New York City is notorious for having congested roads. Many people take their bikes or walk to get to and from as a result. There are laws on the books that lawmakers expect pedestrians and bicyclists to know and follow; they seldom do, though. Motorists frequently don’t know what rights these individuals have, either, and it often gets them in trouble with the law.

The laws that motorists must follow when sharing the city’s street with pedestrians and bicyclists form part of the New York Vehicle & Traffic Laws Article 27 – § 1150-1157.

Section 1151 of that set of laws describes how motorists must give pedestrians positioned within a crosswalk the right-of-way. Section 1152 highlights how if there isn’t a pedestrian crossing; then, the person walking must yield to all vehicles on the roadway instead.

One exception to these laws does exist. Section 1153 spells out how any pedestrian that uses a metallic or white cane or walks alongside a guide dog has the right-of-way no matter whether they’re approaching or are already at an intersection no matter whether it has a crosswalk or not.

Section 1151-a of this law describes how motorists must yield to pedestrians walking along a sidewalk as they exit a parking lot, private road, building, driveway or alleyway.

As for bicyclists, Section 1146 of that same set of codes expounds on how motorists should treat them like drivers of other automobiles. The statute highlights how vehicle operators should allow for plenty of space when passing cyclists to avoid colliding with them.

Police officers have one primary job: to keep everyone safe. They see enforcing traffic laws as a way to keep those who either reside in or visit Manhattan safe. A moving violation on your driving record can impact your ability to retain your driver’s license, cause your insurance rates to go up, possibly result in hefty fines and even result in a jail sentence. An attorney can help you resolve your New York legal issues, so they don’t leave a lasting impact on your life.