City cyclists would be barred from using their cellphones while biking, under legislation being introduced by lawmakers on Thursday.
Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Brooklyn) says his bill was prompted by seeing a distracted cyclist nearly cause a multicar accident near his office in Gravesend.
“I was shocked to learn there is no law in New York that prohibits such a reckless practice,” he told The Post.
If the bill passes, Treyger added, “We would become the biggest city in America to ban biking and texting.”
In 2011, Chicago issued $ 50 fines to first offenders caught using their phones while pedaling. Several smaller cities have since followed suit.
Treyger says his proposal would be less punitive, only mandating completion of a bike-safety course if the offender does not cause any injury or property damage.
If cyclists do cause damage or injury, they’ll get hit with a $ 50 fine the first time.
A companion bill would establish an official bike-safety course in the city.
Treyger said the legislative one-two punch, which has the support of Transportation Committee Chairman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan), would complement Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan against traffic fatalities.
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