THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO

Cycling in NYC

nyc.gov/bikes
nyc.gov/bikes
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 About Bike Smart
It’s never been better to
ride a bike in NYC!
With more than 1,000 miles of bike facilities
citywide and an expanding Citi Bike fleet, travel on
two wheels is safe, easy, convenient and fun.

This guide contains everything you need to know to

ride around town, ranging from basic tips for locking
your bike to how to use the latest bike infrastructure.

Please pay particular attention to the explanations

for safe riding. Our Vision Zero effort to lower traffic
fatalities and injuries includes understanding the
causes of collisions. Crashes are preventable. 89% of
cyclist fatalities occur at intersections. Knowing how
to safely turn, keep clear of large vehicle blind spots
and ride predictably will help you protect yourself.

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 GENERAL TIPS PAGE
NYC Biking Laws 4-5
Safety Tips 6
Helmets in NYC 7
Look for Those Who Cannot See You 8
Biking with Children 9
GETTING AROUND
Bike Facilities 10-11
Navigating City Streets 12
Don't Get "Doored" 13
Read the Road 14
Mixing Zones 15
Biking Near Large Vehicles 16
Signal Your Intent 17
TURNING
Turns: Vehicular Style 18
Turns: Pedestrian Style 19
Turns: Using a Bike Box 20
BIKE STORAGE
Locking Your Bike 21
Bring Your Bike Inside 22
NYC Bike Resouces 23

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 NYC BIKING LAWS
Exercise caution and
yield to pedestrians
Tenga precaución y cédale el
paso a los peatones
加倍注意给行人让路

Stop at all red lights

and stop signs
Deténgase en las luces rojas
del semáforo y las señales de pare (STOP)
在號誌轉為紅燈後和 STOP (暫時停車)
標誌前停下

Ride in the direction of traffic

Circule en el sentido del tránsito
順著交通方向騎乘

Stay off the sidewalk

unless you're under 13
No use las aceras a menos que tenga
menos de 13 años de edad
離開人行道除非您是13歲以下

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NYC BIKING LAWS
Use a white headlight
and red taillight at night
Use una luz delantera blanca y una
luz trasera roja por la noche
晚上使用白色頭燈和紅色尾燈

Use a bell to signal presence*

Utilice el timbre para indicar su presencia
使用鈴鐺提示他人

*Whistles and sirens do not meet

NYC standards.

Do not wear more than one

earphone while riding
Utilice únicamente un solo auricular
cuando ande en bicicleta
騎車時切勿雙耳佩戴耳機

For more information about these and

other laws go to nyc.gov/bikesmart.

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 Safety Tips
Follow these tips in addition to the NYC biking laws
to ensure a safe ride every time.

Put your phone away.

Texting or talking while riding takes your
eyes and ears off the road.

Be mindful of mobility-
impaired persons.
Be predictable and respectful.

Do what you can

to be seen.
In addition to your lights, wearing
something bright or reflective is a
good idea.

NYC DOT has distributed

and fit over 150,000 free
helmets since 2007. Call 311
to schedule a helmet fitting!

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Helmets in NYC
Wear a helmet every time you ride. Helmeted cyclists
are 72% less likely to sustain traumatic brain injury.
Helmets only work if you wear them correctly.

Wear it low and level.

Wear your helmet level on your head, about
two finger-widths above your eyebrows.

Buckle the strap.

Always buckle the chin strap. The straps
make a “Y” around your ears for a snug fit.

Do not wear a
damaged helmet.
Replace your helmet after any crash and
whenever you see signs of damage.

Helmets are required by New York State Law

for cyclists ages 13 years and younger.

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 Look for those who
cannot see you!
There are over 175,000 New Yorkers who are blind
or visually impaired. As you ride, please be on the
lookout for them. They might not see you coming.

Watch
Look for people using long white and red
canes or with seeing-eye or guide dogs.

Wait
If they have started to walk, let them
cross the street before moving. Do not
bike around a person with a guide-dog,
as it can startle the service animal.

