File #: Res 1291-2008    Version: * Name: Governor of NYS and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that driver’s education courses include more comprehensive lessons on sharing the road with cyclists.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 2/27/2008
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Governor of the State of New York and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that driver’s education courses include more comprehensive lessons on sharing the road with cyclists and that road tests and written driving exams include more thorough testing on precautions relating to cyclists.
Sponsors: David Yassky, Gale A. Brewer, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Alan J. Gerson
Council Member Sponsors: 6

Res. No. 1291

 

Resolution calling upon the Governor of the State of New York and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that driver’s education courses include more comprehensive lessons on sharing the road with cyclists and that road tests and written driving exams include more thorough testing on precautions relating to cyclists. 

 

By Council Members Yassky, Brewer, Gentile, James, Liu and Gerson

                     

Whereas, According to the Bicycle Market Research Institute, there are 58.7 million active cyclists in America, and thirty percent of these cyclists reside in California, New York and Illinois; and

Whereas, Bicycling is a healthy, economical, environmentally friendly mode of transportation and recreation; and

Whereas, New York City’s Department of City Planning, Department of Transportation and Department of Parks and Recreation have promoted cycling in New York City to reduce traffic congestion; and

                     Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in New York State in 2006, there were 5,565 accidents involving motor vehicles and bicycles (2,931 in New York City), and 5,426 bicyclists injured (2,859 in New York City), and 45 bicyclists killed, (17 in New York City); and

                     Whereas, Motorists must be alert to the presence of bicyclists and drive responsibly; and

                     Whereas, The DMV administers the licensing of drivers in New York City and facilitates driver’s education courses; and

                     Whereas, The DMV publishes and disseminates a driver’s manual to individuals seeking a license to drive, and those individuals are tested on information in such manual through a written exam; and

Whereas, Chapter 11 of the DMV driver’s manual is entitled “Sharing the Road,” and includes a brief section, entitled, “Bicyclists, In-Line Skaters, and Non-Motorized Scooters,” informing motorists of their obligations to cyclists and the appropriate and safe manner in which to drive amongst cyclists; and

Whereas, This section is not detailed and does not highlight precautions to take in specific circumstances, such as when driving, parking or turning in a bike lane, and the need to maintain awareness of cyclists when making turns, nor does it include general statistics on accidents involving motor vehicles and bicycles; and

Whereas, The Governor of the State of New York, pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 200, appoints the Commissioner of the DMV, and the mission of the Governor’s Traffic and Safety Committee is to improve highway safety and disseminate information regarding traffic safety; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Governor of the State of New York and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that driver’s education courses include more comprehensive lessons on sharing the road with cyclists and that road tests and written driving exams include more thorough testing on precautions relating to cyclists. 

                     

 

R.C.

LS # 4463

2/6/08