ugh I hate state laws that say "bicyclists have the same rights and duties as the drivers of motor vehicles" and then go right on to list various statutes that take away some of those rights. NY is one of only 3 states that also have a mandatory shoulder use law in addition to the mandatory bike lane law.
"Here you go little cyclists, you have the same rights as motorists, but you really don't. Here's a nice [probably full of debris] shoulder for you to cycle on where you'll be safer from all the dangerous cars".
What a bunch of bull.