At least 41 states and the District of Columbia require motorists to give bicycle riders at least 3 feet of space when passing. New York is one of only 9 states that still does not define the distance for (safely) passing a bicyclist. At last count, the only other states are Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, and South Carolina. With recent enactments of 4-foot laws in Massachusetts and Vermont, New York is surrounded by states that that require 3 feet or better for passing.
Last year, the 3-foot bill passed the NY Senate. Local Assembly member Phil Steck has dutifully sponsored this legislation. Year after year this legislation has been held up in the NY Assembly Transportation Committee. Suffolk and Monroe Counties decided to take care of their citizens by passing their own laws. With your help Albany County can now do the same.
Albany County Legislators Fein, A. Joyce, Laurilliard and Miller have cosponsored the proposed Local Law T below. It will go before the Legislature’s Law Committee on January 29, 2025. The proposal follows the Vermont and Massachusetts model of protecting not only bicyclists, but also pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Please e-mail a letter or message of support by January 28th to cosponsor and cycling friend, Susan Quine-Laurilliard (susan.quine-laurilliard@albanycountyny.gov).
********LOCAL LAW NO. “T” FOR 2024 *********
A LOCAL LAW OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AMENDING CHAPTER 288 OF THE ALBANY COUNTY CODE, ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM PASSING DISTANCE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
Introduced: 12/2/24
By Fein, Laurilliard, A. Joyce, and Miller:
A local law amending Chapter 288 of the Albany County Code, entitled Vehicles, to create Article IV of such Chapter, entitled Minimum Passing Distance Requirements for Motor Vehicles, to establish a minimum passing distance for motor vehicles passing bicycles.
BE IT ENACTED by the Albany County Legislature as follows:
Section 1. Article Creation.
Chapter 288, Article IV, Minimum Passing Distance Requirements for Motor Vehicles, is hereby created.
Section 2. §288-26, Title.
This local law shall be known as the “Albany County Safe Passing Law.”
Section 3. § 288-27, Legislative Intent.
The Albany County Legislature recognizes that bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users often need to share roadways with motor vehicles out of necessity.
The Legislature also acknowledges that in these situations, vulnerable road users are susceptible to the actions of motor vehicle operators who can pose a threat to their health and safety if passing too closely.
Therefore, this Legislature finds it necessary to establish a minimum passing distance for motor vehicles approaching or passing vulnerable road users.
Section 4. § 288-28, Vulnerable Road User.
“Vulnerable road user” means any pedestrian; person operating a wheelchair or other personal mobility device regardless of motorization; person operating a bicycle or other non-motorized mode of transportation such as roller skates, rollerblades, roller skis, skateboard, longboard, or unicycle; operator of roadway construction, repair, or maintenance equipment; utility worker; construction worker; roadside assistance worker; operator of agricultural equipment; person riding, driving, or herding an animal; law enforcement officer; firefighter; emergency medical technician; or first responder.
Section 5. § 288-29, Minimum Distance Requirements for Motor Vehicles.
The operator of a motor vehicle that is approaching or passing a vulnerable road user shall do so at a distance of at least three feet until safely clear thereof. The three-foot distance requirement shall not apply on roads with clearly-marked bicycle lanes as defined by New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 102-a.
Section 5. § 288-30, Penalties.
1. Any person committing the above-referenced offense shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine not to exceed $225 for a first offense, $325 for a second offense and $425 for any third or subsequent offense(s).
2. This section does not preclude a person from being charged with, convicted of, or punished for any other violation of law.
Section 6. § 288-31, Applicability.
This local law shall apply to all actions occurring on or after the effective date.
Section 8. § 288-32, Severability.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, subdivision, or other part of this local law or its application shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of the local law which shall remain in full force and effect except as limited by such order or judgment.
Section 9. SEQRA Compliance.
This County Legislature determines that this local law constitutes a “Type II action” pursuant to the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and that no further action under SEQRA is required.
Section 10. Effective Date.
This local law shall take effect immediately following its filing with the Office of the Secretary of State.
Albany Bicycle Coalition 