S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4261
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 31, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM  -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
   training courses for operators of bicycles with  electric  assist  and
   electric scooters and for operators of bicycles

   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.  BICYCLE  WITH  ELECTRIC ASSIST AND ELECTRIC SCOOTER TRAINING
 COURSE. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A MANDATORY TWO-HOUR BICYCLE
 WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST AND ELECTRIC SCOOTER TRAINING COURSE, AVAILABLE  IN
 PERSON AND ONLINE.
   2.  TOPICS  COVERED  IN  SUCH  COURSE  SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE
 LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) TRAFFIC LAWS GOVERNING BICYCLES WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST AND  ELECTRIC
 SCOOTERS; AND
   (B)  THE  SAFE OPERATION OF BICYCLES WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST AND ELECTRIC
 SCOOTERS.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PERMIT SUCH TRAINING COURSE TO BE GIVEN BY ANY
 PRIVATE PERSON, CLUB, ASSOCIATION OR MUNICIPALITY WHICH MEETS  STANDARDS
 ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   4. NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE PERMITTED TO PURCHASE ANY BICYCLE WITH ELEC-
 TRIC  ASSIST  OR  ELECTRIC SCOOTER WITHOUT REGISTERING FOR SUCH TRAINING
 COURSE. EVERY SELLER OF BICYCLES WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST OR ELECTRIC SCOOT-
 ERS SHALL REQUIRE ANY PURCHASER TO REGISTER FOR SUCH TRAINING COURSE  AT
 THE  TIME  OF  PURCHASE  PRIOR TO TAKING POSSESSION OF SUCH BICYCLE WITH
 ELECTRIC ASSIST OR ELECTRIC SCOOTER.
   5. AN OWNER OF A BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST OR AN ELECTRIC  SCOOTER,
 POSSESSED  PRIOR  TO  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, SHALL COMPLETE
 SUCH TRAINING COURSE WITHIN ONE YEAR  OF  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06523-01-5
              

 A. 4261                             2
 
 SECTION  AND  SHALL  HAVE PROOF OF COMPLETION OF SUCH TRAINING COURSE ON
 THEIR PERSON WHEN OPERATING SUCH BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST  OR  ELEC-
 TRIC SCOOTER.
   §  2.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
 1245 to read as follows:
   § 1245. BICYCLE TRAINING COURSE. 1. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ESTABLISH
 AN  OPTIONAL  BICYCLE  TRAINING COURSE TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR ALL BICYCLE
 USERS.
   2. TOPICS COVERED IN SUCH COURSE  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  SHALL  NOT  BE
 LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) THE LAWS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF BICYCLES;
   (B)  APPROPRIATE  TRAFFIC BEHAVIOR AND THE LAWS GOVERNING SUCH TRAFFIC
 BEHAVIOR;
   (C) IDENTIFICATION AND AVOIDANCE OF HAZARDS;
   (D) PEDESTRIAN AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY;
   (E) BICYCLE SAFETY INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE; AND
   (F) INJURY PREVENTION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.