Bicycle rules — New York Permit Test
Bicycle rules on the New York permit test — 9 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.
The rules
Bicyclists must ride in a bicycle lane if one is available, and where there is none they must remain near the right curb or edge of the road or on a right shoulder, to prevent interference with other traffic.
Riders keep right so traffic can get by. The lane is the first choice where there is one.
Ride in a bicycle lane, if available. Where there is none, they must remain near the right curb or edge of the road or on a right shoulder of the road, to prevent interference with other traffic.
Bicyclists must come to a full stop before they enter a roadway from a driveway, an alley or over a curb.
A bike coming off a curb arrives in traffic with no warning at all.
Come to a full stop before they enter a roadway from a driveway, an alley or over a curb.
Bicyclists must never travel with more than two side-by-side in a single lane.
Two abreast still leaves room to pass. Three does not.
Never travel with more than two side-by-side in a single lane. heard at least 100 feet (30 m) away.
Bicyclists and their passengers ages 1 through 13 must wear an approved helmet.
A child's head hits the road first. The helmet is required rather than advised.
Bicyclists and their passengers ages 1 - 13, must wear an approved helmet.
A bicyclist can signal a right turn by extending the right arm straight out to the right.
A driver who knows the signal knows where the bike is going next.
A bicyclist can signal a right turn when they extend the right arm straight out to the right.
A bicyclist must never carry an infant under a year old as a passenger, and child passengers ages 1 through 4 must ride in attached bicycle safety seats.
A baby cannot hold their own head up on a bike. The law simply forbids it.
Never carry an infant under a year old as a passenger.
A bicycle driven on public highways must have adequate brakes and a horn or bell that can be heard at least 100 feet away.
A bell is how a rider warns somebody stepping off a curb.
adequate brakes and a horn or bell that can be
A bicycle used at night must have a headlight visible from at least 500 feet ahead and a red taillight visible from at least 300 feet behind.
A dark bike is invisible until the headlights reach it, which is far too late.
A bicycle used at night must have a headlight visible from at least 500 feet (150 m) ahead and a red taillight visible from at least 300 feet (90 m) behind.
Bicyclists must report any bicycle crash that causes death or serious injury to DMV within 10 days of the incident.
The report is what puts the crash on record. The clock runs from the day it happened.
Report any bicycle crash that causes death or serious injury to DMV within 10 days of the incident.
On the test
Where must a bicyclist ride where there is no bicycle lane?
Near the right curb or shoulder. Riders keep right so traffic can get by. The lane is the first choice where there is one. New York State Driver's Manual, p.69: “Ride in a bicycle lane, if available. Where there is none, they must remain near the right curb or edge of the road or on a right shoulder of the road, to prevent interference with other traffic.”
How this works
Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.
You read one law and the reason behind it, then answer a question on that law while it is still fresh. Get it right and you move on; get it wrong and you have found the gap while it is cheap to fix, not on the morning of the exam.
Learning one rule at a time, and proving it immediately, is what turns a manual you skimmed into something you actually know — and it makes studying feel like getting somewhere rather than like waiting to find out.
What it costs
- One payment, once — not a subscription. Nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel, for an exam you sit one time.
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- Paying opens the rest of the cards, unlimited full-length practice tests, and retests built from exactly the questions you got wrong.
- Every level up to Prepared — 3 tests passed in a row.
- Do the work, fail the real exam, and we refund you.
Where these come from
Every rule here is checked against New York State Driver's Manual, published by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-15.