The following terms, whenever used herein, except
as otherwise specifically indicated, shall be defined to have and
shall be held to include each of the meanings hereinbelow respectively
set forth, and any such terms used in the singular number shall be
held to include the plural:
CURB
The lateral boundaries of that portion of a street designated
for the use of vehicles, whether marked by curbstones or not so marked.
ROADWAY
That portion of any street which is included between the
curb or curblines thereof and is designed for the use of vehicles.
STREET
Every avenue, boulevard, highway, roadway, cartway, lane,
alley, strip, path, square or place used by or laid out for the use
of vehicles.
VEHICLE
Every wagon, carriage, omnibus, sleigh, pushcart, bicycle,
tricycle or other conveyances (except baby carriages), in whatever
manner or by whatever force or power the same may be driven, ridden
or propelled, which is or may be used for or adapted to pleasure riding
or the transportation of passengers, baggage or merchandise upon the
street; and every draught and riding animal, whether driven, ridden
or led, except that an animal or animals attached to any "vehicle"
shall, with such vehicle, constitute one "vehicle."
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
A. Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall
be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;
(2) When overtaking or passing pedestrians, animals or
obstructions on the right half of the roadway;
(3) When an obstruction exists making it necessary to
drive to the left of the center of the highway, provided that any
person so doing shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling
in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway
within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;
(4) Where travel on the shoulder or slope is permitted by §
359-23 of this chapter.
(5) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for
traffic under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws applicable
thereon; or
(6) Upon a roadway restricted to one-way traffic.
B. In addition, upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding
at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and
under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another
vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left
turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
C. Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the center lane of the roadway, except when authorized by signs or markings designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or except as permitted under Subsection
A(2) hereof.
Vehicles overtaking others shall, in passing,
keep to the left.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
No person shall move a vehicle which is stopped,
standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with
reasonable safety.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
The following rules shall govern the overtaking
and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject
to those limitations, exceptions and special rules hereinafter stated:
A. The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle
proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at
a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the
roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.
B. Except when overtaking and passing on the right is
permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the
right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall
not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the
overtaking vehicle.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at
an intersection shall do so as follows:
A. Right turns. Both the approach for a right turn and
a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway or, when travel on the shoulder or slope
has been authorized, from the shoulder or slope.
B. Left turns on two-way roadways. At any intersection
where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway
entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be made
in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center
line thereof and by passing to the right of such center line where
it enters the intersection, and, after entering the intersection,
the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the
right of the center line of the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable,
the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to
the left of the center of the intersection.
C. Left turns on other than two-way roadways. At any
intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or
more of the roadways, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left
at any such intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme
left-hand lane of the roadway lawfully available to traffic moving
in the direction of travel of such vehicle or, where travel on the
shoulder or slope has been authorized, from the shoulder or slope,
and, after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made
so as to leave the intersection, as nearly as practicable, in the
left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction
upon the roadway being entered.
D. When markers, buttons, signs or other marking are
placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby require and
direct that a different course from that specified in this section
be traveled by vehicles turning at an intersection, no driver of a
vehicle shall turn a vehicle at an intersection other than as directed
and required by such markers, buttons, signs or other markings.
E. U-Turns. U-Turns shall be made from and to that portion
of the highway nearest the marked center line. Where more than one
lane of a highway has been designated for left turns, U-turns shall
be made only from the lane so designated that is adjacent to the marked
center line.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
A. No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in §
359-44 or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless or until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.
B. A signal of intention to turn right or left when required
shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet
traveled by the vehicle before turning.
C. No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed
of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner
provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear
when there is opportunity to give such signal.
D. The signals provided for in § 1164 of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York shall be used to
indicate an intention to turn, change lanes or start from a parked
position and not be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled
vehicle, or flashed as a courtesy or "do pass" signal to operators
of other vehicles approaching from the rear.
E. The driver of a vehicle equipped with simultaneously
flashing signals as provided for in Subdivision 18 of § 375
of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York shall use
such signals when the vehicle is stopped or disabled on a public highway,
except when such vehicle is stopped in compliance with a traffic control
device or when legally parked. The driver of a vehicle so equipped
may use such signals whenever necessary to warn the operators of following
vehicles of the presence of a traffic hazard ahead of the signaling
vehicle, or to warn the operators of other vehicles that the signaling
vehicle may itself constitute a traffic hazard, taking into account
traffic and highway conditions. No person shall use such signals for
any other purpose.
In no case shall a vehicle remain backed up
to the curb, except when actually loading or unloading, nor stop with
its left side to the curb for a longer period than five minutes.
Unless in an emergency or to allow another vehicle (as provided in §
359-53) or pedestrian to cross its path, no vehicle shall stop in any public street or highway of this City except close to the curbline.
No vehicle shall stop for the purpose of taking
or setting down a passenger or loading or unloading freight, or for
any other purpose except in case of accident or other emergency, or
when directed to stop by the police, in such a way as to obstruct
any street or crossing.
No vehicle shall stop or stand within the intersection
of any street, nor within 10 feet of a street corner.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995; 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 9.51.96]
The employees of the Department of General Services,
with their apparatus and vehicles of all kinds, when engaged in the
work of cleaning the street or removing therefrom snow or refuse,
and those persons with whom the City has contracted to perform such
services, shall have the right-of-way in any street, and all other
vehicles shall move in such a manner and to such positions as shall
permit said apparatus and vehicle and the persons in charge thereof
to clean the entire street.
Vehicles moving slowly shall keep as close as
possible to the curbline on the right, so as to allow faster moving
vehicles free passage on the left.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
No person shall drive a motor vehicle on or
across a sidewalk, except that a vehicle may be driven at a reasonable
speed, but not more than five miles per hour, on or across a sidewalk
in such manner as not to interfere with the safety and passage of
pedestrians thereon, who shall have the right-of-way, when it is reasonable
and necessary:
A. To gain access to a public highway, private way or
lands or buildings adjacent to such highway or way;
B. In the conduct of work upon a highway, or upon a private
way or lands or buildings adjacent to such highway or way; or
C. To plow snow or perform any other public service,
for hire, or otherwise, which could not otherwise be reasonably and
properly performed.
[Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley,
driveway, private road or building shall stop such vehicle immediately
prior to driving onto a sidewalk extending across any alleyway, building
entrance, road or driveway or, in the event that there is no sidewalk,
shall stop at the point nearest the roadway to be entered where the
driver has a view of approaching traffic thereon.
Nothing contained herein or omitted herefrom
shall be construed or held to relieve any person using or traveling
or being upon any street, for any purpose whatever, from exercising
all reasonable care to avoid or prevent injury through collision with
all other persons and vehicles.
The Police Department shall see that this article
is posted in all public stables and at the hack, cab and truck stands
and shall keep copies of it at all of its stations and issue them
on application.