NYC Motorcycle Riding

From NYC Driving and Parking in New York City

This page is compiled from users' knowledge and gives you an insight of some of the experiences of New York City Motorcycle, mopeds, and scooters Riders

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[edit] Getting a Permit

A Motorcycle Learners' Permit written test is the first thing on the list. It's easy, costs $21 and it last for 1 year and can be renewed for a second year with out taking the test again.
The written test is very similar to the diving permit written test except with a few questions from the motorcycle manual.
Study this before you go to the DMV to take the test: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Motorcycle Manual

[edit] Why get a Permit or License

I know some of you probably heard of friends that does not have a permit or motorcycle license that are riding in the streets right now. You ask how? and why do you have to get a permit or Motorcycle license?

How: Because they already know how to ride a motorcycle, it's not that hard to learn. I know a friend that when he first started he just bought his 1st bike and he never even sat on one before. There is no one to teach him and all he did was read up some stuff online and went on the street with out a permit or a teacher. However this is very risky and dangerous.

Here's why you should get a Permit and License: NYC Police frequently set up traffic stoppers in highways (There has been a increased *motorcycle checkpoints in the past few years due to an increasing two wheel vehicles like mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles in the city), these check points creates an illusion of an accident which causes traffic to slow down. Your first reaction as a rider is to go between slow moving cars and pass them, AKA white lining or splitting lanes. Thats how they catch you and if you do not have a permit or if you do have a permit but you do not have someone with a Motorcycle license to watch over you then you are screwed. You will be hit with 2 traffic tickets, one for white lining (2 points) and another for no permit or license (no points). On top of that your motorcycle or two wheel vehicle will be towed ($150 - $200)and you can not pick up the vehicle until you have a permit and someone with motorcycle license with you to pick up the bike. Each day the vehicle is stored there there is a $15 charge.

So lets recap:

• Tickets alone will cost you close to $500
• Storage $$
• 2 points on your license
• I also have heard towing companies has a lot of thieves and they'll steal parts and ride your motorcycle until it burns out.
  

[edit] Learning to Ride

[edit] Road Test

To schedule your motorcycle road test you do not need a pre-licensing course or Driver Education certificate if you already have a NYS driver license. For the road test, you must provide:

• A registered and inspected motorcycle with the correct equipment. NYS law defines a motorcycle as a motor vehicle that has no more than three wheels in contact with the ground. The examiner will not conduct the test if the vehicle has more than three wheels in contact with the ground.
• A registered and inspected motor vehicle with the correct equipment operated by a driver age 18 or older who has a valid driver license. This motor vehicle and driver will transport the license examiner during the road test.
• The documents listed in the DMV brochure Road Test Tips
• Pay Your Motorcycle Road Test Fees You must provide your Client ID, your date of birth, and the type of road test that you will pay for (passenger, motorcycle, or CDL).
• Pick your Motorcycle Road Test Site
• Find someone to ride your motorcycle to the test site while you drive your car to the test site.
• Remember you need both a car and a motorcycle for this road test!

[edit] What is tested on the Motorcycle Road Test?

• The ability to ride (without putting your foot down!) in 2 left circles then change direction into 2 right circles then ride in a 8 shape form 2 times in a one way wide street. During this 3 challenges if you ever put your foot down then you automatically failed the test!
  
• After you pass the ability skill test, you will still have to pass the Street and Road Test. Riding in your motorcycle while the person that came with you in a car drives the instructor around following you in your motorcycle. The instructor will tell you either one beep means take a left turn and two beeps mean a right turn at the next intersection. This part of the test will take about 15mins.

[edit] Police Activities

If you see slow moving traffic on a highway that has space or an area for cops to stop and pull people over, at the end of that traffic there might just be a motorcycle check point waiting for you. Stay at the furtherest lane and behind a big car, don't make any noise and hope they don't see you. They'll pull over anybody. Don't split lanes in front of them to try to get away thats another 2 points ticket. They will stop all four lanes of traffic to get to you at the last lane.

Info from towing companies: Motorcycle check points are mainly setup on Monday to Thursdays which are DOT safety days. They can start as early as April which is when all two wheel vehicle has to renew it's registration and normally get an inspections. However I have seem they on June 13th 2009, they are infamous for doing it on the day before the Puerto Rico Parade which is when everyone from out of state is here in NYC.

