Sight-seeing tour buses can be challenging to operate for drivers who are expected to simultaneously narrate tours and otherwise interact with, entertain and attend to their passengers. The distractions associated with these competing duties could lead to traffic violations, accidents and even injuries for passengers, other vehicles and pedestrians alike. Moreover, these distractions and safety concerns may be more pronounced for double decker tour buses because they accommodate twice as many passengers on separate levels. This law would require double decker sight-seeing tour buses to have at least one licensed employee present on the upper level of the bus in addition to the driver at all times when passengers are present on the upper level. This requirement could help to alleviate distractions to drivers, thereby creating a safer environment on NYC streets.
- Ydanis A. Rodriguez
- Justin L. Brannan
- Carlos Menchaca
- Karen Koslowitz
- Diana I. Ayala
- Brad S. Lander
- Ben Kallos
- Daniel Dromm
- Margaret S. Chin
- I. Daneek Miller
- Helen K. Rosenthal
- Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.
- Deborah L. Rose
- Kalman Yeger
- Mark Treyger
- Antonio Reynoso
- Antonio Reynoso
- Francisco P. Moya
- Francisco P. Moya
- Mark Levine
- Keith Powers
- Carlina Rivera
- Mark Gjonaj
- Alicka Ampry-Samuel
- Bill Perkins
- Robert F. Holden
- James G. Van Bramer
- Laurie A. Cumbo
- Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
- Barry S. Grodenchik
- Darma V. Diaz
- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
- Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
- Filed (End of Session)
History
Proposed Int. No. 289-A
By Council Members Rodriguez, Brannan, Menchaca, Koslowitz, Ayala, Lander, Kallos, Dromm, Chin, Miller, Rosenthal, Cornegy, Rose, Yeger, Treyger, Reynoso, Moya, Levine, Powers, Rivera, Gjonaj, Ampry-Samuel, Perkins, Holden, Van Bramer, Cumbo, Salamanca, Grodenchik, D. Diaz, Brooks-Powers and the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams)
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring double decker sight-seeing buses to have at least one employee present on the upper level at all times when passengers are present.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subchapter 21 of chapter 2 of title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 20-376.2 to read as follows:
§ 20-376.2 Staffing requirement for double decker sight-seeing buses. In addition to its driver, any sight-seeing bus with separate lower- and upper-level seating compartments for passengers shall have at least one employee licensed pursuant to section 20-243 present on the upper level at all times when passengers are on the upper level.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.
PLS
LS 10508/Int. 1657-2017
LS 833
3/19/2018