Warn
Use your bell or call out so they know
when you’re approaching.

Find out more about the #Cycleyes

program at nyc.gov/accessibility.

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 Biking with Children

CROSS INTERSECTIONS SIDE-BY-SIDE

For children For children

13 and younger: 14 and older:
Your child should ride Your child should ride
on the sidewalk while in the street while you
you ride on the street. ride slightly behind.

Let your child set Let your child set

the pace. the pace.

Children should stop Teach your child to

at driveways and make pedestrian-style
intersections. turns (see page 19).

Cross intersections Cross intersections

side-by-side. side-by-side.

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 Bike Facilities
New York City’s more than 1,000 miles of bike
facilities are classified into four categories:

Protected Bike Lane Bike Lane

On-street protected bike lanes Bike lanes are painted onto
are protected from traffic the road, often next to a
by parked cars or physical parking lane, and are marked
barriers. Off-street bike paths with bike symbols. Some lanes
exist along much of the City’s have a painted buffer to further
waterfront and in many parks. separate cyclists from traffic.

Shared Lane Signed Route

Shared lanes are used by Signed Routes are unmarked
cyclists and motorists. They streets designated by "Bike
are marked by “sharrows” Route" signage or a greenway
(bike symbols with chevrons) medallion. Following the signs
and signs. helps guide cyclists along a
pre-established route.
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 Use the official NYC Bike Map to plan a route of
connected lanes. View the map at nyc.gov/bikemap
or request a printed copy by calling 311.

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 Navigating City Streets
You have the right to ride in the center of a
travel lane when necessary for your safety.

DO
Be predictable.
Always use hand signals to
communicate your intentions.

Look, signal and look

again before you change
lanes.

Take the lane.

Take the lane when preparing
to turn, in areas with low
visibility, and in places where
the street is too narrow to
allow a bicycle and a vehicle
to travel safely side by
side. Or where there is an
obstruction, you need to go
around.

DON'T
Do not weave from
lane to lane.

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Don't Get "Doored"
Riding close to parked cars leaves cyclists
vulnerable to car doors that are opening.
Keep your distance and stay alert.

DO
Keep your distance
at least 3 feet from
parked cars.

Watch parked cars

carefully.
Watch car tail lights and
taxi on/off duty lights to
anticipate driver actions
and exiting passengers.

Ride on the center of

the “Sharrows.”
On shared lanes, the
bike symbol and chevron
markings are often placed
just far enough from the
curb to help you avoid car
doors that are opening.

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 Read the Road
The lines on the road can help you navigate the
streets and share the road with other users.

In general, a dashed bike A mid-block dashed line

lane line indicates that with chevrons indicates an
cars may enter the bike active driveway.
lane.

At intersections, a Two-way bike lanes are

dashed line with chevrons indicated by a dashed
indicates that cars may yellow center line and
turn across your path. directional arrows.
Use the markings to Remember, cyclists must
guide you. always travel with the direction
of traffic, even in a bike lane.

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Mixing Zones
Mixing zones are approaches to intersections
where cyclists and turning vehicles merge.

DO
Look for turning traffic.
Merge in front of or
behind cars.

Take the full lane

as necessary.

DON'T
Do not hug the curb.

Do not pass on the left

of a turning vehicle.
If vehicles are turning in front
of you, move away from the
direction of the turn.

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 Biking Near Large Vehicles
Trucks and busses have larger blind spots than cars.
Never assume the drivers can see you.

CAB TRACK

A CK
TR
R

DO
LE
AI
TR

Position yourself well

behind the truck when
its turning.

Allow the truck to

make the turn before
advancing.
BLIND SPOT

When riding with

buses show caution.
They frequently pull to
the curb.
BLIND SPOT

DON'T
Do not squeeze between
a truck and a row of
parked cars.

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Signal Your Intent

Shown from rear.

LEFT RIGHT STOP

Passing Vehicles
1 Look over your shoulder for vehicles.

