Electric Bicycles & More:
Where you are allowed to ride and how you ride in NYC depends on the type of e-bike or vehicle you have. E-bikes and mopeds can look quite similar. Check the chart above to see what type you have.Mini-bikes, off-road motorcycles (dirt bikes), go-carts, and golf carts cannot be registered as vehicles in New York State and may not operate on sidewalks, streets, or highways.E-bikes and e-scooters in areas administered by NYC Parks need to comply with NYC Parks rules.Cyclists have all the rights and are subject to all of the duties and regulations applicable to drivers of motor vehicles.
- Ride in the street, not on the sidewalks (unless rider is age 12 or younger and the bicycle's wheels are less than 26 inches in diameter).
- Ride with traffic, not against it.
- Stop at red lights and stop signs. Obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings, and exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, motor vehicles or other cyclists. At red lights, wait for the green light and/or the bike or pedestrian signal.
- Go with the walk, unless there’s a bike signal or sign, cross the intersection when the pedestrian signal shows the "walk".
- Use marked bike lanes or paths when available, except when making turns or when it is unsafe to do so. If the road is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to travel safely side by side, you have the right to ride in the middle of the travel lane. Bicycling is permitted on all main and local streets throughout the City, even when no designated route exists.
- Use a white headlight and a red taillight, as well as a bell or horn and reflectors.
Bicyclists have all the rights and are subject to all the duties applicable to drivers of motor vehicles. This includes obeying all traffic signals, regulating signs and pavement markings. Bicycle riding is permitted on arterial and local streets throughout the City even though no designated route exists. Bicycle riding is prohibited on the roadways of certain bridges, expressways and highways. Often a separate path exists on these facilities for bicycles.
