Dear New Yorker,
In an ongoing effort to make our city's streets safer, the NYC Council passed a package of legislation yesterday aimed at strengthening enforcement and creating tougher safety standards for commercial bicyclists, which will help protect all New Yorkers, especially our seniors.
The first bill, Intro. 783 -A, sponsored by Council Member Vacca, is named after Stuart Gruskin who was tragically killed by a commercial bicyclist traveling the wrong way down a city street in 2009. Stuart's Law requires businesses employing commercial bicyclists to mandate that these employees take a bicycle safety course prior to their riding a bicycle on behalf of the business. The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) must also post the contents of the course on its website, which will include safe bicycle practices and the rules of the road.
The second bill, Intro. 896 -A, sponsored by Council Members Brewer, Vacca, Garodnick and Lappin, gives DOT the power to enforce the commercial bicycling laws, along with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), which already has this power. Better enforcement of these laws will mean safer streets for all New Yorkers.
The third bill, Intro. 683 -A, sponsored by Council Member Van Bramer, requires commercial cyclists to wear reflective vests, making them easier to see and identify, especially at night, when many deliveries occur.
Finally, Intro. 910 -A, sponsored by Council Members Vacca, Brewer, Garodnick and Lappin, will provide for tougher enforcement by setting civil penalties for any business that violate commercial bicycle laws. This includes businesses that fail to provide helmets and retro-reflective vests for their workers; that fail to provide proper bicycle and bicyclist identification; and that fail to post signs at the business site explaining the necessary laws and rules related to commercial bicyclists.
We want to thank all of our colleagues for their support passing this important package of bills.
New York is a city on the go, and we want to keep it that way - but we must do so safely.
If these bills are signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg and go into effect early next year, we'll be better able to work with DOT, the NYPD, and our local communities to help keep pedestrians safe and ensure that commercial cyclists are riding safely on our roads. Special thanks as well to all of the advocates who have been working with the Council to help make our city's streets safer for everyone. And to everyone who attended our hearings on these bills, provided testimony, and wrote to us about the ongoing bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns in their area, please know your actions had an impact and are making a difference.We look forward to continuing to work with all of you to help make our city's streets the safest they can be.
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
James Vacca
Chair, Transportation Committee
Lead Sponsor, Intros. 783-A, 896-A, & 910-A
NYC Council
Gale A. Brewer
Lead Sponsor, Intros. 896-A & 910-A
NYC Council
Jimmy Van Bramer
Lead Sponsor, Intro. 683-A
NYC Council
Daniel R. Garodnick
Lead Sponsor, Intros. 896-A & 910-A
NYC Council
Jessica S. Lappin
Lead Sponsor, Intros. 896-A & 910-A
NYC Council