S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1800
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 23, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 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:

   Section  1.  The  vehicle  and  traffic law is amended by adding a new
 section 1244 to read as follows:
   § 1244. COMMUTER BICYCLISTS. 1. ANY PERSON USING A BICYCLE AS A PRIMA-
 RY METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT  SHALL
 COMPLETE AND PASS A BICYCLE SAFETY COURSE.
   2.  (A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL INITIATE AND PUT INTO EFFECT SUCH BICY-
 CLE SAFETY COURSE, THE CURRICULUM OF WHICH SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED TO:
   (I) THE LAWS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF BICYCLES;
   (II)  APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC BEHAVIOR AND THE LAWS GOVERNING SUCH TRAFFIC
 BEHAVIOR;
   (III) IDENTIFICATION AND AVOIDANCE OF HAZARDS;
   (IV) PEDESTRIAN AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY;
   (V) BICYCLE SAFETY INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE; AND
   (VI) INJURY PREVENTION.
   (B) IN DEVELOPING SUCH CURRICULUM, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSULT WITH
 THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION,  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  THE  STATE
 POLICE,  THE  COMMISSIONERS  OF TRANSPORTATION AND POLICE OF THE CITY OF
 NEW YORK, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND BICYCLE SAFETY ADVOCATES.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED, AT HIS OR HER DISCRETION, TO DEVEL-
 OP A METHOD FOR APPROVING INTERNET-BASED BICYCLE SAFETY  COURSES  AS  AN
 APPROPRIATE  AND  EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND COMPLETION
 OF TRAINING IN THE SAFE OPERATION  OF  BICYCLES,  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF
 AWARDING  A  BICYCLE  SAFETY  CERTIFICATE  PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. ALL

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06027-01-3
 A. 1800                             2
              

 
 APPROVED INTERNET-BASED BICYCLE SAFETY COURSES SHALL EMPLOY  METHODS  TO
 ENSURE ATTENDANCE OF THE STUDENT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.
   4.  THE  COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM
 FOR TRACKING AND REPLACING BICYCLE SAFETY  CERTIFICATES  ISSUED  BY  THE
 COMMISSIONER. THE COMMISSIONER IS FURTHER AUTHORIZED TO REQUIRE THAT ANY
 OTHER ENTITY APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO PROVIDE COURSES OF INSTRUC-
 TION AND AWARD BICYCLE SAFETY CERTIFICATES ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FOR TRACK-
 ING  AND  REPLACING  BICYCLE  SAFETY  CERTIFICATES  SO  AS TO ENABLE THE
 REPLACEMENT OF LOST OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES TO THOSE WHO HAVE  PREVIOUSLY
 BEEN AWARDED SUCH CERTIFICATES.
   5.  SUCH  SAFETY COURSE MAY BE TAKEN ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
 THIS SECTION BUT SHALL BE TAKEN NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER SUCH EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OR ONE YEAR AFTER A PERSON SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 SECTION  BEGINS  USING  A BICYCLE AS A PRIMARY METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION,
 WHICHEVER IS LATER.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.