NYS Law
 

If I'm reading this correctly, zero reflectors are required during daytime riding?

A bicycle must be equipped with:

• A brake that is capable of making the bike tires skid on dry, level pavement (Sec. 1236(c)).
• A bell, horn or other device that can be heard at least 100 feet away. Sirens and whistles are not permitted (Sec. 1236(b)).
• A headlight and taillight. A bicycle ridden between a half-hour after sunset and a half-hour before sunrise must be equipped with a white front headlight visible in darkness for at least 500 feet and a red taillight visible for at least 300 feet. One of these lights must also be visible on each side for at least 200 feet (Sec. 1236(a)).
• Reflectors on the wheels. A bicycle, when purchased new and/or ridden at night, must have reflective tires or wide-angle, spoke-mounted reflectors. Reflectors must be colorless or amber for front wheels and colorless or red for rear wheels (Sec. 1236(d)).

Just wave at the cops a lot, and it won't matter.

They probably assume that if you use reflectors during night riding you probably won't go to the trouble to remove them for daytime riding. Also, since reflectors work on the principle of reflecting incident light from headlights to make your bike visible, if headlights are not on during the daytime there will be no reflection.

How could one read it any other way?

You can verify this for yourself. When it's dark out, shine a light at your wheel reflector. You will see that it sort of shines back at you. This is "reflection." Next look at your reflector in daylight. Even if you point a light at it you will see very little reflection, it is lost amid the ambient daylight. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about. If you are worried about being seen in daylight, the bike shop can sell you a bright flag on a pole.:thumb:

Well, it says "when purchased new and/or ridden at night".... So I think the correct interpretation is that all new bikes must be equipped with reflectors. And also any other older bike if it happens to be ridden at night.

It's interesting to see what different states do for bike regulations. So I took a closer look at your's. This links to fuller set of regulations dealing with bicycles and cyclist.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/display/progr...fety_laws/laws

Interesting right off the bat that a bicycle in the State of New York is apparently not considered a vehicle. That's one difference I don't think I like at all. Being considered a vehicle is what gives me more rights to ride my bike where I desire and follow a standards set of rules with less if's and's or but's that both motor vehicles drivers and I will be aware of. How likely is it that a motor vehicle driver will know the differences a cyclist is supposed to follow on the road? Dumb motorist's notwithstanding.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/159

Really surprised at that one as New York city seemed to play a big part in the history of bicycle laws being established way back when. This is actually the first time I've looked at any other states laws and found that a bicycle is not a vehicle there. Most other states a bicycle is a vehicle.

Also interesting that young parents can't take their babies with them when they ride. Not that I would if I had one, but some do.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1238

I suppose a child less than one can be pulled in a trailer. Though perhaps there might be verbiage elsewhere that might consider trailers as part of the bicycle or other prohibitions.

There is this in the section about Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1236

Probably lots of other interesting stuff too. But I have coffee getting cold!

NYC Police have habits of conducting "crackdowns" on bicycles and cyclists. Usually as a result of a gregarious incident where a cyclist hits and kills a pedestrian or some such. Then the cops swarm the streets targeting cyclists and always seem to have forgotten to actually read up on the appropriate state and city laws pertaining to bikes and riding. I have gotten into arguments with cops middle of the day on my commute when they wanted to cite me for not having reflectors, being unaware that the actual law states only needed after dusk. They are also impatient as you Google the appropriate law to show them. Such is life in NYC, glad to be retired now and never to have to deal with them ever again.

You can remove them after purchase. No bike in NYS is required have reflectors when being ridden in daylight.

How so?

Most motorists (most people) likely believe that a bicycle is a vehicle legally. So, enshrining this belief in the law won't change people's understanding.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1231

This law says it doesn't matter (most, if not all, states have this law).

It doesn't seem that uncommon that bicycles are not defined as vehicles. I suspect the reason comes down to avoiding needing to rewrite the traffic laws. Again, the law quoted above makes it irrelevant.

Good, you found the equalizing clause. It wasn't so important for me to find it. I was suspecting something was there, but figured someone will want to look for me.

Thanks!

Yep, reflectors are required on new bicycles being sold. Once the owner takes possession, he/she can legally remove them. Note too that headlights/taillights are only required starting a half-hour *after* sunset until a half-hour *before* sunrise. Most people, even cops, think it's a half-hour before sunset and a half-hour after sunrise. I've never seen a cyclist stopped for lack of a bell. The reason it's required equipment is that a cyclist is required to give a warning when overtaking a pedestrian on a path or sidewalk.

+2
You could probably carry the reflectors in a saddle bag and install them only when it gets dark.

It's the fundamental bicycle law. You can't really talk about aspects of bicycle law without being aware of it. Otherwise, you'll misinterpret the other laws (like the "not a vehicle" thing).

Interesting. You looked-up (found) a bunch of secondary laws but the basic one "wasn't so important to find".

Your state also has the "equalizing" law.

I was just looking up the topic of the thread. Found those incidentally. I guess I should have expected that someone would want to argue about something that isn't the topic of the thread and further derail it.

I would hope the things I pointed out would be just food for thought and others investigate for themselves without thinking they have to one-up the other person.

A bicycle is also a vehicle in my state. However you'll have to look that up. You really are pointless and tiresome!

:lol: You really went off the tracks with this nonsense.

Except what you "pointed out" was misleading.

So what? It doesn't matter!

Time spent thinking about reflectors for daytime cycling is time wasted.

Requirement for bells on bikes was dropped from Indiana law within the last few years.

It varies from state to state, but Michigan states that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of vehicles. The law stops short of actually defining a bicycle as a vehicle, though.

The NYS legal system has 6" x 6" jammed through it's eye socket right now, and this minuscule splinter is just silly business.

Wish MI would adopt the Idaho stop, & not some hybrid version of it. So many of the "modern" traffic signals with the button have the button placed beyond arms reach off the pavement & typically surrounded by debris on the ground (broken glass, metal shards) . Most of those buttons don't function

Law & Order: Bicycle Victimhood Unit

I disagree. He is tiresome and pointless, not pointless and tiresome.

That may be too subtle--I'm parodying the level of his arguments.

Seriously?
 

I see people doing everything wrong on a bike in front of the police and they do nothing. If you do get stopped by a cop that probably just means he is ticked off today, tag your it, in that case he will make up whatever feels good to him.
I should mention I do not live in NYS.

Reflectors on bikes been required federally for a long time. I still snap them off my wheels, with my bare hands. And in nyc; I ain't stopping for no cop.