New York Bicycle Laws

Required under age

Required under age 14

Applies to passengers

Yes

Standard

CPSC

Penalty

Civil fine of up to $50 against the parent or guardian; first offense may be waived on proof of helmet purchase. Children under one year old may not be carried as passengers at all.

Statute

¹

See our find your helmet size and kids bike sizing guide.

Statewide rule

Defers to local rules

Notes

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law does not address bicycles on sidewalks statewide; § 1231 applies the rules of the road to cyclists on roadways, leaving sidewalks to local control. New York City Administrative Code § 19-176 makes it unlawful for any person 14 or older to ride a bicycle (with wheels 26" or larger) on a sidewalk unless a sign expressly permits it; police may seize the bicycle and a civil penalty of up to $100 applies. Buffalo, Rochester, and most other major NY cities also restrict sidewalk riding in central business districts.

Statute

—

See our commuter bike sizing guide and bike fitting guide.

Applies to bicycles

No

Separate cycling DUI statute

No

BAC limit

—

Penalty

New York's DWI statute (VTL § 1192) applies only to operators of a 'motor vehicle' as defined in VTL § 125, which does not include bicycles. A cyclist cannot be charged with DWI in New York. Public-intoxication and disorderly-conduct charges under the Penal Law may still apply to a rider who poses a risk to themselves or others.

Statute

¹²

— Not yet researched.

Front light required

Yes

Front spec

White lamp on the front visible during darkness from a distance of at least 500 feet.

Rear requirement

Rear light only

Rear spec

Red or amber rear lamp visible from at least 300 feet (a passive reflector alone does not satisfy the statute - a lamp is required). Reflective tires, or a wide-angle spoke-mounted reflector on each wheel, are also required, and approved reflectors must be fitted on the front and back of each pedal of every new bicycle sold in the state.

Side reflectors

Yes

Pedal reflectors

Yes

When required

Darkness

Statute

¹

See our bike lights that meet the law and winter and low-light cycling setup.

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

Yes

Conditions

Two abreast permitted on the roadway. N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1234(b) limits riding to no more than two abreast, requires single file when being overtaken on roadways too narrow to share, and exempts paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

Statute

¹

Rule

One ear only

Statute

¹

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Bicycles are prohibited on New York State Interstate highways under NYSDOT controlled-access regulations and on the New York State Thruway (I-87, I-90), the Garden State and Cross-Westchester Expressways, and most NYC-area parkways. The Hudson River crossings have specific bicycle rules - see the Port Authority and MTA bicycle access pages for the Verrazzano-Narrows, George Washington, and Bear Mountain bridges. Conventional US and state routes (US-9, US-20, NY-9W) remain open.