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Each year, more than 10,000 traffic tickets are issued to cyclists in New York. Each of these tickets cost at least $190, which means cyclists are shelling out a whopping $1.9 million a year on bicycle violations.

The best way to beat these tickets is to avoid getting them altogether. That means sticking to the guidelines listed in this article and adhering to the law as we lay it out. This article will teach you what you need to know to avoid getting bike tickets in NYC, fight them when you get them, and how to keep your driving record clean.

The Most Common Bike Tickets in NYC

Nobody wants to sit back and crack open the hundreds of thousands of words in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL). Fortunately for you, we like nothing better! We’ve read through database information and the VTL itself time and time again. So you can trust us when we say we know exactly which bike tickets in NYC are the most common and what that means for you.

While reading these four most common bike ticket charges, keep in mind that there are plenty other ways to get a ticket on a bike. For example, you can also get a ticket for riding a bike with headphones on or just plain riding a bike wrong (that’s called Improper Operation of a Bicycle and, yes, it’s a real thing).

Riding on the Sidewalk

Everybody knows that driving a car on the sidewalk is a pretty serious crime. But little do most people know that riding a bike on the sidewalk is also illegal, the reason being that bicycles are still technically vehicles. In fact, more than 5,000 people get a ticket for this every year.

New York’s VTL requires that bikes be ridden only in the street and, when applicable, only in specially marked bike lanes. Failure to stick to the correct lanes can result in a ticket for violating the rules of the road on a bicycle.

Riding a bike on the sidewalk is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $100 before additional fees. You may also have to pay additional civil penalties or fines.

Failure to Have Proper Lights or Reflectors

New York’s VTL requires you to have the proper equipment on your bike at all times. That means headlights, reflectors, bells, etc. Each year, around 1,000 people get a ticket for having no or improper reflectors/lamps on a bicycle.

These tickets can often be dozens of times more expensive than just buying the right equipment and installing it on your bike. By taking a few minutes to do so, you can save quite a bit of money in the long run.

Failure to Use And/Or Ride Within Available Bike Lanes

The law requires you to stick to established bike lanes when riding your bike along the street. Whenever there is a bike lane, you have to use it. If there is a bike lane and you are caught riding your bike outside of it, you can get a ticket.

If there’s no bike lane, then you can ride your bike in the street alongside cars and other drivers. When there is no bike lane, you are still not allowed to ride your bike on the sidewalk. Except for in emergency situations, it is illegal to ride your bike on a sidewalk.

Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device (Red Light Tickets)

Everybody in the city has to follow traffic control devices, whether that’s a “no u-turn” sign, a stop light, or something else. That includes bikers and pedestrians.

Cyclists still have to obey all of the rules of the road when they are riding. That’s true whether you’re in a bike lane or in the street, which means that you have to obey all traffic control devices.

“Failure to obey a traffic control device” is the fancy way of describing a red light ticket. You can get one of these tickets any time a police officer catches you running a red light while riding a bike. These tend to cost around $190.

Do Cyclists Need to Show I.D. If They Are Stopped by Police? 

New York state law requires all people who are being detained by police officers to show their I.D. That’s true whether you’re a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian. 

Any time a police officer has probable cause to believe that you have broken the law, they can detain you while they collect information and decide whether to write a ticket. If a police officer detains you, you will have to show your I.D.

Do Bicycle Tickets Affect Insurance? 

Auto insurance premiums tend to only be affected by tickets received when in an automobile. So a bicycle ticket will rarely, if ever, affect your auto insurance.

The trick to ensuring that your bike ticket doesn’t affect your insurance rates is to make sure the DMV or the TVB specifically state that it is a bike ticket. If your driving record lists that the violation was for a bike ticket, then you most likely will not have to worry about any confusion leading to higher rates.

Is It Worthwhile to Hire a Lawyer to Fight a Bike Summons?

Deciding whether you’re going to hire a lawyer can be tough. It’s not always easy to see the pros and cons of paying that kind of money and traditional lawyers make it even more difficult. However, the WinIt app makes hiring a lawyer easy and affordable.

With WinIt, you can find lawyers who cost less than the ticket. That means that hiring a lawyer can save you significant amounts of cash even if you still have to pay the lawyer part of the ticket’s value.

The alternative is to try to fight the ticket alone. That means taking time off of work, school, etc. to dig through legal files, fill out forms, and learn the ins and outs of courtroom processes. Then you’ll get your court date, which is when you’ll argue against expert police officers and prosecutors who’ve been at this possibly for decades. 

The Importance of Wearing a Bike Camera in NYC

Like dashcam footage, bike camera footage can help keep you out of trouble. If a police officer claims that they saw you riding your bike outside of an established bike lane, that could lead to a ticket. However, if your bike camera clearly shows you were actually inside of the bike lane, that could lead to a dismissal.

How Do I Pay My NYC Bike Ticket? 

Bike tickets fall under the jurisdiction of the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB). That’s the organization that handles most of New York City’s traffic court processes.

You pay NIC bike tickets the same way that you would pay NYC traffic tickets: through the TVB. You can do this in-person at a TVB location, over the phone, online, or through the mail.

NYC Bicycle Ticket FAQs 

Well, that’s all we have to say about bike tickets in the big apple for now. But that doesn’t mean it’s all there is to know. There’s only so much you can put in one article. If you still have any comments, questions, or concerns, type them out below and our team of traffic ticket experts will provide you with detailed answers.

But first, check out the following frequently asked questions to see if yours has already been answered:

Is It legal to Ride a Bike Without a Helmet in NYC? 

Yes and no. Helmets are required for certain groups of cyclists, but not everybody. Here is a list of people who must wear helmets when riding a bike:

• People ages 13 and under.
• Working professionals riding a bike as part of their job.

Is It legal to Bike Without a Bell in NYC? ]

No. All bicycles in New York City must be equipped with a bell. This is part of the VTL’s list of mandatory equipment for bicycles, which also includes proper lights and reflectors.

Can You Ride a Bike on the Sidewalk in NYC? 

No. You can be charged with a misdemeanor traffic violation for riding a bike on the sidewalk in NYC, which can leave you with a criminal record. You are never allowed to ride your bike on the sidewalk in NYC.

Instead, you must ride your bike in designated bike lanes. If there are no designated bike lanes, then you must ride your bike in the street with the other vehicles.

Is It legal to Lock Your Bike to a Street Sign? 

Yes. You are legally allowed to lock your bike to a street sign in NYC as long as it does not damage the sign, block visibility, or otherwise impair the function of the sign.