of New York for the year 1996, is amended to read as follows:
  (1)  The  term "bicycle" shall mean a 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, AND
SHALL ALSO MEAN ANY WHEELED MOTOR-ASSISTED  DEVICE  WHICH  A  PERSON  OR
PERSONS MAY RIDE THAT IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING REGISTERED BY THE NEW YORK
STATE  DEPARTMENT  OF  MOTOR  VEHICLES, except that it shall not include
such a device having solid tires and intended for use only on a sidewalk
by a child.
  S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred fiftieth day  after
it shall have become a law.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S4640

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Liz Krueger