Riding your bike is a great way to get around the city. It’s fast, efficient, and fun. Navigating the dynamic landscape of New York City can also be overwhelming.
As a cyclist, you must share the road with motorists, pedestrians, and other bike riders. Reckless car drivers are a danger to you, and you are a danger to pedestrians if you don’t ride carefully. That’s why there are cycling rules in place to help protect you and others while riding your bike.
Your first time riding a bike in New York City can be stressful but have no fear. Give yourself a strong foundation by becoming familiar with the laws and rules for cycling. Fancy Apple also has a great beginner’s guide full of tips and tricks to help you along the way.
Most of these laws and rules are common sense, but some are easy to break when you’re out in the real world. So always remember to keep a clear head, stay aware, and slow down when in doubt.
10 Laws and Rules of Cycling
Here are the top ten New York City laws and unwritten cycling rules that you need to know. Learn these rules of cycling like the back of your hand, and you’ll look like a pro in no time.
1. Wear a helmet when riding a bike
Adults aren’t legally required to wear a helmet while cycling in NYC unless they are delivery workers. However, wearing a helmet is a good rule to follow to ensure your safety.
New York City is a busy place full of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Even if you’re careful, accidents can happen. Protect yourself by wearing a helmet at all times, even if you’re taking a quick ride down the street.
2. Use hand signals
Cyclists must use hand signals when turning. Hand signals help drivers and pedestrians know where riders are going, making the road safer for everyone.
A cyclist must always indicate a left turn by fully extending their left arm at least 100 feet before the turn. When making a right turn, cyclists can signal the same way with their right arm or bend their left arm at a 90-degree angle.
3. Follow the rules of the road
Cyclists and motorists are subject to the same rules of the road. Riding a bike in New York City doesn’t make you above the law. You can still get pulled over by police or receive a traffic ticket for violating motorist laws or regulations, such as running stop signs while on your bike.
4. Be aware of pedestrian behavior
Do your best to be aware of and anticipate pedestrian behavior as you move through the city. The way pedestrians navigate their city can vary depending on the neighborhood, so pay attention to things like areas with high concentrations of tourists and transit hubs.
By paying attention to the way pedestrians move, you can prevent accidents. If a pedestrian gets hit by a bicycle, they can be seriously injured. Being in a rush is not worth it. No matter how frustrating, be patient and slow down.
5. The bike lane doesn’t always belong to you
Pedestrians always get the right of way. Period.
Do your best to always be alert. There are times when pedestrians will need to walk in the bike lane to cross the street. Unfortunately, there will also be times when pedestrians act recklessly, like popping into the bike lane behind a parked car or not looking up from their phones to cross the street.
It’s frustrating, but be patient. Be courteous and conscious of situations where cyclists need to give up ownership of the bike lane for safety reasons.
6. A bus stop sign or a tree is not your bike rack
It can be tempting to lock your bike to a bus sign pole or a tree when there’s limited bike parking, but it’s not the best choice.
If you lock your bike to a bus stop sign, you block pedestrian access to route maps and other important information. This can disproportionally affect older people and others who may not rely on smartphones to get around.
Locking your bike to a tree is another bad option because it puts your bike at risk of damage and theft. People cut down whole trees to steal bicycles! You also run the risk of dogs doing their business on your bike.
7. Don’t ride against traffic
One of the basic rules of cycling is to ride with traffic flow, not against it. It’s a New York City cycling law, so don’t do it. If caught riding against traffic, you can be pulled over and given a fine.
Sure, it’s tempting to go against traffic when in a hurry, but getting caught breaking the law isn’t worth it.
8. Don’t ride on the sidewalk
New York state doesn’t have a law against biking on sidewalks, but New York City does. It is illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk, and if caught, you can get a ticket and have your bike confiscated.
Of course, there are times when safety concerns or common sense require cyclists to ride on the sidewalk. If this happens, be courteous to pedestrians and ride with caution.
9. Your bike needs to meet the criteria to be legally used in NYC
You can lawfully ride most bikes on the streets of NYC, even a mountain bike. E-bikes and e-scooters are allowed in New York City as well. All Fancy Apple’s bikes for rent meet the criteria required to be street-legal in NYC.
The primary vehicles that don’t meet NYC criteria are ATVs, off-road mini bikes, go-karts, and dirt bikes.
10. Observe proper red light etiquette
Red light etiquette is one of the more important rules of the road. By following these rules, you’ll look like a veteran biker in New York City:
- Don’t speed through red lights. It is both dangerous and illegal.
- Don’t wait in the middle of the crosswalk. If you do, your bike will block pedestrians’ paths, and everyone will think you’re a jerk.
- Don’t skip the line and wait for the light in front of other cyclists who were there first. Trying to jump ahead of other cyclists like this is called “shoaling.”
- Don’t lazily ride around in circles in the middle of the street while waiting for the red light. Instead, just put your foot down and wait patiently.
Don’t make these rookie mistakes when it comes to red light etiquette, and you’ll be safely speeding through the streets in no time.
NYC Cycling Laws: Know Before You Go
Fancy Apple bike tours and rentals are here to give you the best cycling experience in New York City. Knowing the NYC cycling laws will make your next riding experience even more memorable and spectacular.
Keep these laws and unwritten rules of the road in mind next time you hop on a bike or e-bike, and have a blast!
FAQ:
Yes. Riding your bike on the sidewalk in New York City is illegal. You can get a ticket for up to $100, and police can confiscate your bike.
No-helmet tickets can be up to $100 in New York City.
Children under 14 are required to wear a bike helmet, and adults who work as delivery bikers. You can be ticketed in these instances for not wearing a helmet. Adults biking for fun are not required by law to wear a helmet, but it is highly recommended.
Yes and no. New York law says you cannot ride with two headphones in your ears. However, you can ride with one earbud in as long as you remain aware of your surroundings. If you decide to wear one headphone, use common sense and don’t get distracted.
Yes, but make sure you are riding safely with your child. Before you start biking with your baby or young child, make sure they are secure in their own bike seat or bicycle trailer. Also, make sure they are always wearing a helmet. NYC cycling laws state that riding with a child under 12 months is illegal.