NYC COUNCIL PASSES PACKAGE OF BILLS TO ALLOW BIKES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ELEVATORS

New York, NY -- On Wednesday, September 14th, 2016, the New York City Council passed a package of bills aimed at further incentivizing cycling as a primary mode of transportation. The three bills, sponsored by Council Members Rodriguez, Rosenthal and Williams, would allow greater access to elevators for persons with bicycles in both offices and residential buildings. 

Currently, some building managers restricted bike owners from bringing their bicycles in elevators, instead creating the hassle of finding bike parking, where bikes can more easily be stolen. This package of bills requires residential buildings to allow bikes in their elevators when there is no working freight elevator. It would also require office buildings to allow bikes in freight elevators as well as folding bikes in passenger elevators. 

"With our trains and streets packed to the brim, we need to do all we can to find quick ways to get around the city," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Transportation Committee. "Cycling is a great, efficient alternative that more New Yorkers are turning to and we must do our best to clear their way. This means removing barriers to convenient access and storage in our city's residential and office buildings. I'm proud to join my colleagues in easing access and making cycling a more attractive option to get around the city."

Intro 695 - Introduced by Council Member Rodriguez, this bill will require owners of R-2 occupancies to allow tenants or subtenants to transport their bicycles to or from their apartments. This bill would also allow foldable bikes on all passenger elevators in all class R occupancies.

Intro 405 - Introduced by Council Member Rosenthal, this bill will require that office buildings, in addition to providing bicycle access in freight buildings, provide foldable bike access in passenger elevators.

Intro 795 - Introduced by Council Member Williams, this bill will require owners of office buildings to allow bicycles to be brought into their buildings and to use freight elevators in the same manner as ordinary freight. At any time when no freight elevator is operational, it will require owners to allow bicycles to be brought onto one or more designated passenger elevators.