2 Signal before making a turn or changing lanes.

3 Look again to make sure it is safe.

4 Make your move.

Passing Cyclists
1 Look over your shoulder for vehicles or bikes.

2 Signal before changing lanes.

3 Announce your intention to pass by saying

“On your left” or “On your right.”

4 Make your move.

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 Turns: Pedestrian Style
Turn with pedestrian traffic when the light changes if
vehicle traffic is heavy or when you aren't comfortable
changing lanes.

2
Wait for the green light
and then move ahead.

1
Pull over in front of the
crosswalk and out of
through traffic.

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Turns: Vehicular Style
Turn with vehicle traffic when it is safe to change
lanes and you want to maintain your speed. This style
is for more advanced cyclists.

3
Complete your turn like
any other vehicle.

2
When it is safe,
carefully move into
the left-hand lane.

1
Look and double-check
for oncoming cars.
Signal with your hands.

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 Turns: Using a Bike Box
Bike boxes are installed where two bike facilities
intersect to increase the visibility of cyclists
stopped at red lights. It also gives cyclists a better
position to turn. Only use a bike box when you
approach the intersection at a red light.

3
 urn when the light
T
turns green.

2
Position yourself
ahead of the cars.

1
 nly enter the bike
O
box on a red light.

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Lock It Right
DO Lock your wheels
Lock all
“quick release”
Use a U-Lock to your frame. parts.
and/or heavy chain.
More than one lock will
help prevent theft.

Leave space for

people to pass.

Use designated bike

racks where available.

NO YES
Look up!
Make sure you can’t lift
your bike over the object
to which it is locked.

DON'T
Do not lock to trees
or subway railings.
Do not leave your
bike for an extended SUBWAY

period of time.
Do not block access.

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 Bring Your Bike Inside
If you work in a commercial office building with a
freight elevator, the “Bikes in Buildings” law provides
a way for your employer to request indoor access for
your bicycle.

Follow these steps:

1 Assess Needs
Employer assesses the number of bikes it would
like to accommodate.

2 Submit Tenant Request

Employer files a Tenant Request for bike parking with
the Building Owner or Manager.

3 Building Owner Implementation

Within 30 days of receiving Tenant Request, Building Owner
must implement and post a Bicycle Access Plan
or
Request an exception for A) alternate bicycle parking
facilities or B) the absence of freight elevators in the building
within 15 days of receipt of Tenant Request.

For details and forms visit

www.nyc.gov/bikesinbuildings

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 NYC Bike Resources
City of New York
NYC Dept. of Transportation Bicycle Program nyc.gov/bikes
NYC Dept. of City Planning nyc.gov/planning
NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation nyc.gov/parks
Citi Bike citibikenyc.com

Cycling Education and Advocacy Organizations

Bike New York bikenewyork.org
Bike the Bronx bikethebronx.com
Biking Public Project facebook.com/BikingPublicProject
Kidical Mass NYC facebook.com/kidicalmassnyc
Recycle-A-Bicycle recycleabicycle.org
QNS Bike qns.bike
Star Track Cycling startrack.nyc
Transportation Alternatives transalt.org

Cycling Clubs
Century Road Club Association (Competitive) crca.net
Fast & Fabulous (LGBT) fastnfab.org
Five Borough Bicycle Club (Recreational) 5bbc.org
Major Taylor Iron Riders (Recreational) majortaylorironriders.com
New York Cycle Club (Recreational) nycc.org
OUTCYCLING (LGBT) outcycling.org
Staten Island Bicycling Association (Recreational) sibike.org
WE Bike (Women) webikenyc.org
Weekday Cyclists in NYC (Recreational) weekdaycyclists.org

National Cycling Groups

Bikes Belong bikesbelong.org
Black Girls Do Bike blackgirlsdobike.com
League of American Bicyclists bikeleague.org
National Center for Bicycling and Walking bikewalk.org

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 Join the thousands of New Yorkers
who ride a bike every day.

NYCDOT
For a free NYC Bike Map
call 311 or visit nyc.gov/bikes NYC DOT

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