It is also very well know that a few days before Puerto Rican Pride Day Parade they will setup city wide motorcycle checkpoints even on Saturdays and Sundays. It has been known that Williamsburg bridge, Queens borough bridge, FDR, Belt Parkway and BQE near Tri-borough Bridge has prime spots for checkpoints.

[edit] NYC Motorcycle Checkpoint Locations

• On Delancey Street right after you get off the Williamsburg Bridge. They will be slowing traffic down to pull over all Motorcycles on all 4 lanes to the sidewalk ramp in the middle where the bicycles ride on to the bridge.
  

NYC Motorcycle Checkpoint FDR 15th street

• On FDR Highway Southbound right on the 14th street entrance next to the Con Ed plant.
  

NYC Motorcycle Checkpoint FDR 15th street

• BQE 278 Eastbound heading toward the Triborough bridge, near the Hoyt exit or the 31st Street exit.

NYC Motorcycle Checkpoint BQE 31st street

• Belt Parkway both East and Westbound, between Flatbush ave and Knapp St.
  

NYC Motorcycle Checkpoint Belt Parkway both East and Westbound, between Flatbush ave and Knapp St

NYC Motorcycle Checkpoint Belt Parkway both East and Westbound, between Flatbush ave and Knapp St

[edit] Location of NYC Motorcycle Tow Pounds

NYC uses private contract motorcycle towing and storage companies and there is a few around the city.

Williamsburg: If you were pulled over and your motorcycle, mopeds, and scooters was towed in the city or east Queens this is the most likely place where it is stored.
Knights Collision & Auto Care Center
Open: 24 hours
120 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206
www.Knightscollision.com
Phone: 718-963-44477
Fax: 718-782-2985
Take the G to Broadway or JZM train to Lorimer St
between Lynch st and Middleton St
View Location on Map

Coney Island If you were pulled over and your motorcycle, mopeds, and scooters was towed on Belt Parkway and other parts of Brooklyn this is the most likely place where it is stored.
Ridge Transport Systems Inc.
2743 Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y> 11224
Bodyshop Phone: (718) 998-0400
Towing Phone: (718) 333-0414
Towing Fax: (718) 333-0411

Their Tow Yard is in a different place from where you submit your paper work and pay for the tow. The map below shows the location of the yard where you pick up your vehicle. It's under the train tacks at the very end of the street. You will see a train station entrance at the end of that street, to the right of that entrance is a triangle shaped yard. You HAVE TO CALL THEM (718)-981-8800 to have someone to come out and release your vehicle.

[edit] Mopeds (Limited Use Motorcycles)

The Vehicle and Traffic Law defines a limited use motorcycle as "a low-speed vehicle with two or three wheels." Terms frequently used for limited use motorcycles are "mopeds" and "motor scooters."

The requirements to operate a moped are like those for motorcycles. You must have a driver license and you must register a moped to drive it on streets and highways. The exceptions to these requirements are listed in the table below. You can never operate a moped on a sidewalk.

The DMV certifies a moped as a Class A, Class B or Class C limited use motorcycle according to top speed. The manufacturer requests the certification through the DMV Technical Services Bureau. Only a DMV-certified model of limited-use motorcycle can get a registration in NYS. The phone number for the Technical Services Bureau is (518) 474-5282.

To register your moped, bring the following to a DMV office:

• A completed form MV-82 (Registration / Title Application).
  
• A completed form DTF-802 (Statement of Transaction for Sales Tax ) or proof of exemption or tax paid. The requirements and forms for mopeds are the same as those for motor vehicles. See the information about sales tax.
  
• Proof of ownership, normally the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO), a bill of sale or a previous registration that was transferred to you.
  
• Proof of identity.
  
• Cash, check or credit card for the fee. Pay the fees and required sales tax.

[edit] Guide to Limited-use Motorcycle Requirements

1. Learner permit restrictions apply to all permit classes. Junior operator restrictions apply to class DJ and MJ permits and driver licenses. See Learner Permits and Junior Licenses.
2. Except when making a left turn.
3. Class C moped used in a rental business must be insured.